Gradlife

Hey Everyone! Welcome back to the Gradlife blog.

This week I wanted to focus on something we all have. Mental health. I felt it was an appropriate topic for this week, since today is Bell Let’s Talk day. Today, Bell will donate money to mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet, social media video view and use of their Facebook frame or Snapchat filter. A great way to raise awareness and channel money into important resources.

Bell Let’s Talk Logo

My degree in graduate school is in counselling and psychotherapy and so I tend to talk about mental health on a regular basis. The placement that I am in is at a student counselling centre and I have the chance to hold space for the struggles students face on top of the stresses that come with being in school.

Photo from: www.RebeccaCanHelp.com

Before entering into graduate work, I started to feel a lot of anxiety . I was trying to make sure I had enough experience and things to put on my CV that I ended up ignoring the signs that I was burning out and kept putting things on my plate. I started to find it harder to get out of bed, but I kept pushing. Then I would start crying when a car honked beside me as I walked down the street, but I kept pushing. I continued to ignore the signs that my mental health was not in a good place because I felt like I didn’t have the time, and that the other things on my “to do” list were more important.

Eventually I couldn’t really function. I wasn’t able to even get out of bed to do all of the things that I had put on myself in the first place because even getting up to brush my teeth filled me with dread.

I felt like a huge failure.

I had really high expectations for what I “should” be able to do and handle. In the end my mind and body burned out completely. I felt totally out of control of my emotions and felt depressed, angry and frustrated. What ended up turning things around, was finally reaching out to one person to say: “I am struggling”.  From there, things slowly started to look up.

Looking back, I learned the hard way that ignoring the signs that I was pushing myself was not worth the unrealistic expectations I was trying to meet, and that caring for myself was a good investment to my overall health.

When I first started to pursue graduate school, I thought that in order to support others, I had to be the picture of perfect mental health. I was scared that if I showed signs of struggling, people would question my ability to be a good counsellor. I sometimes still struggle with the pressure of expectations, but I am more confident now that my strength came from reaching out for help, not in trying to keep pushing myself when I didn’t have anything left.

As students, it is easy to keep piling things on to our to do lists. It might feel like we are encouraged to do the most, and that if we aren’t super busy and super stressed, then we aren’t working hard enough. But as I have learned, if you push yourself to this point, it is highly likely to backfire and do more harm than good.

So how do we go forward with mental health discussions? I think we do just that, we have discussions.  I am not always okay, but there is strength in realizing that not everyone always is either.  It is about acknowledging that we are more than just students, dealing with more than that paper or that thesis, and therefore are more than just a grade or a properly completed assignment. We are all worth being cared for, by ourselves and by those who love us. I hope that if you are struggling that you know that your experience matters and that there is strength in seeking support.

Lets keep Talking,

Alex

Campus resources

Campus Police
Community Safety Office
Graduate Counselling Services
Health & Wellness
U of T Safety

Community resources

Good2Talk Helpline: 1-866-925-5454
My Student Support Program (My SSP): 1-844-451-9700. Outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578.
Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 416-863-0511
Gerstein Crisis Centre: 416-929-5200
Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-4357
Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603
Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600
Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505

Welcome back my fellow grad students!

I don’t know about you guys, but I have had a stressful couple of weeks. It’s been the kind of stress that I wasn’t expecting. Different commitments both school related and personal, have unexpectedly popped up over the last little while. As I come to the end of another long week, I have a feeling that I am not alone. If you can relate and you’re reading this, I hear ya. You’re not alone either.

Throughout the busy week, I had a question posed to me from someone looking to start graduate studies:

Since my answer to this question has been helpful in getting through a stressful week, I wanted to share them with you. I hope that thinking about this question may help you too.

1. You know things!

You have worked hard to be here and that has also been helped by knowing a thing or two. Stress might make you forget that you have the tools and knowledge to succeed.

2. Try to use every opportunity to grow

There are so many opportunities in graduate school beyond just academics. Socializing with other students at grad events has benefitted me in ways that are just as significant to the ones I get from reading papers and attending classes.

