hippyscientist

I just got my TA assignment  It couldn't be better if I picked it myself! I like the professor in charge (when I met him last year he seemed awesome), the duties are shared with 6 other TAs, I'm dealing with 3rd years (Juniors??) and it's all super basic mechanics which is useful to remember. I get to run the lab and teach them how to use equipment, which is great because it means I get practice too. Plus only 5 lots of lab reports to grade for 22 students. Not horrendous! I'm doing my happy dance (if you follow me on instagram it's visible at the end of my last video). YAY!

I just got my TA assignment  It couldn't be better if I picked it myself! I like the professor in charge (when I met him last year he seemed awesome), the duties are shared with 6 other TAs, I'm dealing with 3rd years (Juniors??) and it's all super basic mechanics which is useful to remember. I get to run the lab and teach them how to use equipment, which is great because it means I get practice too. Plus only 5 lots of lab reports to grade for 22 students. Not horrendous! I'm doing my happy dance (if you follow me on instagram it's visible at the end of my last video). YAY!

I just got my TA assignment  It couldn't be better if I picked it myself! I like the professor in charge (when I met him last year he seemed awesome), the duties are shared with 6 other TAs, I'm dealing with 3rd years (Juniors??) and it's all super basic mechanics which is useful to remember. I get to run the lab and teach them how to use equipment, which is great because it means I get practice too. Plus only 5 lots of lab reports to grade for 22 students. Not horrendous! I'm doing my happy dance (if you follow me on instagram it's visible at the end of my last video). YAY!

I FINALLY HAVE MY DATA, this is not a drill So happy and so relieved! 

I FINALLY HAVE MY DATA, this is not a drill So happy and so relieved! 

As above - for those who have got in and just need to discuss all things joining grad school in a friendly, supportive place

I FINALLY HAVE MY DATA, this is not a drill So happy and so relieved! 

I FINALLY HAVE MY DATA, this is not a drill So happy and so relieved! 

Finally graduated from college!! Now I'm excited about starting grad school in August!

But you can leave it 12 hrs or so. And if you do have to change it in public, you just use toilet paper/bottled water in the stall and wait til you get home to wash it properly. It's surprisingly not that icky

With that last point, get in touch with your old doctors. I've found they've been incredibly helpful and have ensured all my records have made it to my new GP. So much paperwork to fill out though. I never realised that the vaccinations that are considered normal differ between countries (although that totally makes sense), so there's 2 or 3 I'm supposedly missing. Agh! 
I agree that it'll be easy to get along with people, I just don't do well with people forcing me to be nice - I get there in my own time. I definitely have a bee in my bonnet about international orientation because I'm fine with the regular grad school one! It also helps to have hobbies - pretty sure gym buddies will happen pretty quick. I need someone to spot my bench and give me a handout on max efforts lol!

I think errors like this are actually way more frequent in grad students and academics, and other "intellectual" professions. When we use our brains so much to focus on specific things, when we try to apply our brain to areas we aren't as default-ly used to, we mess up with the silly stuff because we don't need to use our brains as much and we power down too much. That's my theory. It's also why I like ridiculously trashy TV and young adult books and have to constantly check my mental math with a calculator because I know something is wrong about 2+2 = 5 but I just can't put my finger on what it is.
All that to say, laugh it off and yay for being checked in. This international student orientation thing is pee-ing me off. From what I can gather a lot is about getting used to the culture, assimilating with English etc. It seems pretty useful if you're coming from China for example, but personally I cannot see the point in it. Yes, tell us the key bits of information (visa requirements, enrolment, special events etc) but don't treat me like I'm 5. I don't need someone holding my hand while I open a bank account or big groups of "new friends" to eat every meal with. (I hate organised activities if you couldn't gather). It irritates me that the whole 3 day orientation is mandatory, when at most the information necessary for assimilation if you're familiar with the US could probably be condensed into an afternoon. Okay, rant over.

