WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN PLANT SCIENCE
The demands of a Plant Science Career
A career in plant science sounds exciting, right? You get to grow plants, take care of them, and study how they work. Basically, you get to do what you love most with your favorite living things. But the truth is, a career in plant science involves much more than just working with plants.
Besides doing experiments and analyzing data, you often must collaborate with others, write funding proposals, present your work, publish papers, and sometimes even teach or mentor students. And don't forget the meetings, event planning, and administrative tasks that come along with it. Some people take on just a few of these things, while others end up juggling them all, often working extra hours to keep up. Getting everything done becomes essential not just for productivity, but for keeping your job.
Work-Life Balance
Some parts of the job take just a few minutes or hours. Others can easily take over your days or your weekends. And even though we may love what we do, we’re still human. We need time to rest, eat, see friends and family, and connect with people. Balancing work and personal life isn’t easy. It takes effort, boundaries, and sometimes a wake-up call. In plant science, the workload can be intense, and burnout is common before we even realize it’s happening.
Here’s what a few colleagues shared:
“I wanted to work in academia because of the flexibility it offers. But that ‘flexibility’ can be a trap. Sometimes it feels like it demands 100% of your time. Depending on your supervisor, you might be expected to be available 24/7 — and that makes it almost impossible to have a healthy work-life balance. For me, it led to several health issues. Over time, I learned that maintaining balance takes strong organizational skills and, most importantly, clear boundaries. I’m doing better now, though managing time is still a challenge.”— SR, Postdoctoral Scholar.
“My work in plant science is demanding, but I try my best to balance it with family life. I have a daughter, and she can tell when I’ve been working too much. That’s my signal that I’ve hit my limit. I’ve learned to recognize it and adjust — even if it’s not perfect.”
— FG, Research Assistant
“Sometimes it feels impossible to find balance. Academic life requires focus — planning experiments, preparing lectures, grading exams, and publishing papers. I often feel guilty when I try to focus on my personal life. Spending time with my family and friends feels bittersweet because my mind is still at work.”— FC, PhD
Graphic with images showing the many work demands of plant scientists, as well as the non-work elements that make a person’s life well-rounded and rewarding, such as time with family, friends, and rest and recovery.
“You work to live, not live to work”
I used to think I had a pretty good work-life balance. During a normal week, I worked Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. If something urgent came up, I’d work extra hours or on weekends, but I tried not to make it a habit. After work, I’d go to the gym, spend time with my partner or friends, and visit family when I could. But over time, I started feeling like I wasn’t working enough. Maybe it was the culture I grew up in, that idea that you always have to push harder, do more, and prove yourself. I started taking work thoughts everywhere: to the gym, to dinner, to family gatherings. Sometimes I wasn’t there, even when I was.
This year, I lost my father suddenly at 61. And I couldn’t stop thinking about all the moments I missed with him, because I was too busy or too distracted by work. That loss hit me hard. It made me realize how wrong I was to believe that working more made me worth more.
I’m still passionate about my research, but now I try to truly separate things: work when I’m working, and live when I’m living. Because there’s only one life. And as my dad used to say: “You work to live, not live to work.” Ironically, he was always working. My dad was replaced at his work quickly. But in our family, of course, there’s no replacement. So, hug tight, say I love you, and make time for the people and moments that matter.
Find your own balance.
Achieving work-life balance isn’t about dividing your time perfectly; it’s about creating a rhythm that works for you. You may have hectic days some of the time, and that is to be expected. But you should also have - even schedule- slow-paced and calm days. Life outside of work is not something extra or optional; it’s an essential part of who you are. Even if you’re managing a demanding job, your relationships, health, hobbies, and rest all deserve as much attention as your professional goals.
It’s not easy, but you can start setting boundaries that protect your personal time and allow yourself to disconnect without guilt. You can prioritize tasks, delegate when you can, and practice saying no (in a kind but firm way) when something stretches you too thin. Incorporating healthy and simple habits like exercise, mindful breaks, meet-ups with friends or colleagues, and time for hobbies can restore your energy, creativity, and perspective.
