Is 4 Hours of Work Each Day Too Good to Be True?
A Ph.D. mom’s survive and thrive log
Perhaps you’ve heard about people who brag about, or just merely shares, their 70, 80, or some crazy 110-hour workweek. Perhaps you are suspicious on the other end of the spectrum, chasing the 4-hour workweek dream. The number of working hours is an age-old question, and is elusive for Ph.D. students.
To me, I don’t believe in the 4-hour magic. It’s too good to be true for me who have been in academia and industry 9-5. Almost as though an insult. My belief is it only stays in individuals who have financial independence and are not on their way up the corporate ladder. (I’m biased and perhaps limited sight.)
When I found my second pregnancy, in the middle year of PhD training, I honestly believed it would take me 678910 years to finish. From my time tracking, I knew I didn’t spend 40+ hr per week on my PhD work. Not that I didn’t want to, but because I could not. These invisible tasks interacted with my schedule: morning and night routines with family, sick days, parenting over weekends. They were there; I had no control over it.
If I only had 20, 30 hours of focused time, I made the most out of it. If I didn’t have a solid 40 hours, I didn’t. This is a fact, just like the fact that I’m under 5’1; I shouldn’t feel bad about it.
How much work is enough work?
First time learning this old yet realistic research from the 1950s clearly proved to me the point that working 40 hr a week is not only a myth, but also a trap. Well, I’m not against working for more. But, be cautious of what their job/work consists of the next time you are told to or see other people talking about it.
We have only this brainpower, great. Now what? We’ve still got work to do!
I grew more certainty that I can control how I focus my attention on things that are helpful and useful for my projects, or are healthy for me as a human being. Here is a list of reframing spending your time in PhD as a knowledge worker.
Isolate yourself to focus completely, without distraction (e.g. childcare, Slack and email responses), on tasks for 4 hours a day. That being said, designate 20 hours, 25 top, a week on the type of work that achieves your Ph.D. goals and requirements.
Type of work that optimizes performance:
Analyzing the data
Writing & Editing a full draft
Learn new methodologies & techniques
If you only have 1 hr a day, what is the ONE thing that is your non-negotiable?
Spend the rest of your time doing something that will help you grow as a person.
Help a lab mate with the use of the equipment
Present your work at conferences or to the layperson
Get involved in student organizations
Stick with healthy habits (enough sleep; healthy diet; exercise; journaling)
Fun and perhaps challenging activities (for me baking is challenging :P) with your children
What are some things you'd like to learn that will help you feel better?
For parents who are concerned that you must work a certain number of hours, or that you are failing your work and degree, or people would judge you (though most of the voices are from inside), I want to repeat that your schedule and timeline are nontraditional anymore. You should expect yourself 9-5 at work but don't sweat it the idea of a set number of hours!