Physicists' Time: Do They Have Enough?

[Nano-Passion]

Do physicists suffer form a lack of personal time aside from their job? I've heard many times that theoretical physicists work many hours a day. But what about other type of physicsts such as experimental, etc.?

 

[Norman]

In some ways, experimentalists can be more constrained than theorists. A theorist can grab a laptop and go code at the coffee shop if they choose. An experimentalist is largely (at least partially) tied to the lab. In addition, I have many friends who needed to wake up at 2am (or some other godawful time) to check on an experiment.

But, I don't think physics is any different than other research jobs. Why would a biologist or chemist be required to put in less time than a physicist? In order to come out on the other side with a PhD (I am assuming here that physics research requires a PhD - not always true, but typical), you need to really enjoy and be dedicated to your research. So, work doesn't always have to feel like work.

You don't put all the hours in at research and writing grants, the years of grad school, the relatively low pay (compared to an MD, for instance), to do something you just cannot stand or think is just average. You have to love some part of your job to do that.

Does that mean you are going to not have time for anything in your life? Depends on the person. Everybody needs a balance in life. If you cannot find that, you will burn out. You see that in physics too. So, you have to learn to make time for your personal life - your family, friends, hobbies, sports, activities, etc.

For instance, in grad school, I made it a rule that I took Saturdays off from physics. From 8 am to 10 pm on Saturday - no physics. There were a couple of times I had to break that rule, but I usually stuck to it. I needed the mental break. It worked for me. It forced me to use my time better during the week. Everybody develops there own coping skills.

 

[cragar]

what is personal time?

 

[PhillipKP]

It really depends on your boss/company like any job.

 

[Sybren]

There is really no difference between 'different types of' physicists. Anyway, personal time needs to be claimed, if you don't do that you can keep working as there are always more things to be done.

 

[Nano-Passion]

In some ways, experimentalists can be more constrained than theorists. A theorist can grab a laptop and go code at the coffee shop if they choose. An experimentalist is largely (at least partially) tied to the lab. In addition, I have many friends who needed to wake up at 2am (or some other godawful time) to check on an experiment.

But, I don't think physics is any different than other research jobs. Why would a biologist or chemist be required to put in less time than a physicist? In order to come out on the other side with a PhD (I am assuming here that physics research requires a PhD - not always true, but typical), you need to really enjoy and be dedicated to your research. So, work doesn't always have to feel like work.

You don't put all the hours in at research and writing grants, the years of grad school, the relatively low pay (compared to an MD, for instance), to do something you just cannot stand or think is just average. You have to love some part of your job to do that.

Does that mean you are going to not have time for anything in your life? Depends on the person. Everybody needs a balance in life. If you cannot find that, you will burn out. You see that in physics too. So, you have to learn to make time for your personal life - your family, friends, hobbies, sports, activities, etc.

For instance, in grad school, I made it a rule that I took Saturdays off from physics. From 8 am to 10 pm on Saturday - no physics. There were a couple of times I had to break that rule, but I usually stuck to it. I needed the mental break. It worked for me. It forced me to use my time better during the week. Everybody develops there own coping skills.

Thanks for your reply.

For the bolded part -- >> I always hear that theoretical physicists have no life and must work 60-80 hours a week.

There is really no difference between 'different types of' physicists. Anyway, personal time needs to be claimed, if you don't do that you can keep working as there are always more things to be done.

Really? 0__o

I can imagine this scenario..

Boss- Okay your accepted, you are now a theoretical physicist!
You- Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Boss- Alright here is your work schedule.
You- *reads a total of 70 hours a week*
You- Can I get 40?
Boss- Yes in industry, have a good day.

 

[Pengwuino]

Thanks for your reply.

For the bolded part -- >> I always hear that theoretical physicists have no life and must work 60-80 hours a week.

No, that's ridiculous (the no life part). Being a physicist (or for that matter, any job worth doing) is not going to be a 9-5 job. As much as I grew up thinking physicists had no life, I've yet to find one with no life.

Actually, what does it even mean to have a "life"? Most 40h/week people I know, when they get home from their work, seem to just watch tv all day or chat on facebook, so I'm not sure there's much being lost even if one were to have to work 60 hours a week.

 

[Nano-Passion]

No, that's ridiculous (the no life part). Being a physicist (or for that matter, any job worth doing) is not going to be a 9-5 job. As much as I grew up thinking physicists had no life, I've yet to find one with no life.

Actually, what does it even mean to have a "life"? Most 40h/week people I know, when they get home from their work, seem to just watch tv all day or chat on facebook, so I'm not sure there's much being lost even if one were to have to work 60 hours a week.

You said they do have a life but I still have no idea how many hours a week they work.

I believe there are some things being lost. I'm incredibly curious about life-- it doesn't only hold to physics. For my free time in a career I would read books/surf online about other things and increase my knowledge (philosophical topics, biology, technology, the future, writing, neuroscience, explore my sense of self, and just the world in general). I believe in three things -- Liberty, happiness, and the pursuit of knowledge.

If you really think about it, the other two --liberty and pursuit of knowledge-- can be considered a substructure of happiness. It makes me happy to learn about our universe, to learn about myself. It makes me happy to spend time with loved and cherished ones. Many things makes you happy in life.

