Recently, within the space of six weeks, I did a presentation at a department seminar, prepared a lab meeting, submitted an abstract for a scientific workshop, underwent the semi-annual review of my external funding, networked at a career-development event, conducted experiments for my project, drafted a manuscript for submission and, to top it all off, proofread both the primary data paper and the book chapter that my husband, also a postdoc, is writing.

Then, of course, there were personal matters to attend to, such as our imminently expiring apartment lease and potential homelessness.

At times like these, when my hours are long and my 'to do' lists even longer, I'm tempted to join the circus. After all, postdocs are expert jugglers: we constantly have multiple experiments, responsibilities and commitments up in the air. We are agile tightrope walkers: from start to finish, we have to balance our professional goals with our mentor's expectations, our family obligations and our personal priorities, sometimes without a safety net. We're capable contortionists: we demonstrate remarkable flexibility when put in a tight spot. Sometimes we're lion tamers, winning the cooperation and respect of those who can be notoriously challenging to work with. Most of all, we're dedicated performers. We know, always, that the show must go on.