• Question: How hard do you think you work each day?

    Asked by Ethan on 23 Mar 2025. This question was also asked by Tomas.
    • Photo: Melissa U

      Melissa U answered on 23 Mar 2025:

      That depends on the day – when I worked as a vet treating animals I sometimes worked four day/three nights continuously so I was working very hard and I was extremely tired, both physically and mentally and it’s difficult to concentrate and to make good decisions when you’re that tired. Other times when I was working abroad I would work with animals and people seven long days in a row and do lots of driving around too (but not working the nights, thankfully) Nowadays as a researcher my working days are different – I’m not working as hard physically because I’m generally working on a computer rather than handling animals every day but I’m working my brain in a different way, perhaps analysing numbers in a spreadsheet or writing a report which requires lots of concentration. The advantage is that I can take regular breaks from the computer to rest my eyes and rest my brain, which is important!

    • Photo: Katie Rutterford

      Katie Rutterford answered on 23 Mar 2025:

      I like to make sure my patients are cared for so will always work hard to make sure they are happy with the outcome of their appointment, they have all their questions answered (the ones that I am able to provide an answer for!), and that they know what to expect next. I have always been a hardworking person and like to think I do all of my work to the best of my ability. Sometimes though this can be tiring and so it is important to give yourself breaks so you can perform at your best and so patients receive the best care.

    • Photo: Kerry Ann Brown

      Kerry Ann Brown answered on 24 Mar 2025:

      I always try to do my best each day – that is all we can do! Some days are harder than others but I always keep the mantra of just doing my best.
      Juggling research and teaching responsibilities at the university can be hardwork. They are both rewarding though, when you see a session run well, a PhD student graduate to become a Dr, or something in the world improved by your research.

    • Photo: Luke Humphrey

      Luke Humphrey answered on 28 Mar 2025:

      I try to worker smarter, not harder. 😉

      For real though, working effectively isn’t just about putting in the effort, it’s about working sustainably and figuring out what that means for you.

      Burnout is a serious risk from working too hard for too long, even more so if you’re neurodivergant (which I am). Burnout is a depressive state that can last for months! 🫠 Nothing (or, almost nothing) is worth losing that much time, so take it easy out there.

      You can work hard *and* take care of yourself at the same time, but how that looks might not be the same for everyone. And if you find yourself in a job where people don’t respect that, I think it’s a big red flag! 🚩

      Thankfully, I’ve found that the places I’ve worked as a scientist have been great for recognising this. For what it’s worth, my school experience was worse. 😅

    • Photo: Charlotte Slade

      Charlotte Slade answered on 3 Apr 2025:

      That’s a tricky one! It’s not really about how long I work, but how focused I am.

      Some days I’m in the lab for hours, completely absorbed in an experiment or troubleshooting a tricky problem. Other days I’m brainstorming new ideas with my team, which can feel like playing a giant puzzle game. And sometimes, I’m explaining complex science to kids, which is like a mental workout in itself! So, ‘hard’ isn’t always about hours – it’s about how much brainpower you’re using. The most important thing? Loving what you do, so even the challenging days feel like an adventure. 😄

Comments

  • Photo: Edward

    Edward commented on :

    If my boss is reading this, I work very hard each day!!!
    Realistically, there are ups and downs. We have good days and bad days. Sometimes with research, we try something and it doesn’t work. We might have worked hard to do the experiment so it is really frustrating if it doesn’t work. Sometimes, hard work can be thinking about a problem. On the outside, it doesn’t look as though I am doing anything but thinking does take a lot of energy actually.
    As my job needs a lot of thinking, I like to relax sometimes by doing physical work, like gardening or hiking. Fresh air is really helpful for me.