Dear Reader,
Happy New Year! (Who else is still at the cottage? iykyk)
Let’s talk about 2026 and what we need now.
Me? I need fun. There’s not enough fun in my life.
I spent too many years on Twitter not to immediately want to caveat that with I KNOW I have it better than 95% of the world etc.
But still, fun.
It’s important beyond “you get to want things you want” (you do!) because you can’t do any potentially world-changing stuff if you can’t keep yourself going.
(Are 46-year-old women allowed to have fun? Aren’t I supposed to be working full-time, care-giving full-time, and disassociating in between?)
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH MY BUSINESS?
Work should be fun too, some of the time!
To be more specific about it, yes, I’m talking laughter and delight and joy.
But I’m also talking about meaningfulness and fulfillment, doing things that make you feel like yourself even if they’re hard or you (right now) suck at them.
That’s what I want to lean into: Drawing on my strengths, having fun, and letting what I know about myself guide my career decisions.
What do you think? Where’s your head at this day/week/month/year?
Or (and this is more fun) tell me why you think Heated Rivalry is exactly what we all need right now. 🍁🏒💦❤️🍑🫐🍌
What’s Happening
- The PhD Career Clarity Program is open for enrollment! Perfect for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who are ready to leave academia, discover meaningful career paths elsewhere, and pursue them with clarity and confidence.
- Free Wednesday co-working starts up again Wednesday at 10am ET.
- Want more co-working? Sign up for Flow Club, where I’m a regular host. Use my link to get a free two-week trial.
Cheers,
Jen
P.S. Want to explore working with me? Visit my Services page to learn about options, or reply to this email and let me know what you want my help with!
Jennifer Polk, PhD
Free Webinar Job search advice for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs ready to leave academia
