Career Guide 14 March 2019

Achieving work life balance in science

Taking time away from work is an essential part of maintaining good mental health, but researchers often find it difficult to step out of the lab. Often, science’s cut-throat culture and high pressure environment makes researchers feel that they should stay late and arrive earlier. Here’s your guide to maintaining a healthy balance.

Articles

I run a physics lab — and thousands of kilometres a year

In 2023, Jenny Hoffman ran across the United States in 47 days, smashing the women’s world record. But she still found time to lead a research team.
- Sara Reardon
Career Feature12 Feb 2024 Nature
How my academic sabbatical offered a chance to hit the restart button on my career

Time away from his daily responsibilities taught Brandon Brown that he is replaceable — and that’s a good thing.
- Brandon Brown
Career Column7 Feb 2024 Nature
‘I remind people all the time that science can wait’

Christopher Reddy helped to quantify the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a stressful experience that changed his view of what it means to be a well-rounded scientist and person.
- Katherine Bourzac
Career Q&A25 Sep 2023 Nature
All through the night: sleep-deprived scientists share their stories

Nature’s investigation into the sleep of scientists drew a range of responses from our audience.
- Nikki Forrester
Career Feature20 Jul 2023 Nature
How better sleep can improve productivity

Struggling to get a good night’s rest after a long day in the lab? Sleep specialists offer some advice.
- Nikki Forrester
Career Feature17 Jul 2023 Nature
The surprising benefit of meditative walks

When astrobiologist Erin Gibbons is stuck on a problem, she sometimes finds it best to just walk away.
- Erin Gibbons
Career Column7 Jun 2023 Nature
How to have two careers, and be happy with both

Touring the world as a bass player in a heavy-metal band alongside being a full-time physicist requires career compromises, says Alessandro Sala.
- Alessandro Sala
Career Column6 Apr 2023 Nature
Four evidence-backed reasons to say ‘no’ to early-morning meetings

Everyone hates them and they’re rarely essential, say Adaira Landry and Resa E. Lewiss. So why are we still getting the calendar invites?
- Adaira Landry
- Resa E. Lewiss
Career Column26 Oct 2022 Nature
How a hobby farm taught me to set priorities in academia

With tenure and training, I learnt to say no to endless meetings and remake my academic career.
- Brandon Brown
Career Column5 Oct 2022 Nature
Turning off my phone improved my science

How stepping back from 24/7 connectivity helped to restore Adam Weiss’s focus in the lab.
- Adam Weiss
Career Column15 Feb 2022 Nature
The superhero skills needed to juggle science and motherhood

It might demand 12-hour days, but the chance to help shape African science makes it all worth it.
- Kendall Powell
Career Feature1 Feb 2022 Nature
How a part-time fellowship enticed a scientist back to academia

Rachel James wasn’t sure whether she would be able to return to academic research after leaving it when her children were young.
- Rachel James
Career Column11 Jan 2022 Nature
Adopting as academics: what we learnt

Our quest to bring a child into our family led us to confront academic working practices, say Tony Ly and Nathan W. Bailey.
- Tony Ly
- Nathan W. Bailey
Career Column18 Nov 2021 Nature
The parenting penalties faced by scientist mothers

Starting a family at a key career stage comes at a cost to birthing parents — and many end up leaving the profession as a result.
- Kendall Powell
Career Feature20 Jul 2021 Nature
One scientist couple’s five suggestions to solve the ‘two body problem’

Sarah A. Gagliano Taliun and her husband made a Plan A, but were prepared to re-evaluate their priorities to find jobs where they could live together.
- Sarah A. Gagliano Taliun
Career Column6 Apr 2021 Nature
Webcast: Parenting in the pandemic

How scientist parents have been managing their time and childcare responsibilities during the pandemic.
- Jack Leeming
Career News12 Mar 2021 Nature
Active retirement keeps me involved in science and helps others

Juergen K. V. Reichardt’s continued engagement in academic work lets him enjoy his retirement without getting in the way of junior faculty members.
- Juergen K. V. Reichardt
Career Column7 Jan 2021 Nature
Opening up about my invisible health condition

Anne Charmantier reveals how she has learnt to be vulnerable and to share her experience of her chronic health problem with research colleagues and collaborators.
- Anne Charmantier
Career Column4 Nov 2020 Nature
Coronavirus diaries: give your brain a break from science busywork, it deserves it

