back to school

  • Nutrition, Saving Money, Technology

    10 Best Back-to-School Gifts for Graduate Students (2026 Guide)

    Graduate school is exciting—but it’s also expensive, stressful, and mentally demanding. Whether your favorite grad student is starting their first semester or returning to finish their dissertation, a thoughtful gift can remind them that someone is cheering them on.

    As someone who has earned a PhD and now supports women in graduate school through Grad Girl Wellness, I know that the best gifts aren’t just practical—they help students stay healthy, motivated, and encouraged throughout the semester.

    Here are 10 back-to-school gifts every graduate student will appreciate (and use).

    1. A Grad Girl Wellness Care Package ⭐

    If you only buy one gift, make it a care package designed specifically for graduate students.

    The Grad Girl Wellness Care Package was created to encourage students during one of the most challenging seasons of their lives. Instead of another generic gift basket, this package focuses on wellness, motivation, and self-care—things graduate students often neglect while juggling coursework, research, teaching, and life.

    Whether they’re celebrating their first week of classes, preparing for comprehensive exams, or trying to survive dissertation writing, this care package is a meaningful reminder that they’re not alone. I’m really saddened by the fact that care packages and gifts seem to be reserved for undergrads–that doesn’t have to be the norm.

    You can shop the Grad Girl Wellness Care Package here:

    Grad Girl Wellness Etsy Shop

    2. A High-Quality Reusable Water Bottle

    Hydration is one of the simplest ways to improve energy and concentration, yet it’s often forgotten during marathon study sessions.

    A durable insulated water bottle keeps drinks cold all day and serves as a gentle reminder to take care of basic needs—even during finals week.

    Check out this Camel Back example!

    3. Noise-Canceling Headphones

    Graduate students spend countless hours reading, writing, and attending virtual meetings.

    A pair of quality noise-canceling headphones can transform a noisy coffee shop or busy apartment into a productive workspace.

    I’m a fan of these noise cancelling Airpods!

    4. An Adjustable Laptop Stand

    Hours of writing papers and analyzing data can wreak havoc on your neck and shoulders.

    An ergonomic laptop stand helps improve posture and makes long writing sessions much more comfortable.

    Here’s a great place to start!

    5. A Weekly Planner or Productivity Journal

    Graduate school requires balancing deadlines, meetings, classes, research milestones, and personal responsibilities.

    A planner helps students organize everything in one place and reduce the mental load of trying to remember every deadline.

    6. Blue-Light Blocking Glasses

    Many graduate students spend 8–12 hours each day looking at screens.

    Blue-light glasses may help reduce eye strain during long writing sessions and make late-night work feel a little easier.

    Check out these frames!

    7. Gift Cards for Coffee—or Better Yet, Lunch

    Yes, coffee gift cards are always appreciated.

    But don’t overlook restaurant or grocery gift cards. During particularly busy weeks, having one less meal to prepare can make an enormous difference.

    Every grad student I know loves Trader Joe’s!

    Photo from https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/spirit/i/929329

    8. Healthy Study Snacks

    Skip the candy-only gift basket.

    Instead, fill a snack box with protein bars, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, popcorn, tea, electrolyte packets, and other grab-and-go options that help students stay energized between classes and meetings.

    Check out this protein powered snack pack!

    9. A Kindle or Reading Tablet

    Many graduate students read hundreds of journal articles every semester.

    An e-reader makes it easier to carry textbooks, articles, and books without adding extra weight to an already heavy backpack. It saves paper and makes finding documents and annotations so easy.

    Check out this tablet!

    10. A Wellness Experience

    Sometimes the best gift isn’t something you can wrap.

    Consider gifting:

    • A yoga class
    • A massage
    • A fitness studio pass
    • A meditation app subscription
    • A museum membership
    • A walking date together

    Experiences encourage graduate students to step away from their work and recharge—something they often struggle to prioritize.

    Final Thoughts

    Graduate school is a marathon, not a sprint. The right gift can provide comfort during stressful weeks, motivation during difficult semesters, and a reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of wellness.

    Graduate school can feel incredibly isolating. While students often receive congratulations when they begin their programs, support tends to fade as the months go on.

    A thoughtful gift is more than just a package—it’s a reminder that someone believes in them.

    Here’s to helping the graduate students in our lives start the semester feeling supported, encouraged, and ready to thrive.

  • Mental Health, Q&A, The Academy

    Imposter syndrome as a PhD with no MA?

    Q: How do you manage feelings of intimidation/imposter syndrome as a new PhD student who does not have a master’s degree?

    A: Whew this is a BIG question and definitely something I’ve experienced firsthand.  I think that the first thing is to acknowledge what you are feeling and then try to put things into perspective.  It’s likely that the other students also doubt their abilities even with a MA. Just because your fellow cohort members have an additional degree, but that has absolutely no bearing on your abilities.  You were admitted because the admissions committee believed that, even without an MA, you could thrive.  You can. I’d also suggest checking out this recent GGW podcast on Imposter Syndrome. 

    Read more advice from the Grad Girl Wellness Community by checking out this post.

  • Food & Nutrition, Nutrition, Saving Money

    Grocery Haul: October 2018

    Grand Total: $101.63

    Happy fall!  This month I’m really trying to be intentional about eating more, hence why my TJ’s bill keeps creeping higher and higher (FYI I don’t just shop at TJ’s–I’ll explain my strategy in a later post).  My desire to eat more isn’t just about preparing for winter hibernation.  Because of my under eating, I often wake up at 3 and 4 in the morning because my body is craving food.  Needless to say, this messes me up for the rest of the day even if I do  fall back asleep.  If I can manage to get this under control, I’m looking forward to sleeping more, and I also think it’ll be interesting to see how my body responds to getting more food on a regular basis.

