Life After Finishing My PhD

For the last four years almost all of my discretionary time was used for work on a PhD that I had a crazy idea to pursue.  I attended quarterly residencies across the country for three years while working on fourteen learning achievements to demonstrate understanding and competency in the theory and practice of leadership and in methods of research. I also interacted weekly with members of my cohort.  I used many vacation days and all of my continuing education time for the residencies and to work on assignments.

The first year was an adjustment year and though at the time I thought I was working hard, in looking back that first year was relatively light compared with the pace of work I have maintained the last two years. I gave up accompanying my wife on many Saturday hikes and to several plays, concerts, and movies because I was facing a deadline on some aspect of my program.

Two weeks ago I successfully defended my dissertation and since then I have essentially completed all the final steps of editing and approval. For the first time in a long time, I have evenings where there is nothing I have to read or write. It feels really good.

I still have found plenty of things to do, primarily in cleaning up my school books and clutter. I've also been catching up on some neglected tasks. But soon these will be largely done too.

I am both eager and somewhat anxious about my first evening or Saturday when I have nothing pressing to do and will think, "What do I do now that my to do list isn't overflowing?"

I will be tempted to keep creating an ever-flowing stream of things to do. Yet spiritually I am inclined to think I need some down time, time when I am quite unproductive.

I'll keep you posted on how that goes.