3. Have fun!

Doesn’t always feel like this is possible when things get stressful, but I try and remind myself what excites me about my degree and what it felt like to get into the program. With this being my last semester of my degree, I try and remind myself to soak it all in because as they say, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

Grad Escape at Bampot House of Tea

4. Be kind to yourself and others

When that one friend seems to be really giving us the cold shoulder, or a stranger is rude to you while you’re walking through campus, just remember that they might be just as stressed as you are. We are all dealing with school and other responsibilities – a smile to someone you make eye contact with in the hallway or holding the door for someone can make a small difference in an otherwise stressful day.

Of course, we are all human, and this list is not something I always feel I can ascribe to. Some days or weeks are more difficult than others and during these times it is important to reach out to those we trust around us for support. That way we can continue to do the work we want to do and enjoy the things we want to enjoy.

I hope that this list is helpful to those starting graduate school, and also to those who are a few years in. To experienced grad students: how would you support yourself when you were starting graduate school? How can you use that to support yourself now?

Talk soon,

Alex

Hello fellow grad students and welcome back to the gradlife blog – 2020 edition!  I hope that things are off to a good start in your semester, and that your resolutions (if you made anyway) are holding up so far. However, I plan to talk about a lesser known association with the month of January: the fact that it is National Hobby Month.

That’s right! A month to celebrate and highlight the importance of activities that we do for fun, leisure and simply because we enjoy it. It made me think about the importance of keeping time in our schedules to include those kinds of activities when the semester gets going.

Now, I’ll admit, I tend to promise myself that I am going to keep up with a hobby during school to destress and I always end up choosing to do another reading or spend another hour on that essay. But when I do this I am forgetting how much better and more productive I feel after taking time to do something I enjoy. Even if it is for a short period of time, I am letting my brain take a break and doing something that brings me joy. In this way, hobbies remind us to take a break. But hey, you don’t have to take it from me. There are tons of proven benefits to engaging in our favourite activities!

I stress, EUstress

Did you know there is such thing as GOOD stress? Well, there is, and it’s called Eustress. Stress is usually associated with negative feelings, but eustress helps us to feel motivated and positive about what we are doing. It is when this level of arousal tips over to more than we can handle, that we tend to feel the negative effects of stress. Having a hobby or starting a new one, encourages more eustress because it challenges us, teaches something new, and allows us to be focused and motivated on something positive and fulfilling.

Feeling more eustress also helps us to feel more capable and autonomous which can also help to translate over to other work we do.

Having a hobby helps us to stay present

While doing an activity you love, have you ever found that time seems to get away from you? This has a few benefits. It can help to distract from stressful school work and also ground us in the present moment. It’s a two for one – you can do something you enjoy and get some mindfulness into your day!

Hobbies bring people together

Odds are if you enjoy doing something, there is a group of people who do too! Connecting with people who enjoy doing the same activity is a great way to meet new people and even connect with communities online that can give you new ideas and challenges to try.

There happen to be many other benefits to hobbies, a full list can be found in this Psychology Today article . I myself have recently gotten into crocheting (sadly my school schedule prevents me from going to Grad Room’s weekly KnitWit meetings!). Whenever I get home from a busy day at school or my placement I love taking some time to work on a project, or start a new one and it feels like a reboot of my focus and motivation. Below is a picture of me doing some school readings under the cozy new blanket I recently finished!

No matter what your hobby might be, I hope that you are able to find time this semester to do things that you enjoy. Taking breaks is needed and can be used to make you feel more up to tackling other things and is a great way to care for your mental well-being.

Until next time, Happy Hobbying!

Alex

Are you staying on or near campus over the holidays? Is Toronto a newer city for you? Winter can be tough in Toronto, especially once the temperatures really drop and we get a lot of snow. I have grown up here, so I am used to it, but I understand some of you who are staying in the city for the holidays might not be!

Even if you are used to the cold and the snow, it isn’t always the most inviting weather. I thought I would put together some things happening both on and off campus that will be fun ways to get out and about during the break. Even though it is tempting to stay cozy inside it can help the winter blues to get outside and have destinations to go to. Here are a couple of things to do that I recommend, many of which will keep you nice and warm!

Walk Through A Real Life Gingerbread House

The Fairmont Royal York hotel on front street (across from Union Station) has a two storey gingerbread house that you can walk through, and it is made of around 5,000 real gingerbread bricks and took a total of thirteen days to complete. The gingerbread bricks are attached to the walls with actual icing and also decorated with marshmallows and gumdrops. 

