Everything is Better After PhD, A Personal Story of Growth, Balance, and Joy

3 minute read

“Everything is better after a PhD”—one of my colleagues told me this, and honestly, I didn’t believe it at first. But now, I do. Here’s why.

Hi, I’m Shuvangkar Das. I recently completed my PhD on March 13, 2025, and just before that—on January 20th—I started my full-time journey as a researcher.

It’s been a few months since then. And I can confidently say this:

My life is more balanced, productive, and joyful now than ever before.

Let me take you through this transformation.

The Final Stretch: Stressful but Worth It

In December 2024, I received my full-time offer. That meant I had to join before finishing my dissertation or defense.

So, from January to March, I was working full-time and wrapping up my PhD.
Yes, it was stressful. But I powered through—finalizing my results, defending my thesis on March 30, and finally walking across the stage at commencement on May 8.

That moment was surreal. It felt like a heavy weight had lifted.

Life After PhD

1. A Balanced Routine I Never Had Before

Now my life is refreshingly structured.
🕘 I go to the office 9–5
🕖 Come home, cook a meal
🎬 Watch a serial with my wife
😴 Go to bed by 10 PM
🌞 Wake up around 5–6 AM, feeling fully rested

That routine alone has done wonders for my physical and mental health.

2. Health Improvements I Didn’t Expect

Before, I was constantly sleep-deprived. Working under lab lights gave me headaches. I couldn’t focus for long hours.

Now?
✅ I sleep 8 hours
✅ No more headaches
✅ Sharper focus at work
✅ No burnout
✅ I even lost 8–9 pounds in just one month

It’s amazing what rest and routine can do.

3. I Finally Have Time for My Hobbies

Thanks to early mornings, I get 2+ hours of uninterrupted time before work.
And here’s what I’ve done with that:

✍️ Published 25+ blog posts in just one week
📄 Reviewed research papers I submitted months ago
🎥 Planning to restart my YouTube channel next month (I made an Obsidian second-brain tutorial back in 2022)

4. Working With the Best Minds in the World

At EPRI, I now collaborate with researchers from all over the world—experts in optimization, protection, distribution, transmission, and inverter systems.

Each day is a learning experience. I’m exposed to new ideas, tools, and systems. And I no longer stay stuck on problems for days like I used to during my PhD.

🙌 Need help? Someone’s always there to brainstorm with.
📈 Result? I’m publishing more research papers than ever—thanks to these brilliant collaborations.

5. Travel, Food, and Fishing — The Bonus Life Perks

Another beautiful side of post-PhD life:
🌍 Monthly travel for work
🍱 Amazing food in new cities
🎣 Weekend fishing trips
🧳 Freedom to take leave and unwind whenever I need

It’s not just about career growth anymore. It’s about living fully.

Key Takeaways

🎯 Work-life balance is real—and it works. Rest fuels productivity.
📚 Learning never stops. Collaboration accelerates growth.
🎨 Hobbies thrive with time freedom. Creativity blooms in calm mornings.
🌿 Life is more than just work. It’s about joy, people, travel, and doing what you love.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the middle of your PhD and everything feels overwhelming, just remember:

The end is not just about finishing your degree—it’s the beginning of a life that can be fuller, healthier, and way more exciting.

Have you recently finished your PhD or made a big career transition?
👇 I’d love to hear how life changed for you in the comments.

👋 About Me

Hi, I’m Shuvangkar Das, a power systems researcher with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University. I work at the intersection of power electronics, DER, IBR, and AI — building greener, smarter, and more stable grids. Currently, I’m a Research Scientist at EPRI (though everything I share here reflects my personal experience, not my employer’s views).

Over the years, I’ve worked on real-world projects involving large scale EMT simulation and firmware development for grid-forming and grid following inverter and reinforcement learning (RL). I also publish technical content and share hands-on insights with the goal of making complex ideas accessible to engineers and researchers.

📺 Subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I share tutorials, code walk-throughs, and research productivity tips.

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