If you can, escape the plate-spinning frenzy of online meetings by going on holiday, ideally for two weeks, says John Tregoning.
- John Tregoning
Career Column4 Sep 2020 Nature
How I managed my work and personal life as a sole parent during the pandemic

Staying connected with other single-parent academics through a Facebook group was one of four steps taken by Antica Culina to survive the lockdown.
- Antica Culina
Career Column26 Aug 2020 Nature
How to get away from work mode during the coronavirus lockdown

If your lab is still shuttered and work is a struggle, technology researcher Sun Sun Lim offers advice on how to switch off.
- Sun Sun Lim
Career Column30 Jun 2020 Nature
Work–life balance: Break or burn out

Taking time off from work is crucial for avoiding stress and depression, and their potential consequences.
- Kendall Powell
Feature18 May 2017 Nature
Leisure activities: The power of a pastime

From painting to punching to aeroplane-jumping, the hobbies that scientists pursue offer a vital escape from the laborious life of the lab.
- Chris Woolston
Feature1 Jul 2015 Nature
Juggling research and family life: honest reflections from scientist dads

Five fathers describe how they and their partners combine parenting and careers.
- David Payne
Career Feature27 Nov 2018 Nature
How a hobby can boost researchers’ productivity and creativity

A regular pastime can ease mental stress, improve work–life balance and help scientists to reach innovative solutions in their work.
- Julia Rosen
Career Feature18 Jun 2018 Nature
Workplace habits: Full-time is full enough

Some scientists are fighting a toxic belief that a 50-hour working week is 'slacking off'.
- Chris Woolston
Feature1 Jun 2017 Nature
Young, talented and fed-up: scientists tell their stories

Scientists starting labs say that they are under historically high pressure to publish, secure funding and earn permanent positions — leaving precious little time for actual research.
- Kendall Powell
News Feature26 Oct 2016 Nature
Work–life balance: Lab life with kids

Balancing research with raising children takes scheduling skills and organization.
- Kendall Powell
Feature14 Jan 2015 Nature
Science and the arts: Rock and research

Scientists who moonlight as musicians get more from a gig than a fistful of cash.
- Karen Kaplan
Feature4 Jun 2014 Nature
Work–life balance: It's not all about the job

Campaign aims to promote work–life balance.

Career Brief9 Mar 2017 Nature
Career gaps: Maternity muddle

The support available for childbirth and rearing varies wildly. New parents come up with creative ways to juggle demands.
- Amanda Mascarelli
Feature15 May 2014 Nature
Lab life: Lone-parent scientist

Limited institutional resources mean that single parents often need a network of support to further their scientific careers.
- Helen Shen
Feature2 Mar 2016 Nature

Achieving work life balance in science

Articles

I run a physics lab — and thousands of kilometres a year

How my academic sabbatical offered a chance to hit the restart button on my career

‘I remind people all the time that science can wait’

All through the night: sleep-deprived scientists share their stories

How better sleep can improve productivity

The surprising benefit of meditative walks

How to have two careers, and be happy with both

Four evidence-backed reasons to say ‘no’ to early-morning meetings

How a hobby farm taught me to set priorities in academia

Turning off my phone improved my science

The superhero skills needed to juggle science and motherhood

How a part-time fellowship enticed a scientist back to academia

Adopting as academics: what we learnt

The parenting penalties faced by scientist mothers

One scientist couple’s five suggestions to solve the ‘two body problem’

Webcast: Parenting in the pandemic

Active retirement keeps me involved in science and helps others

Opening up about my invisible health condition

Coronavirus diaries: give your brain a break from science busywork, it deserves it

How I managed my work and personal life as a sole parent during the pandemic

How to get away from work mode during the coronavirus lockdown

Work–life balance: Break or burn out

Leisure activities: The power of a pastime

Juggling research and family life: honest reflections from scientist dads

How a hobby can boost researchers’ productivity and creativity

Workplace habits: Full-time is full enough

Young, talented and fed-up: scientists tell their stories

Work–life balance: Lab life with kids

Science and the arts: Rock and research

Work–life balance: It's not all about the job

Career gaps: Maternity muddle

Lab life: Lone-parent scientist

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