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Mrs Mummy PhD

Journeys of Becoming...

Love, Family & Lifestyle

Mrs Mummy PhD | Journeys of Becoming

Personal Growth & Wellness

PhD & Beyond

Mrs Mummy PhD | Journeys of Becoming - My Bookshelf
  • The 5 Hidden Traps Scholarly Mamas Fall Into & How to Spot Them

    As a Mama pursuing your PhD, you've probably noticed that no one warned you about the invisible barriers that would pop up along your academic journey. These hidden traps can significantly impact your ...

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    The 5 Hidden Traps Scholarly Mamas Fall Into & How to Spot Them
  • From Overwhelmed to Award-Winning: How I Finished My PhD Well

    Seven years into my PhD journey, with three young sons and a mountain of unfinished work, I found myself at a breaking point. The weight of academic expectations, combined with the demands of ...

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    From Overwhelmed to Award-Winning: How I Finished My PhD Well
  • Why Scholarly Mamas Don’t Need More Productivity Hacks (+ What They Need Instead)

    "I need more productivity hacks!... If only I could just wake up at 4 AM… I wish I could just time-block everything… If only I could just find the right morning routine…"Sound familiar? As academic ...

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    Why Scholarly Mamas Don’t Need More Productivity Hacks (+ What They Need Instead)
  • From Stuck and Stressed To Submitted: How I Finished My PhD Thesis As a Mama of 3

    Being a Mama on a doctoral journey is like piloting a plane that feels impossibly heavy. You're sitting at the gate, knowing you need to take off, but the weight of responsibilities makes even the ...

    Read More

    From Stuck and Stressed To Submitted: How I Finished My PhD Thesis As a Mama of 3
Welcome Mama!

As a wife and Mama of three boys with a PhD and career in tow, I fully understand how challenging it can be to juggle all the things.

As driven and ambitious as we may think we are, we know full well that none of these commitments exist in a vacuum.

‘Doing it all’ becomes a difficult, complex navigation full of the ‘ups, downs and all arounds’ in which we can easily lose ourselves under the pressure…

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a busy Mama wearing many hats and trying to navigate family, career and PhD life.

You also probably feel like a ‘Jill of all trades but a Master of none’ as you juggle all the things…

Michelle | Mrs Mummy PhD
Mrs Mummy PhD - Photo Credit: Peacelily Photography

YOU ARE NOT ALONE...

I SEE YOU. I FEEL YOU.

I KNOW THIS JOURNEY WELL!

As a Scholarly Mama® of three, I’ve struggled with all of the above on top of feeling guilt-ridden, isolated, on the verge of burnout and giving up on my scholarly ambitions so many times…

Until I discovered a different way!

I went from feeling overwhelmed, unfulfilled, and trapped in the throes of the juggle-struggle to thriving, finding joy in the blend, and creating a Scholarly Mama® life I don’t want to constantly escape from!

I am incredibly proud of my ambitious academic accomplishments, but I also love how I show up for myself in the other dimensions of my life and the woman I’ve become on my journey of scholarly motherhood. 

I now help Mamas like you, to wear both the ambitious and purposeful hats you wear without sacrificing what matters most – like yourself or your family!

Mrs Mummy PhD - These are Our Journeys of Becoming

If you are feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle it all, but you also have ambitious scholarly dreams that you are working towards, it’s time to change the burnout narrative!

It’s time to transform the juggle-struggle and reclaim the scholarly joy and purposeful success available to you now, not just when you achieve this or that!

I know it’s not easy when you’re under so much pressure and buried deep in the valley of overwhelm.

But you can opt-in to thrive, driven by clarity, purpose and intention!

The success and fulfilment you desire is just on the other side of the guilt and overwhelm you feel right now.

It’s time to start navigating your Scholarly Mama® life by design and not default!

Start by taking my fun 3-minute quiz below to find out your purposeful Scholarly Mama® trait and get tailored tips on how you can achieve your ambitious goals without sacrificing what matters!

If you’re tired of doing scholarly motherhood alone, and you want to create a scholarly career well without sacrificing yourself or those you love, then you’re in the right place!  