International Student Caucus Holiday Potluck Party 

The UTGSU and the International Students’ Caucus (ISC) invites all graduate students at the University of Toronto for an evening full of food and drinks to celebrate the holiday season and also the longest night of the year! This is a great way to connect with other grad students who are around for the holidays.
Date & Time: December 21st at 6 P.M.
Location: Grad Room (66 Harbord St).

RSVP (required): https://tinyurl.com/2019ISCParty

Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Exhibition at the ROM 

This is the longest-running and most prestigious nature photography competition in the world! It returned to the ROM this November for the 7th time. The competition has categories such as Animal Portraits, Urban Wildlife, Behaviour of Birds, and Under Water. They also have submissions and winners from all age groups. I went to this exhibition last year and was not disappointed. They had some amazing photographs and it is a great way to spend a cold afternoon! Don’t forget your T-card for a student discount!

Bulldog Coffee

I recently went to this cafe and loved their drinks! My favourite part was their rainbow latte art. This place is located in Assembly Chef’s Hall  and also has a couple of food places inside as well. Below are a couple of my favourites: the Rainbow Latte and the Marshmallow Latte. A great way to warm up in a fun and delicious way!

I am hoping that you all take time over the holidays to treat yourself and give yourself a well -deserved rest. I will be back in the New Year with some more blog posts and Gradlife news and events. Until then, Happy Holidays!

Alex

It is that time of year where there are final papers and assignments to write and exams to mark. Compared to time spent writing or in the lab, it can be much more appealing to get cozy in bed as the holidays draw near or join in on the various holiday festivities.

Anyone else having trouble with motivation during this time? Know that you are NOT alone and look no further than this post for a little motivation to keep you going!

Through my years as a psychology student I have come across some books from classes that have turned out to be useful beyond just needing to read them for the class.

One of those books is “Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation” by Edward L. Deci. This book helped me to understand why there are times where motivation feels absent and little ways that can help me to get back into gear. I wanted to share some of the information in this book with you, my fellow grad student!

We love Autonomy!

Humans have a need for autonomy, that is to be able to make decisions because we want to, a sense of independence and control over our actions.

When we feel autonomous we tend to embrace an activity with a sense of personal interest. It is hard to feel fully autonomous in our work when we have deadlines to meet.  As it approaches, we are acting not so much out of interest for what we are doing, but because of the time pressure. This is part of the reason why motivation can be so lacking leading up to a deadline.

The fix

A quick way to help boost motivation in these situations could be to remind yourself how the task aligns with something you are interested in or that you value. Here are some others:

• Take a moment to remind yourself what makes you passionate about your degree and try and see that one paper or assignment or time in the lab as part of that. What is the rationale for doing a given activity? What will you gain from doing it that aligns with what is important to you?
• As you write a paper, consider if you are writing on a topic that is personally interesting, that ignites genuine curiosity. 
• Find ways to increase your degree of choice – choosing when to do your work, the environment you work in, how long you work on it and what you decide to write about are some ways that you can increase your sense of autonomy 

Motivation doesn’t just come from techniques, it has to come from within ourselves and making the choice to do something because we want to and see the value. Motivation in this way is likely to have long term effects as well as short term.

Another great way to stay motivated is through a supportive social environment. Here are some helpful groups for grad students on campus!

Graduate Writing Groups 

Gather with your fellow graduate students who are also getting some writing done and help keep each other motivated. To register, just send an email to gwg@utoronto.ca . There are some coming up this weekend! To see more, visit the gradlife event calendar 

Grading Jams 

In similar fashion, join fellow graduate students who are also doing some grading. A quiet space, coffee/tea, and snacks will be provided! Free for U of T grad student TAs and CIs. The last week of grading jams is next week. To sign up and to check out the various times coming up at the gradlife events calendar 

Whatever you’re trying to motivate yourself to get done, I believe in you! I hope that you are also able to find the time to do something for yourself this weekend as well.

Talk soon,

Alex

As the semester comes to a close, that means the holiday break draws near. Whether you’re looking to save some money or find cost effective activities over the break – this post is for you!

