i set zero goals for one year. here’s how it’s going.

[@aboutmefelipe]

You said it in the “Dealing with the imposter syndrome” NYC vlog: “we live in a society that demands our attention 100% of the time”. But, at what cost? We must stop for a moment and be still; enjoy the here and now. Otherwise we’ll end up getting used to saying “how fast time goes by”. I’m so happy to have the chance of spending these minutes listening to you and witnessing your life journey; it is a sweet reminder that we all have more things in common than we think. You are the best. ♥📚 PD: I bursted out laughing at 1:00 (thanks for that Holly). I would LOVE if you give us a “a day in your life” vlog or a "Studying alone in Dublin", like the ones you did in NYC.

[@HollyJaneYT]

Ah, Felipe 😍 thanks for the lovely words. I’ll get a vlog up soon! ❤️

[@HollyJaneYT]

Friends! :) Thank you for watching, and for allowing me to share some of my life outside of my PhD here on KZbin. I hope you are all well, and are able to enjoy some time off this summer ❤ Say hi below! X

[@carolspencer468]

Hello stranger! So so pleased to see your face on my feed today :) I think that currently, as a culture, we glamourise 'the grind', 'the side hustle' and general 24/7 work culture. Partly because the cost of living is so expensive but I also think more than ever, social media has us wanting & yearning more than ever before for material 'things' or very exclusive and therefore expensive, experiences. I love to have days where I literally go with the flow. I walk the dogs, try not to scroll too much and generally just sit with myself. Thank you for the wisdom! x

[@HollyJaneYT]

This is it, Katie. The cost of living thing, honestly…. If my parents hadn’t been so generous in helping me this year with a place to live and space to recover, I’d not have been able to manage. It is a place of privilege, frankly, and I don’t know where I’d have been without it. I hope you are well, pal ❤️

[@thechristianacademic2100]

Hi Holly! I watched you during the first year of my PhD - you were def my goal inspo! This video is spot on. I was rear-ended in February of this year and had to take off from work because of my concussion. In that time I started to realize that the PhD lifestyle is PURE masculine energy, while I was pursuing academia for something more 'feminine' (contemplating, flow, receiving ideas etc.,). I decided to leave the PhD program. Everyone saying "it's so hard", "it's the hardest thing I've ever done", "it was pure agony for 5 years", "it broke my soul" suddenly sounded like the red flags they really were. Before the accident they just seemed like challenges. Anyways, I'm happy you recovered your flow during Hermit mode. Receiving is a huge part of life....and not to make it gushy...but receiving is a part of relationships and love too.

[@HollyJaneYT]

Hey, pal! First of all, I hope you are okay!!! 🙏👀 stupid drivers. This comment is spot on. It’s hard to unsee the masculine energy associated with academia once you notice it and I’ll be completely honest - spending years 1-2 of my programme in isolation during Covid meant that I’m really only realizing the true extent of the hustle now that I’m out in the world a bit more. I’m doing a lot of soul searching in relation to how compatible the PhD programme is with what I want for myself and it’s a conversation I imagine a lot of us have at some point before/during the programme. Thanks for taking the time to say hello, I hope you’re recovering well! ❤️

[@fadi.almasalmah]

I needed this video so much at this time of my PhD, I hope I will not forget it in the noise of the internet. Thanks Holly!

[@HollyJaneYT]

I'm so glad ❤️

[@KaelynGraceApple]

I love your videos so much Holly

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thank you Kaelyn ❤️❤️ I’m silently following your London adventures both here and on TikTok - I’m glad you and Moo are settling in okay x

[@massaglia]

@HollyJaneYT & @KaelynGraceApple 🤗 You both are amazing! Thank you.

[@Dr.JubairsFinance]

You've come such a long way in your KZbin journey, glad that I could see it from the beginning :)

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thanks Jubair! ❤️

[@bryndis1975]

I love this! I'm working on slowing down my life, at least my personal life and just living intentionally. Life in academia is very much the hustle game, at least at the early stage where I am, and avoiding burn out can be hard. Remembering what brings me joy is key, for sure. Thanks for this video, a good reminder to us all!

[@HollyJaneYT]

❤️ thanks for saying hi, Bryndis - I hope you are well! X

[@justamberreading]

Holly! I missed you and so happy you are back at vlogging.

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thank you, Amber - I hope you are well! ❤️

[@noblethoughts4500]

This is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.❤

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thank you so much!

