Lifestyle
Blog topics ranging from my latest handbag acquisition, wellness practices, and intentional living to tips on achieving work-life harmony and mindfulness.
Thriving in Academia: A Guide for New Professors
I still remember the feeling. I had the PhD, the freshly printed business cards, and a new office with my name on the door. After years of grinding through my dissertation, I had finally arrived. I was officially an Assistant Professor. I thought I had the map,...
The Intentional Academic: Designing a Career You Love
Are you living the academic career you designed, or the one that just... happened? For years, I operated on the academic treadmill, chasing the next publication, the next grant, the next course evaluation score. I was doing all the "right" things, but I felt a growing...
Intentional Living: Designing a Life You Love
Not too long ago, I was overwhelmed, overcommitted, and underwhelmed by my life. I was navigating the relentless pressures of an academic career, juggling personal commitments, and recovering from life's unexpected turns, including a car accident. My days were a blur...
The Scholar’s Unburdening: Navigating Burnout in Academia and Student Life
The Whisper of Burnout: Are You Listening? It starts as a low hum, a quiet whisper in the back of your mind. For academics, it’s the late nights grading papers, the pressure to publish, and the endless weight of administrative tasks. For students, it’s the gnawing...
How to Get a Tenure-Track Job in Your Early 30s: A Complete Timeline and Strategy
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I earned my tenure-track position at a fantastic university in my 30s, and while I am incredibly proud of my journey, I often wonder: could I have gotten here sooner? The answer, I believe, is a resounding yes. The path to a...
Your Essential Winter Reset: 4 Powerful Steps for Academics to Thrive
The last grade is submitted. The office door is closed. The silence you’ve been craving all semester finally arrives... so why does it feel so unsettling? For many of us in the academic world, true rest feels impossible. The moment we slow down, the guilt rushes in....
Finding Moments of Luxury in the Chaos of Academic Life
It's 2:47 PM on a Wednesday in late November, and I can feel the wave coming. Seventy-seven final exams will land on my desk in the first week of December. Sixty-one assignments are waiting to be graded. There's a journal paper on my desk that needs editing—revisions...
How to Disagree with Your Boss (and Still Be Heard)
We've all been there. A decision comes down from leadership that you fundamentally disagree with. It might be a new policy, a restructured workflow, or a change to how you're expected to do your job. The immediate feeling is often a mix of frustration, anxiety, and a...
The Intentional Beauty Edit: A Sephora Haul Designed with Purpose
I’ve officially retired from random beauty purchases. My bathroom cabinet used to resemble a museum of impulse buys, but my philosophy has undergone a profound shift—from haphazard collecting to mindful curating. I no longer want a shelf full of products; I demand a...
Easy Fall Dessert: A Spiced Plum Cake with Reduced Sugar
In my neck of the woods, there’s a distinct shift in the air come October. The world ignites in a final, brilliant show of crimson and gold, and a crisp chill whispers of the cozy days ahead. My instinct during this seasonal turn is always the same: to preheat the...
Hi, I’m Ivy.
Associate Professor by day and Luxury everything enthusiast by weekend.
I created “Brilliantly Ivy” to share my experiences, hold-ups, and thoughts as a university professor. It’s a space where I express my opinions on teaching, research, maintaining an academic career, and doing life meaningfully. I love showcasing my style through my lens. My style is pretty simple and classic. I enjoy a well-curated closet, a good handbag, and an americano… or iced coffee. You’ll read about journal rejections, my beauty favourites, and my handbag wish list. “Brilliantly Ivy” reflects my belief that academia is a brilliant and fulfilling career choice and can be more gratifying when you relate with the right mentors who guide, being authentic in what you are looking for in academia- our journeys are different.
Get ready to embark on a journey filled with academic wisdom, lifestyle musings, and the occasional farm adventure.
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