The holiday break is a great time to relax and regroup after a busy semester. It is also a time where everything around us is encouraging us to spend money, which is hard enough as it is, never mind the reality of being on a student budget. Luckily, being a student means that our T-Cards also get us some helpful discounts. For this post I am going to focus on one thing all of us students spend money on: food! As we head into a busy and potentially financially burdensome time of year, here are ways you can get discounts on food around Toronto.

• Metro – 15% on Thursdays and Wednesdays

The Metro that is close to campus is on the corner of Bloor and Spadina and with a student ID you can get 15% of groceries on specific days. Also check out their weekly flyer for deals to help make your grocery list before heading to the store. 

• Bulkbarn – 10% on Wednesdays 

On Wednesdays with a valid student ID, bulkbarn offers 10% off your purchase. Not only can you get candies, but it is a great place to get baking supplies, rice and pasta! On other days of the week, keep an eye out for coupons to save on purchases. 

• No Frills 

No Frills often has more affordable prices and great sales. There are various locations around the city – check out their flyers to find great deals! 

• Fresh – 15% Off

This restaurant has multiple locations around the city and offers great vegetarian/vegan/gluten free plant-based foods. If you have allergy or food restrictions or just want to go for a healthy food option, this is a great place to try!

• FreschCo Groceries 

This grocery store has some of the best deals next to No Frills. Prices are extremely student-friendly. Find out if there is a location near you!

Quick Tips!

• Make a grocery list before heading to the store, make a list of what you need – this can make it easier to stick to a budget rather than shopping on impulse.
• Don’t shop hungry – I always find I buy more than I need at the grocery store when I grocery shop hungry. Try and bring a snack or eat something beforehand to make it easier to stick to what you need.
• Buy frozen or canned. When fresh is out of season or too expensive buy frozen or canned vegetables and fruit. They are just as nutritious!  If using canned vegetables, rinse them under cold water first to wash away some of the sodium.
• Don’t underestimate the power of your student card! Whenever you go to a grocery store or a restaurant near campus, ask if they have a student discount. You never know! And of course, keep that T-card on you just in case.

Apps for Saving 

• Flipp

The Flipp app delivers digital flyers from more than 1000 retailers so you can find the best deals in your area every week. You can find offers by browsing through the weekly flyers from retailers you shop at or by searching for items that you need to find deals around the city. This can help remove time looking through flyers individually. This app puts all the deals in one place. 

• Checkout 51

This app helps you to make money back on your grocery purchases! By signing up you can browse offers and buy products in store or online. You can then upload your receipt to the app to show that you satisfied certain offers and receive money back!

And of course, it can help to have a few reusable bags to save those few cents and also the environment! Every bit counts. 

I hope that this post helps you to save a bit more this month while also getting everything you need on your grocery list. Until next time, happy shopping!

Talk soon,

Alex

Hello and welcome back to the Gradlife blog! I am happy you’re here. This week’s topic is one that I am sure many of you are familiar with: research.

A huge part of many graduate degrees is a research project. Rather than sugar plums, it might be visions of dissertations and theses dancing in your head this holiday season. There are many reasons research projects can be stressful. There is the element of time, getting results, getting enough participants and the list goes on. But even before that, there is deciding a research topic and putting together the project itself.

Some students at a recent Grad Escape event noted that formulating and getting a research project together is one of the most stressful parts of their degree. Therefore, I have put together a blog post with tips on graduate research and resources that might be helpful at UofT and online. So with that, let’s get started!

There are many stages to putting together a research project. Here are some general tips that can be helpful at any stage.

• Be inclusive with your brainstorming. Brainstorm your ideas with your research supervisor, and others who are experienced in your field
• Don’t eliminate ideas too quickly. Who knows where it could lead?! Think them through and see how many different research projects you can come up with. Flex those creative muscles.
• Write down your ideas. That way you can come back to something later on. If you’re constantly thinking of ideas of developing and changing them in your head, it might make you feel that things aren’t progressing are going anywhere.

