• Question: Is being a scientist a busy life? Do you have much time for yourself and your friends? Or do you spend most of your time working?

    Asked by setbuddiesx to Gioia, Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by sportygirl16.
    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      At the moment I have been spending a lot of time working, but usually I have a lot of time with my friends and family. Its normally a 9-5 job just like any other job.

    • Photo: Gioia Cherubini

      Gioia Cherubini answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      It is a lot of work, but if you are well organised, then I think that it’s not much different from the other jobs. The thing that takes most of my time is the commute from Cambridge to London, 🙁
      All the spare time is usually spent with my boyfriend (organising our wedding!) and with friends and often we go away during weekends to visit family and friends!

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Being a scientist can be pretty busy, but it doesn’t have to be much busier than any other job. I see friends nearly every weekend and often do things in the evenings too. It’s important to have some time to rest and do the boring stuff like cooking, cleaning and laundry too.

    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      I treat my job (as much as I can) as a 9-5 job. I only work outside of my normal hours if I really, really have to. As such, I have plenty of time for myself and my girlfriend. However, some scientists do work much longer hours than me – but then they probably get much more done!

      I think any job should be balanced with your personal life – I think that too far in either direction can have a negative impact on the other side. Getting this balance right is not always easy, as there is no right answer – but I suppose that as long as you do what you say you’ll do (or what you’re told to do), and you are happy that you have done as much as you should, then you are onto the right kind of schedule.

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Being a scientist does take a lot of time and devotion. But as long as you’re organised, it’s perfectly possible to have a life outside the lab as well! Spending time with family and friends is very important to me, so I make sure I have time to do it.

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