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Working in research and science - becoming too absorbed in a research project

Ann :)

Hi,

I am a developmental neuroscientist and I love science and research. I recently finished my MPhil and I was hoping to do a PhD. I am seeking some advice in terms of how to set up boundaries in the research environment and how to make sure that I still take care of myself when I get very absorbed by my research.

I recently started working in a lab where I was meant to do my PhD (started as intern, then meant to transition onto PhD.). I love research and science has always been a source of stability and comfort in my life. However, for the third time now (over the past years) I have ended up extremely underweight and this time also utterly burnt out as I end up focusing on my research to the exclusion of all else (I have food/eating issues anyways, but what happens in this case is that I do not want to deal with it and end up stuck in a routine eating the same handful of foods in same order over and over again). I love the all-consuming nature of research and I enjoy having a project to think about and focus on. However, this cycle cannot keep happening. This time it was worse as I also suspect that I have also been taken advantage of (was not paid for 6 months now, despite being promised a contract from after the 3rd month onwards etc.).

How do you make sure that you still take care of yourself whilst becoming absorbed with a research project? (ie making sure to eat well, get some rest etc).

Furthermore, I always want to please people and find myself unable to say no when asked to help out with projects and lab work. I do love getting involved, but as I am unable to say no, I take on more than I can cope with, including projects that I am not so interested in.  (In my current lab, I was involved in 9 projects … and ended up doing a lot of the cell culture for the whole lab which was a 20 hours plus a week… This meant that I had little time, if any, to get started on my own project, despite working 10-12 or more hours a day plus at least 1 day on weekends).

Do you have any advice on drawing up boundaries and how to say no when asked to help out with lots and lots of projects but not being able to cope with it all?

Also do you have any advice on how to best talk to your PI and supervisor about these issues? I am only now becoming assessed for autism so I do not have a diagnosis yet (though I do have a strong suspicion that I am autistic- reading about autism has been such a revelation).

I would be interested to hear about your experiences of working in academia and in research labs. At this point I am very worried that science is not good for me and that I will never be able to balance and will have to stay away from it (I have been off work for over 3 weeks now as I could not cope any more both physically (too underweight) and psychologically (utterly exhausted and burnt out).) This is very sad: Science which has been holding my life together for so long and which I have long loved and sought comfort in, has now turned into an additional source of stress in my life.

Any input would be much appreciated! Let me know if you need more information. Thank you!!

Parents
  • Ann :) said:
    I would be interested to hear about your experiences of working in academia and in research labs. At this point I am very worried that science is not good for me and that I will never be able to balance and will have to stay away from it (I have been off work for over 3 weeks now as I could not cope any more both physically (too underweight) and psychologically (utterly exhausted and burnt out).) This is very sad: Science which has been holding my life together for so long and which I have long loved and sought comfort in, has now turned into an additional source of stress in my life.

    I know how you feel. I'm good at science but feel very bad at navigating academic politics. But my issue seems different that yours. I can get over stressed and shut down a bit too much. My best advice is friends. Get a social life with people. It forces you to break from work and indulge in an outlet.

    I realise saying that getting and maintaining friendships is incredibly hard for some autistic people but its the only thing that ever really helped me.

Reply
  • Ann :) said:
    I would be interested to hear about your experiences of working in academia and in research labs. At this point I am very worried that science is not good for me and that I will never be able to balance and will have to stay away from it (I have been off work for over 3 weeks now as I could not cope any more both physically (too underweight) and psychologically (utterly exhausted and burnt out).) This is very sad: Science which has been holding my life together for so long and which I have long loved and sought comfort in, has now turned into an additional source of stress in my life.

    I know how you feel. I'm good at science but feel very bad at navigating academic politics. But my issue seems different that yours. I can get over stressed and shut down a bit too much. My best advice is friends. Get a social life with people. It forces you to break from work and indulge in an outlet.

    I realise saying that getting and maintaining friendships is incredibly hard for some autistic people but its the only thing that ever really helped me.

Children
  • in reply to Peter

    Yes I do struggle with making friends - Right now I don't really know anyone outside the lab as I only moved recently and have been too busy to do anything other than lab work (and also struggle with making friends in general). I did have a few friends at university and I am still in contact with them virtually- It was so much easier to make friends while I was in Cambridge- best place ever for "fitting in" . I am not sure where I would meet anyone here. At university, most of the friends I made were through my course, or college or through shared interests (such as attending scientifc talks). Right now part of me just wants to be alone at home (having some time off to myself is letting me regain some energy)- though I do feel a bit lonely and wish I had someone to go on a walk with or phone occasionally. 

  • in reply to Peter

    I'll tell you something else though. I had difficulty publishing and it hampered my career academically. I bounced around in industry, the civil service actually, doing jobs with research in the title but very little actual research was involved. It drove me crazy and I got very depressed. It seems I'm basically ruined for anything other than science. So before you jump 'into industry' make sure you can actually cope with the kind or work you'd be doing in industry.