“Are you ready to give your life up to the PhD? In research, there is no such thing as “work-life balance”. These words shot through my computer screen during a virtual PhD admissions interview with Dr. B. (“B” for blunt), a professor I was interested in working with. To this day, I still cannot discern if they were trying to gauge my commitment to research or get me excited about the prospect of devoting my life to something wholeheartedly. In truth, I hope it was both.
While Dr. B.’s bluntness was unexpected, what is most shocking is that more people do not embrace the reality of life as a researcher. It seems that we assume that a developed career goes hand-in-hand with a period of time where we pretend that we don’t have a job to do; namely, a vacation. I love vacations. However, I have grown up to believe that if you do not look forward to not working, then you’re not doing it right. Remember that time in your life when finding something interesting was enough to call it a day? No grant applications, no meetings, no emails, and certainly no meetings that could have been emails. It was during these curious days that we all began to lay the foundation that was going to put us in the position we are in today as trainees, early investigators, professors, and everything in between. As science faces competing forces, a call to action is pertinent, especially among those transitioning into a career in research. In this article, I offer the opportunity to rethink the meaning of “work-life balance” and even the definition of the word “work” itself.
Curiosity
The term “curious” should not only bring images of youth and naivety. Curiosity is as serious to research as food on the table is to our loved ones and us. Unprecedented forces have destabilized the state of research, and the automatic response has been to adapt accordingly so that those driving science forward may sustain a living. Unfortunately, yet understandably, this means that authentic ideas driven by curiosity are put on standby until “things work themselves out”. Now, I do not think anyone expects that the government, for example, will provide accommodations for the unsatisfied passions that drive scientists to show up to work every day. However, this irony should not be an excuse to put authentic ideas on standby. It seems that the current state of research enables the concept of “work-life balance” to mean something akin to “misery”. Just in case things never work themselves out, it’s important to find ways to enjoy showing up every day. Adaptation during difficult times may include compliance, but it does not call for the sacrifice of your scientific curiosity.
Acknowledging responsibility
While we are far from superheroes, it is imperative to understand that “with great power comes great responsibility”. This may have been what Dr. B. was alluding to: “Are you prepared to accept the responsibility of becoming a researcher?” Simply put, a good researcher is responsible for the quality of the work they produce and thereby the accuracy of knowledge the world understands. To some, this undertaking is beyond their interest, and to others it is exactly up their alley. A researcher that belongs to the former category is likely to interpret a lack of work-life balance in research as dreadful, and one belonging to the latter category may be unable to make sense of the concept. Indeed, if the words “work” and “life” are synonymous, then balance naturally follows. This stands true alongside the reality that overworking is toxic, under one condition: our work has to be meaningful to us. Without meaning, what could be enjoyable, consistent effort despite unrelenting obstacles becomes what feels like an eternal chore of pushing a boulder up a mountain with no summit. To those beginning their transition into a career in research, it is necessary to consider the terms and conditions sooner rather than later.
Once immersed in a laboratory conducting rigorous science, you will quickly find that all threads connecting to your daily tasks (big and small) will be based on integrity, detail, and consistency. Accordingly, you will become reliable, detail-oriented, and perseverant. Whether you consider this a burden or a blessing may be the biggest indicator of your alignment with a career in research.
Putting it together
When I asked bank tellers, cashiers, and friends how they defined the word “work”, none of their responses included anything about their occupation. Some provided a deep response about the exchange of time and energy for a good, while others described it as simply working toward something. One could argue that these responses are equal descriptions of the word “life”. This thought experiment underscores the idea that work and play overlap in their roles in our lives. If you’ve ever felt like things were going well, or expressing gratitude was becoming automatic, it’s possible that work was blending in with play and vice versa. For example, some may find the act of running after a long day’s work helpful for a variety of reasons. For some, it may serve as a mental break from a wildly stimulating laboratory, and for others, it may be a space to enjoy uninterrupted bouts of productive yet rejuvenating brainstorming. In either case, running can provide mental recovery and also serve the following day’s work with a fresh mind and/or new ideas. So, is running play or work? While idealistic thinking can be criticized as being overly optimistic, it’s exciting to imagine a career in which research projects and hobbies are based on the same commitment to upholding meaning – whatever that looks like to you. Viewed with this lens, emerging here is a major opportunity to shift the public’s perception from the stereotypical workaholic “mad scientist” to a person who takes science personally and reflects that in their daily life.
Conclusion
I hope that by the end of this article, you consider how these ideas fit into your life as someone interested in research, medicine, industry, or any other workspace. I write from the perspective of a researcher because I’m a PhD student (Dr. B. would be proud), but I believe this take on “work-life balance” can be applied to all occupations. Frankly, there is no reason work should not be taken personally in any setting. To medical students, research trainees, and professors, there is nothing more personal than following the childhood dream to serve others, seek new knowledge, or both. While a turn of events can leave us frustrated and discouraged, remember that balance is embedded in acceptance and commitment to a life at work.