• Question: do you some times feel that your too cought up in your work you don\'t have time for social stuff ?

    Asked by zuhra11 to Chris, Emily, Martin, Natalie, Tamsin on 22 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Martin Coath

      Martin Coath answered on 22 Mar 2010:

      Hi again!

      This can be a problem. We ALL have to be careful (no matter what job we do) that we leave time for our families, our friends, and lots of fun stuff.

      But science isn’t particularly worse than many other jobs for this problem. Many scientists have worked their whole lives in university but I have worked a lot in other areas and the problem can get bad anywhere.

      It takes a while to work out that you work BETTER if you rest and get away from your job. Some people never learn this.

      Speaking personally the answer to your question is no – I do not let this happen.

    • Photo: Emily Cook

      Emily Cook answered on 22 Mar 2010:

      never – I make time for the social stuff.

      To me science is a job, and it’s a job I enjoy, but at the end of the day I want to go do stuff, play sport see my friends and that is really important to me.

      Also, contrary to popular belief, some scientists are actually realy cool, outgoing people. The medical physics departement at UCL is really sociable with many an after work pub trip. OK, so sometimes we talk about work, but mostly we gossip and tell stupid jokes and stories.

      The only difference is that sometimes I’ll be walking along and I’ll have an idea about why an experiment went wrong, or what I need to do to fix my computer programme. But I don’t suddenly rush to the lab to try it out. I leave it til monday and try it out then.

    • Photo: Natalie Stanford

      Natalie Stanford answered on 22 Mar 2010:

      I think it depends on what needs to be done at any moment in time. Generally I have enough time to see friends and do sport. If there is something that really needs to be done then I might have to work really hard for a while but you just have to be disciplined. I know if I don’t have enough time for myself I won’t be able to work as hard when I’m in work!

    • Photo: Chris Cooper

      Chris Cooper answered on 22 Mar 2010:

      Only when a deadline approaches. Then I probably feel stressed like you do over exams. My “social stuff” is mostly my kids and they nag me (in a good way) so I can’t get too caught up in my work anyway….,

    • Photo: Tamsin Gray

      Tamsin Gray answered on 23 Mar 2010:

      Sometimes, but because I live and work in the same place I think it’s really important to make time to play. Today it’s been snowing really hard so I’m going to go snowboarding in my lunch break. Also, I live with my friends so I always know where to find them when I want to have a drink or watch a film with them.

Comments

  • Photo: Chris

    Chris commented on :

    So Emily – are you really still in the medical physics department at UCL? I’m there every other week or so. We should really say hi next time I am there.