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Are you striving for work life balance? I was in a great symposium at #SPSP2021 on how to better achieve work life balance.
I'll share the lessons in a thread below and here are my slides if you want to read more: https://www.slideshare.net/JayVanBavel/work-life-balance-242697225
I'll share the lessons in a thread below and here are my slides if you want to read more: https://www.slideshare.net/JayVanBavel/work-life-balance-242697225
The first talk was from Abigail Scholer who immediately pointed out that it was ironic that we were doing this session on a Saturday and several of us are trying to juggle child care.
This points to the structural barriers endemic to this issue.
This points to the structural barriers endemic to this issue.
There are "seasons" in our life or career that require different solutions.
It's important to understand that your work life balance needs and barriers change as we move through our career. We need to stay flexible and change our approach accordingly.
It's important to understand that your work life balance needs and barriers change as we move through our career. We need to stay flexible and change our approach accordingly.
The next talk was from @Sakiera_Hudson who gave lots of great advice as an early career person.
In particular, there are power dynamics embedded in achieving work-life balance: we need perspective taking to make it easier on lower-power people and also to give grace to others.
In particular, there are power dynamics embedded in achieving work-life balance: we need perspective taking to make it easier on lower-power people and also to give grace to others.
@Sakiera_Hudson also had great concrete advice for tracking your time to ensure you are achieving your actual goals.
You should budget twice as much time as you think for most projects, block off time on your calendar for projects you value, and track how much time you spend.
You should budget twice as much time as you think for most projects, block off time on your calendar for projects you value, and track how much time you spend.
The last talk was from @hainese who spoke about the gender issues embedded in work-life balance.
She spoke about the second shift and invisible burden that mothers bear and the scope of work that is expected of an academic partner because their work is seen as more flexible.
She spoke about the second shift and invisible burden that mothers bear and the scope of work that is expected of an academic partner because their work is seen as more flexible.
My talk focused on expectations imposed on academics.
As @jacasiegel sagely pointed out recently: We are expected to be brilliant at research, teaching, mentoring, writing grants, presenting, service, etc while also maintaining a work-life balance
As @jacasiegel sagely pointed out recently: We are expected to be brilliant at research, teaching, mentoring, writing grants, presenting, service, etc while also maintaining a work-life balance
I suggest that there is no such think as a one-size-fits-all work-life balance. Even our own needs change over time.
And leaving academia doesn't necessarily solve the problem--people in other fields struggle with the same issue.
So what can we do?
And leaving academia doesn't necessarily solve the problem--people in other fields struggle with the same issue.
So what can we do?
The key is to define your own ideal work-life balance.
No one wants the same things in life. Don't impose your version on other people and don't let them impose their version on you.
Think very deeply about what ~you~ want to achieve in work and life.
No one wants the same things in life. Don't impose your version on other people and don't let them impose their version on you.
Think very deeply about what ~you~ want to achieve in work and life.
