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I’m going to write a thread about work life balance in academia and it is going to BLOW YOUR MIND
(maybe)
(maybe)
So I’ve been incredibly fortunate lately to have some time with a job coach through my work and it’s been glorious. Highly recommend if you can persuade your employer to splash out.
At my last session we were talking about the perpetual spectre of “work-life balance” and trying to work out what I could do to “fix” it.
I know I don’t want time management tips. I am frickin excellent at time management.
My problem is sheer volume...
My problem is sheer volume...
But I also know that this isn’t about saying No.
I am officially a Saying No Pro and I’ve got the blogs to prove it.
I am officially a Saying No Pro and I’ve got the blogs to prove it.
So what it is about?
It’s about guilt. Specifically:
1. Guilt that I ought to spend more time with my family
2. Guilt that I am a poor role model for researchers coming up.
Let’s tackle them one at a time.
It’s about guilt. Specifically:
1. Guilt that I ought to spend more time with my family
2. Guilt that I am a poor role model for researchers coming up.
Let’s tackle them one at a time.
Why do I feel guilty about spending more time with my family? I tell you, none of it comes from the family themselves. Apart from the odd rolled eyes when I claim “next month will be less busy” my working patterns cause zero problems at home
I have a great relationship with my spouse & kids. In fact one of the things I love about academia is the flexibility it offers. I can take a day when they’re sick, I can attend sports day, I can take a break from 3pm to pick up my kids from school, do home work and cook tea.
I don’t cook tea every day - far from it - but actually I do find my job pretty family friendly in the sense that I have a lot of power and choice about how I spend my time.
(At my career stage, that is)
(At my career stage, that is)
Instead I am pretty sure I feel guilty because society says that I, as a mother, should be with my kids more. I should pick them up every day, not once a week. I should have breakfast AND supper with them every day, not either/or.
So Guilt Number One can get in the bin.
On to Guilt Number Two: setting an example.
I strongly reject the model that says you have to work all hours to be a successful academic - but still reply to emails on a Sunday afternoon.
I strongly reject the model that says you have to work all hours to be a successful academic - but still reply to emails on a Sunday afternoon.
I worry that I am part of the problem. That people think they have to be like me to be an academic.
But I’ve realised the problem here is the framing “work-life balance”.
But I’ve realised the problem here is the framing “work-life balance”.
If we think work and life are different things. If we think work drains us and life (which happens outside work) replenishes us... then yes. I’m a workaholic and a poor role model.
But my work doesn’t drain me - or at least, most of it doesn’t. It energises me. It brings me joy and satisfaction and challenges that I relish.
So instead of worrying about “work life balance” from now on, I’m going to focus on balancing the things that energise me - which includes being with my kids and writing papers - against the things that don’t - laundry, expense claims. That’s the balance that matters.
This model helps me understand why I find it so hard to reduce my workload. It’s because such a lot of it is a positive and marvellous part of my life.
And in terms of what other people see, I’m going to shift the emphasis from now on away from apologising for my email answering habits and onto encouraging folk in my team to find what energises them, and do that.