    My new-ish item of interest at Trader Joe’s are these vegetable spring rolls….One box includes five pieces and they came up to $3.99.  They are filled with edamame, kale, cabbage and mushrooms.

    This is my second time buying these spring rolls, and there’s a reason–they’re pretty darn good. The first time around, I  baked them following the instructions on the box.  The second time, I used my roommate’s air fryer, which gave them a really nice crunch in only about 7 minutes.  I prefer the airfryer because it’s quicker and more fun to use; however, since I meal prep’ed with these and therefore put them in the refrigerator rather than eating them immediately after I cooked them as it’s suggested, the crunch pretty much just went away.  I know that this isn’t ideal and that the texture is less than desirable, but, even with the slight sogginess, I’m still here for it.

    My lunch this week.  In addition to spring rolls, I made stir fry with TJ pre-chopped vegetables, marinated tofu over brown rice. I also sautéed kale.

    Am I the only one that is willing to make small taste-based concessions for the peace of mind of knowing that your food is taken care of for the entire work week?  Meal prepping for me is more about saving time and money rather than eating perfect meals.  I’m willing to eat a semi-soggy spring roll or two.

    Onwards and upwards.  We’re already half-way through the semester!

  • Mental Health, The Academy

    Back to School Pt. 4: Who you wit?

    bernie macThere are levels to relationships.  Sometimes, we place people in the wrong position because we act from a place of loneliness rather than self confidence. Sometimes, people think they are entitled to a position that they haven’t earned.  Sometimes, people need to ride the bench for the season and others just need to get kicked off the roster.  In all of this, we as individuals are responsible for putting people in their respective places the more we come to recognize who actually deserves our precious time and energy.

    So, in this school journey no matter the level (and in life more generally), it’s of the upmost importance to consider who’s coming with you. In the words of the late Bernie Mac, who you wit?

    People to intentionally bring with you

    You. It seems obvious, but it’s really easy to check out of this whole process because of the constant pressure to essentially be something other than who you are.  I was told my second year that I needed to adopt an in-class persona–I couldn’t make this up.  Honestly, it wasn’t until my fourth year that I started to feel like I was “all there”, and it’s hard because I sometimes would walk into the building, sit in class and would just prefer to disappear.  Bring yourself, your experiences, your language because you are an asset and you deserve to be there.

    Mentors Near and Far. It was actually a mentor who I met at a conference a few years ago who mentioned to me the idea of establishing a squad.  I have mentors in different departments, different schools in my city, across the country and at my fieldsite.  Of course, this takes time to cultivate, but it’s extremely worth it.  No single person can do everything for you–your advisor can’t be your therapist, life coach and academic wizard–so it would behoove you to diversify.  I’ve had a lot of luck meeting mentors through conferences and applying directly to a sub-committe’s mentoring workshop.  I highly, highly suggest this.  I’ve had experiences where it’s just a one time thing, but other times there’s a real connection, and end up with a long-term mentor who you otherwise would not have met.

    Sister Friends. I love my sister-friends. Most of these women are people I met in high school or undergrad, and we’ve stayed in touch since then.  There’s something  special about having people who’ve seen you in so many different situations who can remind you of how far you’ve come and can therefore call you out on your bs.  The majority of these women are either pursuing higher education or are building their careers, so we can share the woes of adulting and get in a good kiki session all at the same time.  An added bonus is that you have somewhere to go when you just need to get away.  Most people are either in the city or on the East Coast, so it’s no biggie to hop on a bus and get away on a random weekend when need be.  With that said, they are all super busy, so keeping in touch with the occasional text or phone call is important.

    A Good Therapist. Therapy has been a really great exercise in helping me think about the things I unintentionally carry–like an invisible knapsack with all of the weight and none of the privilege.  Finding a good person is kind of like dating.  It takes time and patience, but it’s certainly worth it.  This also stands true for working through your issues.  It’s not a quick fix, but it is again, certainly worth it.

    People Who Will Likely Show Up

    The Haters. I truly believe that at some point your enemies will become your footstools, but when that happens, it’s important to handle the situation with grace and humility.  These people may become your colleagues and the world is small.  At some point, the people who did you wrong (for no apparent reason), might realize that you are not their enemy.  Instead of naming what they did wrong and apologizing for their actions, they will find it easier to act as if nothing happened and smile at you when they see you in the computer lab. Smile back. Keep it moving. Repeat.

    The Biters. Academia is not unlike any other profession or experience in every day life;  people will beg borrow and/or steal to get what they want.  Be mindful that there are those who need to be kept at a distance for the sake of protecting your project and your original thinking.  I’ve personally experienced this issue with a peer, and I’ve also heard of this with professors taking the ideas of their students.  Protect yourself and protect your work.

    People to Leave Behind

    The Refuse The most obvious here are people who don’t support you as a student or as a person.  Sometimes, it’s worth a conversation to give them the opportunity to learn how their actions are effecting you.  This works for some people, and with time and firm boundaries, they will adjust.  Others will throw you under the bus and reiterate that since you’ve been in school for the majority of your life, you actually don’t know anything about the real world.  The irony is not lost that this is often coming from people who have no experience with higher education, but I digress……They don’t deserve you and all the greatness that is to become of you.

    So, take an assessment.  Who’s coming with you this year? Do you need to work on expanding your circle or making it a bit smaller? If you are content with who you have close to you, how can you work to strengthen those relationships?