The first post on a blog is inevitably awkward. So be it.

I'm a PhD student heading into my dissertation year. This is a year in which we PhD students not only need to write The Book, but in which we need to either find an academic job or move out into the big bad world. It's a year which is stereotypically full of long writing binges, stress-eating box mac and cheese at 2a, and large quantities of cheap alcohol, resulting in a frazzle-haired student with giant black eye-bags clutching their diploma for dear life.

Now, as much as I like writing, mac and cheese, and booze, I tend to prefer non-frantic writing sessions, home-made mac and cheese (with a dash of nutmeg), and a leisurely Old Fashioned on the rocks. I would also like to avoid the giant black eye-bags, thank you very much.

To wit, this blog. In the pursuit of work-life balance, coming out safe on the other side of the dissertation, and simply maximizing the amount of awesome in my life, I am pursuing a 101 in 1001-style project. The goal is to form some new habits and push myself to enjoy my life. The list is only partially formed, and subject to change and tinkering; it's an imperfect map.

Dear self, may we meet again on 18 January 2015, and may you be happy with how it has all turned out.

How are other folks dealing with/planning to deal with/have in the past dealt with dissertation years? How about other long goal-oriented projects (like this one)?