Now, you’ve got TWO options here…

You can continue to do this the hard way, isolated and alone, make zero changes to what you’ve been doing so far, and risk it all…

Or, you can access the space and tools you need so you can thrive academically, build an impactful career as Dr[you], and make yourself and your kids proud, all while protecting the asset in all of this (i.e. you!)!

With all the money, time and effort you’re investing in your academic pursuits, of course your dreams are worth it, your degree is worth it, your career is worth it, your family’s future is worth it, but most importantly Mama, you are worth it!  

So, whenever you’re ready, let’s connect below:

1. Listen to the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast
2. Join Scholarly Mamas®

So Mama, are you in? Fabulous! These are our journeys of becoming 🙂

I can’t wait to see you finish well!

Meet Mrs Mummy PhD®

Hey! I'm Dr Michelle Gibbs and this little corner of the internet exists to help ambitious Mamas like you, achieve your life and academic goals without sacrificing what matters most. If you're juggling family, career, academia and everything else in-between, then it's time to say 'yes' to savouring the moments that truly matter, while doing what sets your heart on fire! So Mama, are you in? Fabulous! These are our journeys of becoming :-)

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If you’re a Mama doing a PhD, you’re going to If you’re a Mama doing a PhD, you’re going to want to listen to this episode with Dr Blessing Adeniyi from @thephdrace 

If you’ve listen to it, share your top highlights in the comments! 

If you haven’t yet, listen to Episode 118 on the @mrsmummyphd podcast! 

Mama, these are our journeys of becoming 🦋

#scholarlymama #mrsmummyphd #thephdrace #journeysofbecoming #gradschool #phdjourney #jugglestruggle #success
Two Mamas with PhDs, one brutally honest conversat Two Mamas with PhDs, one brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to run your own PhD Race...

Dr Blessing Adeniyi from "The PhD Race" @thephdrace just completed her PhD in Sustainability Management while working full-time as a wife and Mama – and she's sharing the mindset shift that changed everything.

This isn't about surviving the juggle struggle; it's about discovering how motherhood can actually become your academic superpower.

If you've ever been told to 'wait until the kids are older' or felt guilty for wanting both intellectual fulfillment AND present motherhood, this conversation will hit differently.

Ready to rewrite the rules? New episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast is live – link shared in stories! 🎧✨

Follow @mrsmummyphd for more!

Remember Mama, these are our journeys of becoming 🦋

#ScholarlyMama #PhDjourney #PhDMama #AcademicMum #WorkingMum #PhDLife #MumLife #AcademicSuccess
If this sounds like you, Mama, you’re in the rig If this sounds like you, Mama, you’re in the right place! 

Subscribe to the podcast (link in bio) or join my email list and let’s help you finish well without sacrificing what matters! 

Follow @mrsmummyphd and @scholarlymamas for more!

These are our journeys of becoming 🦋

#mrsmummyphd #scholarlymama #journeysofbecoming #phd #dr #phdwithkids
In this raw and honest moment from the podcast, Dr In this raw and honest moment from the podcast, Dr Milensu Shanyinde @workacademicmum opens up about the invisible weight so many mothers in academia carry—but rarely speak about.

Juggling her PhD and work life, navigating pregnancy and raising two young daughters during a global pandemic, Milensu talks candidly about the guilt, the overwhelm, and the internal tug-of-war between ambition and motherhood.

If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, questioned your choices, or wondered if you’re doing enough—this episode will hit home for you.

Listen to the full guest episode on the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast for more on Milensu’s journey, the lessons she learned, and the quiet strength behind her success. 

Tune in to also find out the one thing she wish she had while she was navigating PhD life and motherhood simultaneously. 

What I really love about her story isn’t only how she was able to see her PhD through to completion while juggling all the things, but also how she managed to land the leadership role of her dreams in her post-PhD era. 

Listen to the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Tune into my IG stories for a fun bonus clip from the episode!

Remember Mama, these are our jounreys of becoming 🦋

#phdmama #workacademicmum #scholarlymamas #podcast #resilience #theresilientrise #phdjourney
Mama, don’t be distracted by doubters👇🏽

…because your journeys of becoming and purposeful outcomes will always speak for themselves, even if you’re also a Mama!