Basically I consider things that inhibit neurotransmitters to achieve your level of "happiness" (whatever the reality of it really is in your stupendously complex brain) a good use of time and essential to life. You could achieve this through favorite food, sex, socializing, going to beautiful and inspiring places (it could be a simple walk in the park), drugs etc. (I keep away from drugs hehe -- not pharmaceutical drugs though for health purposes )

Anyways enough of my rambling:

My ideal life is to learn for a living and explore life and achieve happiness through many different aspects. I have no intention of being a one-dimensional being in terms of interests. For me to pursue my ideal life I need time.

80 hours a week seems too much (unless I feel pretty interested in my research which is perfectly fine. I have studied more than 80 hours a week before in just self study and feeling encompassed in it -- bad idea. Its fine for a period of time, but if I'm working 80 hours a week year round then I won't have time for my other adventures in life. ^.^

 

[denks]

I can imagine this scenario..

Boss- Okay your accepted, you are now a theoretical physicist!
You- Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Boss- Alright here is your work schedule.
You- *reads a total of 70 hours a week*
You- Can I get 40?
Boss- Yes in industry, have a good day.

HAHAHAHAHA...hahahaha...
sorry, that what a funny one!

You really think anyone successful in their job in industry works 40 hours a week??

 

[Nano-Passion]

HAHAHAHAHA...hahahaha...
sorry, that what a funny one!

You really think anyone successful in their job in industry works 40 hours a week??

Lmao. Uhm maybe in engineering?

I mean there is bound to be a 40 hour a week for industry somewhere isn't there.

 

[denks]

To give you an idea, I used to be a software dev, a 40 hour week would have been a holiday :) 70 - 80 hour weeks did not happen all the time but were certainly not abnormal either.

What I'm getting at - if you think industry is easy compared to academia you are going to be in for a bit of a surprise.

 

[Nano-Passion]

To give you an idea, I used to be a software dev, a 40 hour week would have been a holiday :) 70 - 80 hour weeks did not happen all the time but were certainly not abnormal either.

What I'm getting at - if you think industry is easy compared to academia you are going to be in for a bit of a surprise.

Haha, whoops. I'm starting to give up on finding certain details of physics careers, I'm learning that the data is just all over the place depending from place to place and job to job and company to company that its just silly to try to get it to the bottom of it.

 

[Pengwuino]

Haha, whoops. I'm starting to give up on finding certain details of physics careers, I'm learning that the data is just all over the place depending from place to place and job to job and company to company that its just silly to try to get it to the bottom of it.

Another thing to remember is if you're doing something important, your employer probably doesn't want you to just work 40 hours a week. If there are other people who are dedicated to doing the same job you want (which certainly sounds like physicists), you probably will also not be able to work 40 hours a week.

 

[f95toli]

Lmao. Uhm maybe in engineering?

I mean there is bound to be a 40 hour a week for industry somewhere isn't there.

I am a experimental physicist and work at a research institute (not a university). Nowadays I work about 40 hours/week most weeks. There are certainly weeks when I have to work more (while running certain experiments) and once in a while I have to travel (conferences etc), but I don't think I've done an 80 hour week since I was a PhD student (I worked a LOT more when I was a PhD student and during my first post-doc).
Note that this does not neccesarily mean that I have more "personal time" nwo than before , one reason for why I work a lot less now compared to when I was younger is that I now have a family, which takes up a LOT of my time (practical things like cooking and cleaning which I guess is a form of "work").
One good thing about my job is that my hours are quite flexible, and I can work from home occansionally. This makes balancing work/life much easier.

Also, I do have friends who work in IT/finance/journalism/law and they all work much longer hours than me (at least the "successfull" ones).

 

[gbeagle]

Do physicsts suffer form a lack of personal time aside from their job? I've heard many times that theoretical physicsts work many hours a day. But what about other type of physicsts such as experimental, etc.?

I don't think there is any universal answer to this. I know students, post-docs, and profs that I have basically never see them not in their offices. I know others that don't work as much as that. It all depends, and like any job there are crunch times, when some sort of deadlines are coming up, where you work more than normal.

As a personal example my average week is definitely more than 40 hrs of work. Nine to ten hours in the office each day with a couple more at home as well. Usually work one day on the weekend as well, but not always. Before a conference deadline it could be 18 hrs a day, with all my free time used for sleep. Note also in my case part of this is being an American graduate student at CERN, my already low stipend plus the weak dollar/strong swiss franc means I can't really afford to do anything except work. Part of it is just my personality too. I know many graduate students that work hours closer to the typical 40 as well though.

I'm not really sure if there is on average any really difference between theorists and experimentalists either other than the fact the experimentalists my have a bit more constraints on when they work.

 

[EricVT]

I am a medical physicist and typically work 55-60 hours a week Monday-Friday and often have to come in on weekends to finish up work I couldn't complete during the week. It's also hard to secure time off because we are not adequately staffed for physics support.

However, I find my job rewarding personally, professionally and financially and therefore have few qualms with my often stressful hours. That's more than most people can say so I consider myself a lucky individual.