The following steps from the book by Robert Smith, Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (1984: ISI Press) can be helpful in being strategic about your project:

• Can it be enthusiastically pursued?
• Will it sustain your interest?
• Is the problem solvable?
• Is it worth doing?
• Will it lead to other research problems?
• Is it manageable in size?
• What is the potential for making an original contribution to the literature?
• Will the research prepare you in an area of demand or promise for the future?

Don’t forget about time ! Managing your time with any project is a key part of graduate school, since we all tend to have other things going on in life as well. If you feel that your project is going to require more time and energy than you can or are willing to give, then it might be good to reassess. It can also help to create a timeline, like the one suggested below (source).

Some helpful tips when creating a timeline:

• Put a start and a finish time for each step.
• Put your timeline in a place you can see it regularly (above your computer monitor, the front of a well used notebook) so that it reminds you how you’re doing.
• Update your timeline as you see fit, such as when something comes up you didn’t expect, or something takes longer than anticipated.

Stage 1 — Thinking About It

Stage 2 — Preparing the Proposal

Stage 3 — Conducting the Research

Stage 4 — Writing the Thesis/Dissertation

Stage 5 — Sharing the Document with Others

Stage 6 — Revising the Thesis/Dissertation

Resources at U of T

As mentioned above, when it comes to forming your project and keeping the momentum, your supervisory relationship can be extremely important and helpful. Therefore, in order to make sure you get the most out of this, these resources are available!

1. Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre
2. Supervision Guidelines

Use the Library

When it comes to collecting research, the library is a great resource in so many ways.

• Chatting with a librarian- they can answer your questions and help to find useful resources and research.
• Taking a workshop. (Intro to Data Visualization, Advanced SPSS, Using NVivo as a Research Tool and more!)
• Research Guides

Academic Support 

If you find you need to adjust your studying techniques, or want to chat with a mentor from your field, head on over to Academic Success for Grad Students.

If you are a student registered with Accessibility Services or are thinking of doing so, you can check out their website for information on peer programs, graduate dialogues and workshops!

See how others are doing it!

• Blog post articles
• Youtube videos from PhD candidate at U of T, Jacqueline!
• Graduate Writing Groups.  keep yourself on task and get tips from other grad students at these writing groups!

As you will find from the above resources, and I am sure you are already aware- the stresses of graduate research are common among many in your program and at U of T. Even as things get overwhelming, just know that you are not alone in your stress. There are people and resources that can help point you in the right direction and encourage you. If you’re reading this, you’ve GOT this! You’re smart and capable and amazing and you’ve already made it so far. Just remember:

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”– Henry Ford

Talk soon,

Alex

Last week I posted a poll on the Gradlife facebook page asking what kind of things you’d like to see on the Gradlife Blog: helpful campus resources, or fun/interesting things to do around Toronto. We ended up with a 50/50 split! So in the spirit of compromise, I thought I would tackle an obvious subject we are all dealing with right now, while touching on both of these topics, and that subject? Winter.

Maybe this this is your first winter in Canada but even if it isn’t, it may not be something you’re used to. Geez, even though I have lived in Canada my whole life, I still feel the shock of winter when it arrives each year. It is an adjustment, both mentally and physically. With this in mind I did some investigating into some ways that UofT provides help adjusting to winter, resources for this time of year on campus as well as things happening in T.O to help you embrace and hopefully enjoy winter!

U of T Winter Resources

Centre for International Experience – Learning to Love Winter

The CIE is hosting a winter workshop to discuss proper winter clothing, staying healthy and warm, exciting winter events, and more! If you’re not used to winter and have questions this event is for you! Register for the Nov. 26 session on CLNx.

Skating

Take advantage of U of T ‘s athletic facility through the Drop-In skating schedule. See dates and times here where you can practice and bring your family for free!

Hot Winter Drinks

Warm up by grabbing a hot drink on campus. You can use TBucks loaded on your TCard at these locations on campus.  The U of T Food Services’ drink of the month is a Campfire S’mores Latte! (yuummm!?!?)

Graduate Writing Groups

Right now there are lots of different assignments and work.  On each weekend in November and December,  graduate writing groups are held in the Grad Room (66 Harbourd Street). These are FREE groups that provides a space to write in a supportive environment. They can help to keep you accountable and also connect with other graduate students who may be working on similar projects. To share tips and get writing, visit the Gradlife Events calendar for group meeting dates and times. Registration is required. To register, contact Grad Writing Group, Academic Success at gwg@utoronto.ca.

