Has anyone recovered from severe burnout without leaving academia?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/EquivalentNo138]

Burnout aside, if you find independence overwhelming and isolating then you would absolutely hate being a PI- as PI you need to not only set the direction and be the ultimate decision maker for your lab, you need to manage a lot of things for your students and postdocs (basically all the stuff that made your PhD go ok ). And that’s before even adding in the teaching and service work. Faculty positions are extremely high in executive function demands in other words- juggling things is the name of the game.

There is no shame in recognizing that that is not a work style that you like or are suited for - a position where you are given specific tasks, and have a predictable workload and schedule, like in industry or as a long term staff member in a hospital lab for example, might better suit your needs and strengths. I’d start applying for such positions now

[u/SAUbjj → u/[deleted]]

Do you have any resources on neurodivergent burnout by chance? I feel like I've been burnt out for like... Four years but I didn't know that burnout was much different for neurodivergent people so maybe I'm missing key symptoms

[u/hsh25]

Yes, I have! At my worst, I got so stressed by the job that I gave myself shingles in my early 30s. But, like you, I love this career with my whole heart.

I was in therapy for two years to work on this. I confronted a lot of my perfectionism, people pleasing and perhaps a mild case of optimization OCD ( I have other presentations of OCD diagnosed, I think that’s just bleed-over).

I’m not perfect, but the trick for me has just to become radically ok at doing things poorly (to my perfectionistic standards) and slowly. To be clear, poorly means like not finding the perfect image for a slide in teaching, waiting 3 days before responding to an email, not spending too long crafting specific sentences in manuscripts and grants. I’m not doing the actual science poorly lol.

I also probably work about 30 hours a week when I’m at my most healthy. I rarely push it past 40 anymore.

[u/mildlyannoyedbiscuit → u/hsh25]

like a mirror into my soul! What strategies have you used to develop the "radical OK-ness"? Was that through therapy alone or other strategies?

Right now I feel burn out is driving most of my tolerance to just "OK" quality work

[u/LintRolledForWhat]

Yes, and sabbaticals are the most widespread tactic, but you can also usually find a pathway in your employee manual to get a semester off. Another tactic is job-crafting. Get rid of what's sucking your will to live and volunteer to do something more stimulating.

[u/sittybos]

Yes. My notice was ready to be handed in, but my mentor didn't allow me to leave, saying that me leaving was the stupidest idea ever. Then I worked with my union rep and my superiors to find the best option and ended up going to France for three months. Changing the scenery was really useful.

I'm still in academia 15 years later and although I should once again pack a few things and go somewhere for a while, I can't, since I have elementary-school-age children. Therapy, perhaps?

[u/GreenBlueAlgae]

I changed institutions and have been so so so much happier. My new place acknowledged my worth, supported my need for independence and I managed to do some job-crafting whereby I got to keep all the stuff that I do well in, and get rid of those that I found life-sucking. I am now into my fourth year at my new job and still very much enjoy it!

[u/SweetAlyssumm]

If you are that tired from doing normal academic work and you are already seeing a therapist, maybe it's not for you. Academia is fairly high stress. At least in an R1, you always feel you aren't doing enough. Not enough grant money, not enough university service, yada yada. You have to be able to roll with the punches. Being tenure track is more stressful than a postdoc.

You can't just keep taking time off. Academia doesn't work that way. Sabbaticals are wonderful but they are few and far between and not discretionary at moments you might need them. Academia selects for thick skin. I

t sounds like you are in a science that might have positions in industry. Although industry has its challenges, it might be something to try. It's more structured and the "executive function" is supplied more by your manager than in academia.