• Question: How does your work affect you mentally, and do you still have free time?

    Asked by anon-235998 to Tom, Rachel, Priya, Jessica, Dan, Beatrice on 9 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Priya Silverstein

      Priya Silverstein answered on 9 Mar 2020:

      I make sure that I only work 9-5 for my job, but then I have other work that I don’t get paid for that I’m always finishing off in the evenings and weekends (I’m still finishing writing my PhD thesis, and I have ongoing papers I’m writing that aren’t related to my job, and then outreach stuff like this – I’m currently answering these questions at midnight). But, I still make sure I have free time to have fun and relax. I can get really overwhelmed and anxious, but at the moment the sunshine and the spring flowers have given me a little boost – I have a lot more energy in Spring and Summer.

    • Photo: Beatrice Hayes

      Beatrice Hayes answered on 10 Mar 2020:

      This is a really important question. It can get really stressful sometimes, so I always make sure that I do lots of things in my spare time that I enjoy. Even if I just treat myself to a face mask and a nice film, that can help me unwind after a stressful day. I think it’s the little things that can help 🙂

    • Photo: Jessica Pope

      Jessica Pope answered on 10 Mar 2020:

      It affects me mentally quite a lot, as there’s always a lot to do with prep, teaching, marking as well as all the stuff I have to do for my PhD. When you’re sending work to supervisors, they will always find something wrong with it which sometimes makes me feel like I’m a bit stupid. Plus my PhD topic is quite draining emotionally. But I just try and think that my supervisors are pushing me to be the best I can be and do the best work I can do, and that the research I’m doing is important and might help a lot of people. I make sure I keep a 9-5 schedule though and don’t do work/pick up emails on evenings and weekends so that I have time for me. I usually spend it visiting my boyfriend or hanging out with friends

    • Photo: Tom Gallagher-Mitchell

      Tom Gallagher-Mitchell answered on 10 Mar 2020:

      I agree with all the previous comments, if we let it a lot of academic and research work can blur into home time. Since having a break from work to adopt my twins, i have a newfound perspective on separating home and work time. Weekends are for family as are evenings, so I try to keep work in work hours (generally) as I want to have quality time in both roles.

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