[@nattynoodlenutkin]

Oh hey Princess ;-) Girl, the edit on this was wicked. Also, I fully approve (and have observed myself) the full hermit mode while dealing with the difficult aspects of life. I'm super guilty of judging myself far harsher than even my harshest of critics - I even imagine conversations and emails expressing disappointment that never actually materialise, so I feel you! I've taken a step back from the crushing self-imposed pressure the last couple weeks and have gone back to swimming in the mornings and jumping waves in the sea. I'm feeling so much more energised! Now to rebuild the lego tower of things I need to do! Sending much love as always, you little star, you! xx

[@HollyJaneYT]

Oh ma gaaaash - that sounds dreamy! I love feeling like a kid in the sea and the waves 😅🙈 sending all the love right back, Nat ❤️❤️❤️

[@Olive_CP]

Commenting, in part, for the algorithm but mainly to say hello and thank you for existing. I'm entering the 4th year of my PhD (no where near finished... what a unique story ;) ) and am largely socially isolated. So these deeper chats help me feel connected.

[@HollyJaneYT]

Oh, pal. Thank YOU for saying hi. I’ve got a vlog with lots of PhD real-talk coming up in a weeks time. I think we all benefit from chatting about the ups and downs that realistically accompany our research. I hope some of it will resonate and that you are managing okay ❤️❤️❤️

[@eleanorsmith6268]

I was just watching your critical thinking video and thinking I was missing your videos!! ❤

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thanks Eleanor :) going easy on myself. Not sticking to much of a schedule right now, it doesn't feel necessary. Thanks for the kind words! I hope you are well ❤️

[@sd44627]

Thank you!

[@HollyJaneYT]

You're welcome!

[@theroguescholarmanual]

Needed to hear this. Thank you Holly!

[@HollyJaneYT]

Hope you are well, pal ❤️

[@raheltd]

I'm totally with you!! I just went swimming and I was thinking about your "ice baths" video... Well, it's not cold right now, but it still felt therapeutic. Thanks for this video ☺

[@HollyJaneYT]

It is SO GOOD to hear from you, Rahel. I hope you are well ❤️ Are you in Finland still or back in Italy? I am wishing you a happy and healthy summer wherever you are - full of swims! 😅 xx

[@raheltd]

@@HollyJaneYT I'm still in Finland, enjoying the swimming pool because the Baltic Sea is not exactly "appealing" to me 😅 I hope you'll enjoy the Irish summer!

[@HollyJaneYT]

I’ve dipped my toes in the Baltic Sea and couldn’t go any further 🙈🤣☠️ I

[@emmab1510]

What a great video Holly! Thank you so much for sharing your lessons here. There is so much value in being in the now rather than feeling like we’re not “there” yet 💕

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thanks Emma - I hope you are well! Are you back in law full-time now that the thesis is complete, or has academia pulled you in? 🤓😍 x

[@emmab1510]

@@HollyJaneYT Atm I am teaching at uni and I love that! I'm doing a presentation to PhD peers tomorrow as a final hoorah for my process. So excited!

[@edoagvw]

Thanks Holly ! Amazing video… if you are ever in London please give me shout! I’d love to have coffee with you and chat!!!

[@HollyJaneYT]

I'll actually be there this weekend, but on a flying trip - another time! Thanks for saying hello 😄

[@maryap8821]

Such a great video, Holly!

[@HollyJaneYT]

Thanks Mary 😍

[@_infinitedomain]

Love your videos, thanks for this

[@HollyJaneYT]

Glad you like them!

[@Heyu7her3]

I think my goals enjoy breaking up with me before I've realized that we're in a relationship 😅😢

[@HollyJaneYT]

Bahahaha! 🤩🤣 saaaaame

[@gkorbut]

Breaking up with goals for a short time was beneficial for me...until the dreaded 'existential metrics bogeyman' reared its ugly head, reminding me that without a checklist to work through, am I really alive? **cringe** I'll go back and re-watch this to see what I missed. 🙂 I think I'm just over the break I took from my MTS program and need to put my energy to use again (but perhaps work at not using it as an ontological support mechanism....I am NOT my academic life, I am NOT my academic life. *chortle*. Mindfulness is such a pain in the ass.

[@HollyJaneYT]

I agree with this. I took a much-needed break. And now I’m ready to move again. It’s just cycles, innit 😅🤓