Work/Life Balance
November 30, 2017
Managing stress – a lifelong pursuit!
No question about it, being a postdoc is stressful. Academic life is stressful. Your future is uncertain, you are under pressure to produce, you may have family and life circumstances that add to the joy – and the stress – of your experience. Given the data on mental health among graduate students and postdocs, we at…
April 28, 2017
Work-Life Balance? For Real?
The aspiration of “work-life balance” is often recommended in our everyday lives, but this approach can be met with a sense of dread rather than a sense of hope. Really though, when the demands of work and life seem to be unending, how can we possibly keep it all in “balance”? This can feel so…
March 23, 2017
Tips for Postdocs from National Postdoc Association Meeting
On March 18-19, 2017, leadership from OPA and UWPA participated in the 15th Annual National Postdoc Association meeting in San Francisco. Three members from the Fred Hutch Student and Postdoc Advisory Committee also attended, and a postdoc from Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) so Seattle was well-represented! There were many good working sessions and…
March 2, 2017
Strengthening Yourself for the Last Leg of the Quarter
We at Core Programs recognize and respect all the hard work you’ve been doing as graduate students during this winter. We know that Winter quarter can be especially challenging given the weather, the darkness, and the usual stressors of navigating a graduate program. The good news is that the light is returning and the quarter…
February 9, 2017
It’s a Long Road: Take Care of Yourself
Winter quarter is often a time when energy can get low and isolation can get more intense. This year especially there are more events and unknowns that can add to the already high anxiety of being a postdoc. At the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, along with Core Programs in the Graduate School, we’ve been pulling…
June 16, 2016
Is “Work/Life” Balance Attainable in Research Careers?
Research has shown that happy people work more effectively, creatively, and collaboratively. It is worth fueling yourself outside work to keep yourself going in work. Especially as we head into the summer months, think about what choices you can make about your time that will allow you to make the most out of the summer. …
March 24, 2016
Mental Health and Wellness
Towards Sustaining a Culture of Mental Health and Wellness for Trainees in the Biosciences, written by Jessica W Tsai and Fanuel Muindi, discussed the importance of mental health of postdocs in benefiting the scientific community at large. Studies are limited, but we can see we clearly have work to do. According to one study, only…
March 3, 2016
Building and Maintaining Momentum
It’s nearing the end of winter quarter, and we know it can be difficult to keep your spirits and energy up as you work to fulfill on and off campus responsibilities. We are right there with you. Here are five tips to help keep you going: Set achievable goals. Rather than promising yourself that you’re…