Happy April 1st! The US continues into a month-long shutdown. This time certainly hasn't been easy. I'd like to invite you all to join me in a 500-words/day challenge! To help us stay focused & feel accomplished daily, let's set this goal & finish some grants and manuscripts!

I am two words away from hitting my goal for today, as I continue working on a review paper. What are you writing today? #neuroscience #academictwitter #writingchallenge #500wordsperday #science #quarentinegoals #phdlife #phd #gradschool @waynemedicine @AcademicChatter

500 wrds/day update: 200 more words until I finish my goal for today, then I will be rapidly updating citations and one of my figures before I meet with my mentor via Zoom. Having TWO awesome mentors means I get to have TWO one on ones weekly. They both bring smiles to my face

500 wrds/day update: hit my goal today working on commentaries for my developmental neuroimaging course :) Hope everyone is having a good day today. The weekend is here--treat yourself! If you need a hookup for free yoga via Zoom, DM me and I will connect you! #selfcare #goals

500 wrds/day update: keeping up with my goal even on the weekend! After a 5 mile run, I put my words in by working on a review paper. I have learned so much from this project, and I recommend all #PhDCandidates write review papers on topics relevant to their fields. #goals #STEM

500 wrds/day update: felt really sad this morning, but lifted my spirits by running another 5 miles. I was in a better place to hit my goal by writing a specific aims page for a new grant I am working on. Trying to #staypositive and #productive during this tough time. #phd #STEM

500 wrds/day update: felt really cranky today, and it was hard to get my words on paper, but I did it. One paper will be coming out very soon, but I am not taking any breaks! #science #publishing #writing #academia #writingchallenge #phd #phdlife #grad #gradschool #writing #STEM

500 wrds/day update: hitting my goal working on my poster for @SOBP Conference. While the conference may be cancelled, we will still be uploading our posters for e-viewing! #SoBP #BiologicalPsychiatry #FearPotentiatedStartle #Neuroscience #WomeninScience #STEM #Psychiatry #Trauma

500 wrds/day update: split my words today finishing up my poster for @SOBP (featuring data from the #AURORA study of adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae) and a new #grant that I am working on with my mentors. Happy to create a virtual #SoBP conference via e-posters!

500 wrds/day update: knocked out my goal after a day full of meetings working on the initial drafting of a new #imaging #grant ! I am really excited about the potential for this project, and having future goals and projects to look forward to keeps me going during this tough time

500 wrds/day update: hit the goal before 10am working on a #neuroimaging #grant

500 wrds/day update: was really sleepy and lazy today. The weekends are a time for me to process #COVID19 related distress that I try suppress throughout the workweek to make it through. After watching a lot of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, I hit my goal working on my grant.

500 wrds/day update: already knocked out my 500 words (and even more) today working on a grant and corresponding presentation. Ready to run off the delicious Sunday breakfast I made, and then make some banana bread tonight! #quarantine #academictwitter #writingchallenge #goals

500 wrds/day update: today's words came slowly. I slept in after an emotional evening processing the losses from #COVID19 I am grateful to have a career in which working from home, and being able to set a writing goal like this one, is possible. #grantsmanship #grantwriting #PhD

500 words/day update: hit my goal today split on multiple tasks for similar overlapping projects. Tomorrow is another brighter day. Hoping to start it with yoga and a positive outlook

500 wrds/day update: Started off the day stronger and brighter by shaping my own flows and doing vinyasa at home. I hit my goal after team meetings and a grand rounds talk on Gender Dysphoria by writing an abstract for the ACCESS Arab Health Summit and working on a grant #phd

500 words/day update for yesterday: didn’t tweet it but still hit my goal working on a SECOND grant. Being productive while in quarantine #COVID19 #writingchallenge #phd #gradschool #grantwriting

500 wrds/day update: lots and lots of words today working on a community partnership grant application. Really excited for the potential of this project. Writing two grants simultaneously is challenging, but daily goal setting keeps me on track. #goalsetting #academictwitter #phd

500 wrds/day update: feels like I have been clawing at these words today. A nice long drive made the world seem bigger than it has this past month

500 wrds/day update for yesterday: took the day off actually; knocked out 500 words on a grant application to make up for it this morning. Was good to take a day off.

500 wrds/day update: switched over from grant writing back to review paper writing, which is one of my favorite projects I am working on right now. Sometimes personal interests supersede deadlines when you are having a hard time focusing! Goal achieved for yesterday and today

500 words/day update: May not have tweeted it but really crushed it writing a review paper yesterday. It’s nearing the end of the first draft and I have to say I’m really proud of it!

500 wrds/day update: today was a good work day but a slightly frustrating day working with lavaan. I spent my words today on writing the beginnings of my final paper for my SEM course, which I hope to turn into an actual manuscript for publication! #writingchallenge #gradschool

500 wrds/day update: writing today was devoted to a poster for my SEM course (which I very well may completely redo before submission tomorrow) and working on the second of two grants I am currently writing. My back is hurting; I need an at home desk! #SendHelp #WFH #GradSchool

500 words/day update: scraped the old SEM project, did a new one for my stats final the poster is done and submitted; now just need to finish the paper for next week and I’ll be done with my third year as a PhD candidate!

500 words/day update: devoted my writing time today to my final paper for my last class of PhD year three! And finished a 3.5 mile run. 3s and 5s seem to be my magic number lately, but I’ll be turning 24 on May 1st! #phd #phdchat #writingchallenge #scientist #runner #gradschool