You’ll have a quiet, peaceful confidence about you that speaks volumes 🗣️

You see, for me, delayed was never denied because I knew there was no ‘standard way’ of navigating a PhD journey. Being a Mama before I began this journey and growing our family further during my PhD enhanced my journey in ways I can never explain… it was definitely not a hindrance or barrier to my success. 

Was it harder? You bet! 

Did it take me longer? Yes, it did. 

Would I do it again? I’m not sure 🤔 

But was it impossible? Clearly not!

What I realised, is that I had to hold the belief in who I was and get clear on my why, because I was enough and so are you! You are more than your PhD.

Follow @mrsmummyphd for more of you’re a Mama doing a PhD and juggling all the things.
Here, we’re turning “I’m overwhelmed” into “I’m enough”. Join us @scholarlymamas 

These are your journeys of becoming 🦋

#phdgraduate #throwback #2024 #journeysofbecoming #scholarlymama #phd #mrsmummyphd #scholarlymamas #youareenough♥️
I nearly quit my PhD more than once... Not becaus I nearly quit my PhD more than once...

Not because I couldn’t do the work—but because I was exhausted, isolated, and felt like no one understood how hard it was to keep holding it all together.

These five truths could’ve saved me so much guilt, self-doubt and second-guessing.

Swipe through if you’re:
– Juggling all the things and writing your PhD thesis during nap times
– Wondering if you’re too behind to finish
– Feeling like both a horrible Mama and PhD student who is always in survival mode

If this sounds like you, you are not broken. You’re just juggling a whole lot alone—without the village/support you deserve.

💬If this hits home, DM me 'WELL' and let’s get you connected, refocused, grounded again, and back on track—without burning out.

#phd #gradschoollife #phdlife #workingmum #scholarlymama #mumsofinstagram #academiccoach
"I can't tell you how many failed grant applicatio "I can't tell you how many failed grant applications I have had in the past year. They've been quite a few!..." she said. 

This was a conversation I had last week with a very senior colleague... 

It was a powerful moment of exchange.... 

She went on to share how many unsuccessful grant applications she'd had in the past year... 

I also shared similar experiences of 'failure'...

The wins and successes we've had have been amazing but the failures have definitely stung HARD!

Two researchers, very different on paper...
And yet... 
The level of shared understanding between us was profound.
The shared experience of 'failure' was normalised.
The effort was valued and appreciated.
The mutual support was beautiful.

We both felt seen, heard and understood.

But we both left that call inspired and motivated to not give up!

And so, here's the thing.... there is so much power in these conversations.

Sometimes you may never know the impact that a mundane interaction / mutual exchange can have, but I believe these conversations are so needed - not to champion mediocrity or diminish standards of academic excellence, but to normalise unsuccessful attempts, to celebrate effort and intention even when they don't lead to the desired outcome, to help us realise the potential for personal or professional growth and to motivate us to keep going.

Want more? Tune into Episodes 85 and 86 of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast whereever you get your podcasts! 

These are our journeys of becoming 🦋

 #mrsmummyphd #scholarlymamas #scholarlymama #reframefailure #celebrate #youareenough #keepgoing
Are you holding onto a previous version of yoursel Are you holding onto a previous version of yourself that no longer exists? I’ve recently sat with this thought… the reflections were powerful.

Here’s what my brain offered:

As a Mama juggling all the things, you’re allowed to use your PhD to design the life and career of your dreams, even if it looks different from what others expected of you or what you once thought it would look like yourself!

It’s okay if the current version of you is not the same version of you that got you to where you are. One may align with what is expected, the other may align with who/what/where you need to be in this season of life…

You can absolutely chart your own path without losing the skills you’ve accumulated over the years! A mindset of career creativity & design is the best gift you can give yourself while on the journey…

Join me on my brand new broadcast channel and let’s talk about this and more!

These are our journeys of becoming 🦋

Follow @mrsmummyphd and @scholarlymamas for more!

#scholarlymama #mrsmummyphd #journeysofbecoming #scholarlymamas #gradschool
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