Hey! I've done A LOT of long distance travel and have gotten pretty adept at conquering jet lag. Some of my tactics are a little late for you this trip, but I'll outline them anyway.
1. Before you travel, try to shift your regular schedule an hour or two in the direction you will be going. This effectively reduces the time difference. So if I (in the UK) am going to the east coast of the US, I might wake up an hour later than normal, eat lunch an hour later, go to bed an hour later. Obviously if your work isn't flexible this is less easy and not necessary but it does help.
2. Get a good nights sleep before flying. Ensure you're very hydrated. Eat healthy food (yes junk food is tempting but it makes your body feel like crap which is exacerbated when traveling). Move around on the plane. Avoid alcohol if possible.
3. As soon as you get on the plane, change your watch to the time zone you are headed to, then try to do everything to that time zone. This may be out of sync with the rest of the cabin but again, it's trying to familiarise your body with your new time zone.
4. Depending on when you arrive, eat a meal at the local time zone appropriate time. Go to bed at a normal time for that time zone. You'll feel groggy and non-responsive, maybe a bit hungover if you've landed early that day but push through. When you go to bed you should be exhausted. If you've jumped forward in time and it's meant to be bedtime but you're still very much awake, go through the routine of bed time. Have a shower/hot bath, brush your teeth, do your moisturizing/facial routine, tuck yourself up in bed with a book (avoid screens). If you find you're still not sleepy, try some meditation and if all else fails there are some excelllent youtube videos on meditating yourself to sleep (it's practically hypnosis). I find these very effective.
5. Set your alarm to wake you up at a reasonable time the following morning. Regardless of how you feel, get up, eat breakfast, do some light exercise (go for a walk, a swim, do  some stretching, something to get the blood flowing) and set good intentions for the day. Remember to still drink lots of water - you'll be dehydrated from flying for a day or two afterwards.
There is no easy fix for jetlag but these tips do help minimise its effects. 

Hey! I've done A LOT of long distance travel and have gotten pretty adept at conquering jet lag. Some of my tactics are a little late for you this trip, but I'll outline them anyway.
1. Before you travel, try to shift your regular schedule an hour or two in the direction you will be going. This effectively reduces the time difference. So if I (in the UK) am going to the east coast of the US, I might wake up an hour later than normal, eat lunch an hour later, go to bed an hour later. Obviously if your work isn't flexible this is less easy and not necessary but it does help.
2. Get a good nights sleep before flying. Ensure you're very hydrated. Eat healthy food (yes junk food is tempting but it makes your body feel like crap which is exacerbated when traveling). Move around on the plane. Avoid alcohol if possible.
3. As soon as you get on the plane, change your watch to the time zone you are headed to, then try to do everything to that time zone. This may be out of sync with the rest of the cabin but again, it's trying to familiarise your body with your new time zone.
4. Depending on when you arrive, eat a meal at the local time zone appropriate time. Go to bed at a normal time for that time zone. You'll feel groggy and non-responsive, maybe a bit hungover if you've landed early that day but push through. When you go to bed you should be exhausted. If you've jumped forward in time and it's meant to be bedtime but you're still very much awake, go through the routine of bed time. Have a shower/hot bath, brush your teeth, do your moisturizing/facial routine, tuck yourself up in bed with a book (avoid screens). If you find you're still not sleepy, try some meditation and if all else fails there are some excelllent youtube videos on meditating yourself to sleep (it's practically hypnosis). I find these very effective.
5. Set your alarm to wake you up at a reasonable time the following morning. Regardless of how you feel, get up, eat breakfast, do some light exercise (go for a walk, a swim, do  some stretching, something to get the blood flowing) and set good intentions for the day. Remember to still drink lots of water - you'll be dehydrated from flying for a day or two afterwards.
There is no easy fix for jetlag but these tips do help minimise its effects. 

Hey! I've done A LOT of long distance travel and have gotten pretty adept at conquering jet lag. Some of my tactics are a little late for you this trip, but I'll outline them anyway.
1. Before you travel, try to shift your regular schedule an hour or two in the direction you will be going. This effectively reduces the time difference. So if I (in the UK) am going to the east coast of the US, I might wake up an hour later than normal, eat lunch an hour later, go to bed an hour later. Obviously if your work isn't flexible this is less easy and not necessary but it does help.
2. Get a good nights sleep before flying. Ensure you're very hydrated. Eat healthy food (yes junk food is tempting but it makes your body feel like crap which is exacerbated when traveling). Move around on the plane. Avoid alcohol if possible.
3. As soon as you get on the plane, change your watch to the time zone you are headed to, then try to do everything to that time zone. This may be out of sync with the rest of the cabin but again, it's trying to familiarise your body with your new time zone.
4. Depending on when you arrive, eat a meal at the local time zone appropriate time. Go to bed at a normal time for that time zone. You'll feel groggy and non-responsive, maybe a bit hungover if you've landed early that day but push through. When you go to bed you should be exhausted. If you've jumped forward in time and it's meant to be bedtime but you're still very much awake, go through the routine of bed time. Have a shower/hot bath, brush your teeth, do your moisturizing/facial routine, tuck yourself up in bed with a book (avoid screens). If you find you're still not sleepy, try some meditation and if all else fails there are some excelllent youtube videos on meditating yourself to sleep (it's practically hypnosis). I find these very effective.
5. Set your alarm to wake you up at a reasonable time the following morning. Regardless of how you feel, get up, eat breakfast, do some light exercise (go for a walk, a swim, do  some stretching, something to get the blood flowing) and set good intentions for the day. Remember to still drink lots of water - you'll be dehydrated from flying for a day or two afterwards.
There is no easy fix for jetlag but these tips do help minimise its effects. 