Winter in Toronto

Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District

Toronto Christmas Market

One of Toronto’s most popular holiday attractions is the Distillery District Christmas Market, with lots of exhibits, food, treats, shops and more. Best of all, it is FREE (on weekdays & Friday before 6pm).

If you’re looking for a group to go with, the U of T First Nations House is organizing a visit to the market November 22. You can join by going to the First Nations House Lounge around 2:30pm for some cookies and hot coco, then the group will head over from here via TTC around 3pm. To learn more about this event you can check out their facebook event.

Cineplex Free Holiday Movie Day – December 7th

Credit: Cineplex.com

Grab a free holiday movie December 7th as part of Cineplex’s Community Day. Proceeds from popcorn, drink and candy sales all go to the Boys and Girls Club of Canada. Definitely a win win! To find participating theatres and see the movie selection here.

Skating at Nathan Phillips Square

Credit: Nathan Phillips Square Facebook page

You can grab your skates, or rent them for a small fee at the rink and skate down in front of Toronto’s City Hall ! There are change rooms, snack bars and lots of sparkling lights. Check out the schedule here. The rink is set to open November 30 2019!

Another rink opening this year is going to be on Front Street outside of Union Station. Skaters of all levels can get a free helmet, skates and skating lessons. 

Ontario Place Winter Lights Festival

Starting November 23rd, the West Island of Ontario Place will feature the Winter Light Exhibition, free public skating on a synthetic rink and community bonfires. As of the 23rd it will be open daily 5am – 12am. Bundle up, grab some friends and a hot chocolate and explore the creativity and innovation of 18 light exhibits that shape, transmit, reflect or contain light, created by artists from across Ontario. For more see their website.

I hope that these resources help you to manage the demands of winter time while also finding some fun at the same time. If I have missed anything either on or off campus, help your fellow grad student out and let us know in the comments below.

Hoping that this transition to winter is a smooth one for you, only a few more weeks until the winter break – we can do it!

Talk soon,

Alex

You may have been seeing posts on the Gradlife Facebook page about Grad Escape events. Perhaps you’re curious about what happens, or you’re not quite sure what they are all about. So, here’s the scoop.

Grad Escapes are activities that groups of grad students can do together to take a break from studying (or escape- ha, see what I did there?),  hang out and meet new people and learn new things! Sounds pretty great huh? So what goes on at the Grad Escape events anyway?

Each event is different, with new people and different experiences- but so far, they are consistently fun and worthwhile.  When I went to meet students for the first Grad Escape event, I will admit I was pretty nervous. New to my role, I was hoping that I would be able to connect with other grad students.

Not only did this happen, but I now look forward to each one as a way to take a break from school and hang out with other students. It tends to start off slowly, with everyone introducing themselves, but then we all get into the activity and it turns into a great time! Curious to give them a try?  If you’re not sure, these are my top three reasons for trying out a grad escape event:

1. You will meet people with diverse experiences and interests 

I know the word “networking” can sometimes make people roll their eyes, but these grad escape events are a great way to find people with similar interests, or different ones, and to make new connections. I have seen a few people return to more than one event, but for the most part I meet entirely new people each time, who are all great company. It is a great way to expand your social circle while at U of T. At the last event, two people began talking about a similar topic of interest and decided to exchange contact info so that they could send each other articles they had read on the topic.

2. You can learn something new 

So far this year I have done an Escape room in Robarts Library, drank delicious tea and played a new board game at Bampot House of Tea and learned new recipes and cooking techniques at a Loblaws cooking class. From these experiences I know more about Robarts Library, learned of a great new spot to have tea and learned how to play a new game. Not to mentioned I now know how to make my own Ricotta cheese (no big deal). All of us are at U of T to learn, but sometimes it can be hard to remember that some of the most valuable learning experiences don’t happen in academic arenas.

3. You might just have a GREAT time!

I am not kidding about this one. Before going to the Bampot House of Tea, I had had a stressful day/week/ its grad school, I don’t need to tell you. I was not in the greatest headspace going into the night. But, I laughed so hard while playing the board game with everyone that I didn’t want to leave at the end of the night. None of us did, we ended up all staying and talking an hour after the event officially ended. Leaving home where I had been sitting inside all day getting work done, and connecting with other people was so much more helpful to my stress than I would have expected.

