Knitting and crochet
Throughout my PhD, much of which was affected by the pandemic, I taught myself to knit and crochet (Yes, they are two different things!).
It started as a simple hobby but developed into a very important asset throughout my PhD journey. Knitting and crochet allow me to take my mind off research and escape to my own space. Whenever I get stuck in writer's block or need creative ideas for coding, I'd knit one row to reset. It also helps me feel a sense of short-term achievement, which is very rare in our PhD processes. My hobby has helped me persist with consistent passion for my research.
It started as a simple hobby but developed into a very important asset throughout my PhD journey. Knitting and crochet allow me to take my mind off research and escape to my own space. Whenever I get stuck in writer's block or need creative ideas for coding, I'd knit one row to reset. It also helps me feel a sense of short-term achievement, which is very rare in our PhD processes. My hobby has helped me persist with consistent passion for my research.