And you guys?!  Well anyone who's interested that is....I think I did it.  I think I got everything worked out.  It's not ideal and there will be a few bumps over the next month I'll have to smooth out, but I'm going to make it to my program on time and without starving.  I've booked airfare and an airbnb that is close enough to campus to walk or catch the bus since I won't have a car right away.  I found a great (and affordable!) mom and pop storage place to put my stuff until I've secured permanent housing and then will ship everything later.  I'm packing everything in smaller boxes so its easier to lift them with all of the aches and pains I have and oddly it seems that will reduce the shipping costs.
I also hired a lawyer to deal with the car accident.  They agree that I should be able to just focus on my program and getting settled in a new place while they deal with all of this.  It will probably take a year or so to fully settle, but with them taking all the stress and work off my plate that's fine.
Now I just have to do that estate planning thing and then figure out the whole physical therapy piece while switching insurance plans.  Then after that it'll just be the bumps over the next month.  Geez.  This is good right?  I'm too tired to be excited.

I DON'T NEED SURGERY! I don't need an MRI! Another 6-8 weeks and I might be functional again yay yay yay yay yay yay yay. Plus something clicked on the project. I'm doing a little happy dance around the office.

I have a mat at home and while very cramped provides enough space to get in a practice when I feel like I'm going to combust. I use youtube videos if I want a guided practice - last night I used https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQNqZMv1V0 Davids videos are great as they have more of a meditative element, whereas if I just need a good stretch I'll go for something like Yoga with Adriene (https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene). 
Totally understanding that feeling about it all setting in. Like you're really excited but there's a little quiet doubt that's saying "are you sure?". 

I DON'T NEED SURGERY! I don't need an MRI! Another 6-8 weeks and I might be functional again yay yay yay yay yay yay yay. Plus something clicked on the project. I'm doing a little happy dance around the office.

All finished
 

There's some excellent suggestions already given but I'd throw in yoga really helps my mind switch off and to destress from the day. It might take a while to learn to empty your head but I find giving myself 45 minutes at some point during the day to stretch and be mindful and only in the present really helps. Exercise in general is wonderful, but not always possible - e.g. if you're injured. I agree that reading is great but I find my mind drifts a lot when watching TV. You know you best. If you're on a hike and find your mind starts drifting, bring it back to the present. Focus on the colour of the leaves, or the rhythm of your breath or the noise of the insects or something. Acknowledge the thoughts that pop into your head but say to them "this is not the time for you to occupy my head. This is me time." and return to focusing on the thing in the present. 
If you can get some social interaction, that's wonderful but sometimes you can just end up talking about research. So if you hang out, maybe allocate 20 mins for research venting then make it an off-limits conversation. 
Just a few suggestions that I've found really helpful. Hopefully there's something on this thread that works for you

I  disagree with this -  I've got fitter in grad school than undergrad. By scheduling the gym into my day it's become routine and it only means getting up an hour earlier. This one is all about mindset. Actually a lot of these are about mindset. That's not to say that people don't say all these things, because they do, and there's definitely periods where they're true but that doesn't have to be the norm. Good time management and organisational skills can make a huge difference.

WHY IS RESEARCH SO FRUSTRATING?!?!?!?!?! 
Agh

One of these days I will live in a warm climate for a decent amount of time. I'm fed up of grey and such a narrow temperature range year round (30-70 without fail with the odd outlier). I agree with humidity. When you have a shower, step outside then realise you need another shower again. It's yuck. 
My housemate has been away for 2 days and it's amazing. If this is what life's going to be like come August I will be laughing. 

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny
I bought these for myself in preparation for the fall.