The connection and fun that I have at these events is something that I want everyone to have a chance to experience and I would be so happy to welcome you to it. There are still 4  Grad Escape events left this semester. Check out the grad events calendar to find one that appeals to you, or that might be totally different from something you’ve tried before. I hope to see you there!

Talk soon,

Alex

Welcome back to another week on the Gradlife Blog! I hope everything is going well so far this semester. Anyone else feeling the pressure of all the things that keep piling up? (*Puts up hand and waves it wildly*).

The stress is real. At this point in the semester, it is more important than ever to feel supported in your academic endeavours. One of the most important relationships that a grad student can have is the one with their supervisor. When this relationship is causing you stress, it can just add to the overall anxiety that graduate work can cause.

So, it is my goal to bring to light some resources for managing your supervisor- student relationship. Hopefully they can help you to diminish or avoid any stress that might result from it. Supervision can take many forms, depending on a variety of factors. This could include which program you are enrolled in, the approach used by your supervisor and/or your specific needs and learning style.

A week or so ago, I found myself struggling with an aspect of my practicum. I was nervous to approach my supervisor though, because I felt it was such a simple thing that I was worried they would question why they chose me for the placement.  I finally managed to bring it up in supervision and was pleasantly surprised by the support I received from my supervisor. If I had left things as they were and I would not have received the benefits of my supervisor’s advice and insight.

Supervisor’s are a fantastic resource, but can also be a huge source of stress! They are people too, so naturally interpersonal problems can come up such as disagreements, clashes in personality or miscommunication.

All this being said,  the following are some tips from the Supervision Guidelines for Students  (great resource, I highly recommend!)   on managing the supervisor relationship.

• Seek out advice early. Solutions are often simpler and easier to implement before a problem escalates. It is better to come forward with a small issue than simply avoiding having a difficult conversation and see it become more complex.

• Be open. Different problems require different solutions and different people have different perspectives. Problems are rarely completely one-sided: solutions often need compromise and flexibility.
• Be yourself. Challenging situations can be emotionally charged, and it is important to acknowledge feelings and emotions (your own and the other person’s) while tackling a problem respectfully and with an open mind. Try to remain calm, objective, and rational, even if you think the other party is not.

• Remember you are not alone. Communicate, seek support, and consider that someone else may have been faced with a similar issue at some point.

Now, you might be reading this and be thinking: this is some good advice, but I really hate conflict (yup, same) and it would really help to talk to someone about this. You do not have to manage a conflict on your own! The following are some resources to help with just that.

• Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre. This is the perfect way to connect with other graduate students (G2G Peer Advisors) who can talk informally and confidentially about what your options might be, resources available to graduate students, and strategies for dispute resolution/conflict management. This is a great way to get peer advice and to work one on one with someone to find a solution and get support for your conflict. The CRC is a partnership of SGS, Student Life and the UTGSU.
• Your department. You can talk to your supervisor directly, other students, supervisory committee members, the graduate coordinator, chair or director of the graduate unit. It is important to start by addressing an issue at as low a level as possible.
• University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union. The UTGSU provides its members with confidential advocacy services. If you are experiencing academic and/or administrative difficulties, including problems with your supervisor, department, or the university, the GSU can assist you with advice, information and representation. Any information you give will remain strictly confidential.
• School of Graduate Studies. You can connect with staff at SGS, including Student Services and the Vice-Dean of Students, to get information about policies, guidelines (such as this Best Practices Guideline), advice on informal intervention and formal appeal processes.

Another way to talk to others about issues you may be facing in your supervisor-student relationship, is by connecting with fellow graduate students at this week’s Grad Talk: Managing your Supervisor Relationship  .

I hope that what you take away from this post, is that while it can sometimes feel isolating to experience a conflict or a problem during your graduate work, you are not the only one who is experiencing it. AND, there are so many resources available to help support you with it. If you have found some other resources not listed here that have been helpful for this on campus, please comment below!

All the best in the week to come.

Talk soon,

Alex