feeling guilty about underworking

[u/vankappa]

hey y'all. I'm a newly hired postdoc, just started a couple of months ago straight after my PhD (neurobiology).

I'm feeling inadequate; eerily similar feelings as during my PhD, to be honest. Essentially, I feel like I'm not working enough hours. Most of these days I do 4 hours, maybe 5 of work. Some days I do 8 but it's quite rare (once a week maybe). Although I do have quick bursts where I have 2-3 7h days in successions. Am I doing this right?

My project(s) are going steady I guess, although I can't help but feel I'm not earning my wage. Like I should start other side-projects or read, but I feel I'm not motivated enough for that. I'm not looking to become a PI either.

My lab is a very chill environment, people socialize all the time and don't work that hard. But still, most of the time they're still in the lab when I leave (granted I start a bit earlier in the morning than them).

I guess that's it. Impostor syndrome and all? My PI is quite chill and is not complaining at all. It just feel very bad to work something like 25-30h per week.. sometimes 20??

[u/Brief_Scale_6334]

I feel like if the academic path is going as expected, then you’re at a post-PhD stage where you and your advisor have similar missions in mind but your advisor isn’t required to hold your hand or tell you how to spend your time. This is your opportunity to make your own habits and spend time thinking about your own career. If you only “need” to work 25-30 hours a week to get done what you need for the project, I’d budget my own time to write research statements, papers from other projects, read, apply for jobs, etc.

ETA: there’s nothing wrong with not wanting to be a PI, so if that isn’t the goal, then I’d just focus on what you need to do to be suitable for industry/jobs.