Prioritize Professional Sustainability

The research on well-being says that small things you encounter frequently (an annoying commute, a task you despise) affect you more than big infrequent ones (a bonus, an award). This is why I ask my PhD students to envision a joyful but ordinary workday. Are you renewed by time alone in the lab, or by running an in-school study? Do you want to be doing one task all day, or do you need a mix of activities? There's more to professional sustainability than these kinds of daily encounters, but it's a really important place to start.