On 12 June 2026, the Training Committee hosted a PhD Academy workshop entitled Finding Balance in an Unbalanced System: Work and Life During Your PhD Life. The session brought together doctoral researchers for an open and reflective discussion on one of the most widely shared yet often insufficiently addressed aspects of doctoral training: maintaining well-being and balance while navigating the demands of academic life.
The workshop began with short presentations by Saleh Seid Adem, Denis Zeković, and Sophia Schönthaler, who shared their own experiences and reflections from their PhD journeys. Drawing on different academic and personal trajectories, they discussed challenges such as managing workload, coping with uncertainty, setting boundaries between work and personal life, and dealing with pressure and setbacks.
A central component of the workshop was a guided discussion facilitated by Denis. Participants were invited to raise questions and share concerns related to their own doctoral journeys, creating a dynamic and interactive exchange. The discussion fostered an atmosphere of openness and collegiality, allowing participants to engage with issues that are often experienced individually but widely shared among doctoral researchers. The participants and speakers also reflected on the key themes that had emerged throughout the exchange. A recurring insight was the importance of peer support, self-awareness, and realistic expectations in navigating the complexities of doctoral research. Participants highlighted the value of setting boundaries, recognising personal limits, and accepting that there is no single “correct” way to manage a PhD.
Overall, “balance” looks different for everyone. Some might focus on maintaining balance on a day-to-day basis; others try to maintain balance over a longer period, prioritising their PhDs for a time and taking time off afterwards; and some abandon the idea of balance altogether, instead constantly negotiating between work and personal life.
In general, the conversation underscored the importance of normalising discussions about well-being within academic environments, where such topics can sometimes remain in the background despite their centrality to researchers’ experiences. It is hoped that the workshop encouraged participants to approach their PhD journeys with greater awareness of their own needs and priorities while recognising the importance of building sustainable practices for both academic success and personal well-being.