Episode Notes: In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée Jordan shares an insightful look into her dissertation journey in April 2021, right after she passed her prospectus defense. She reflects on navigating the complex process of balancing dissertation tasks, everyday responsibilities, and self-care—while maintaining a commitment to flexibility.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Balancing Multiple Priorities: Dr. Jordan discusses managing several tasks at once—working on the IRB application, improving readability in consent forms, creating a study website, and making time for exercise and self-care.
• Setting Realistic Expectations: The episode emphasizes the importance of adjusting expectations and knowing when to embrace “good enough” progress, rather than striving for perfection. For example, the readability goal for her consent form was slightly reduced to make it more accessible to a wider audience, showing how small wins can still drive progress.
• Being Flexible in Research: Dr. Jordan explains how working on the IRB proposal and study website simultaneously allowed her to move forward without waiting for one task to be completed before starting the next. Flexibility is key in managing a dissertation project without feeling stuck.
• Managing Feedback: Embracing feedback is essential for success. Dr. Jordan talks about how she used feedback from workshops and mentors to refine her research process and submit a strong IRB proposal.
• Self-Care: Beyond research, Dr. Jordan discusses the importance of self-care in the dissertation process—whether it’s meal prepping, exercise, or maintaining relationships with family. Balancing your mental and physical well-being with your academic work is crucial to long-term success.

This episode is a reminder that progress isn't always linear. Dr. Jordan encourages PhD candidates and anyone working on a project to recognize and appreciate the small wins, stay flexible, and adjust their goals when needed.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you measure progress in your personal or professional life, and what unexpected ways have you moved forward even when things didn’t go as planned?
2. What’s one small win you can acknowledge today, even if it wasn’t part of your original plan?
3. How can you balance your academic goals with your everyday responsibilities and self-care?

Tune in to hear Dr. Renée Jordan's tips on managing the dissertation process, adjusting your expectations, and embracing progress in multiple areas of your life.