Women in Science: Establishing a Work-Life Balance
By Kylie Wolfe
The phrase “work-life balance” is often tossed around as the standard to strive for, but it’s harder than it looks. This concept applies to any and every career and calls for a balance between your professional life, personal life, and everything in between.
For women in science, the challenges are ever present and can be magnified when adding a child into the mix. Though half of undergraduate degrees in the sciences are awarded to women, data shows that many choose a life of part-time, non-tenured work. As of 2015, just under 40 percent of tenured positions were held by women. This statistic spans multiple disciplines, meaning the percentage of tenured positions held in the sciences is even less than that. Many workplaces offer day care services, flexible working hours, and work from home options, but these aren’t always practical for scientists. Being a successful scientist and parent requires dedication, but also a strong support system.
Create a Flexible Schedule
Science doesn’t offer much flexibility, so it helps to find a schedule that works for you. Plan your experimental protocols at times that allow you to finish your work and be there for band concerts, basketball games, or family dinners. Sometimes experiments take longer than intended, so prepare for the unexpected and be ready to adapt. Knowing when projects can be paused can also allow you to respond to emergencies when they arise. This might take some trial and error, but it’ll be worth it.
“Yes, the balance between work life and home life is a challenge, but the real challenge lies in the requirements of the life of a scientist, which do not offer much flexibility. When the unexpected happens, what do you do with the animals that you have worked with for months, the cells that need to be maintained to finish up experiments, the meetings that have been planned for nearly a year and paid for with precious grant money?” said Caitlyn Barrett, National Director, Research and Programs at CureSearch for Children's Cancer. “At the end of the day, when flexibility is not available with your work, you have to engineer the flexibility into your life.”
Rely on Your Team and Become a Master Multitasker
Designing experiments and tackling new projects doesn’t have to happen alone. Collaboration can make it easier to conquer critical research projects or important tasks at home. Being able to delegate successfully is a sign of a good leader, so don’t be afraid to utilize your resources. And since every minute of your day counts, be sure you’re seizing any opportunity you have to multitask. Whether that means finding a spare moment while spinning your samples or running an assay, use every second wisely.
“I had every experiment timed out, performed several experiments in tandem, and relied heavily on my husband to help if I hadn’t budgeted my time correctly. If you have family or friends that are willing to help, use that infrastructure to help support you,” said Barrett.
Take Time for Yourself
Sometimes the most important person you need to take care of is you. Investing time in your own emotional, physical, and mental health can not only make you more productive, but it can help you establish and maintain an ideal work-life balance. Maybe this means stopping at the gym, taking a proper lunch break, or getting home in time to eat dinner with your family. Whatever it is, be kind to yourself and remember that taking this time now will benefit you in the long run.
“You are fortunate to be doing two things that you love with your life,” said Barrett. “When you are at work, give your work your attention and love. When you are at home, give your baby your love and time.”
Though finding an ideal work-life balance is challenging, passion can make all the difference.
“After my first child, it was hard for me to come back to work, but I found that I missed it. I needed both in my life to be true to myself. I’m passionate about science and finding solutions, so I’ll always have that in my heart. I feel like I’m a better person because of being a mother and a science lover,” said Lisa Postava, Director of Strategic Marketing for the Fisher Scientific channel and former research scientist. “Anyone who loves science and goes away from it misses it, so stay true to yourself. Don’t lose your identity or what you’re passionate about. If that happens to be molecular biology or physics, that’s what you should try to keep in your life. Even if that means reading science books to your kids.”
Embarking on a career journey in tandem with motherhood doesn’t come without sacrifice. What’s important, though, is not letting someone else be your definition of success. Instead, cater to your own needs and circumstances and remember you’re not in this alone.
