An Unstable State: My Continuous Struggle to Find Work-Life “Balance”

April 11, 2024

Libby Barnes

Hosted by ATS Grad Reps

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Abstract

I am a climate scientist. I am also a professor, mentor, mother, partner, sister, daughter, friend, and general member of society. Performing well in any one of these roles is hard work for me, but performing perfectly in all of them is impossible. Here, I will discuss my continuing struggle to find balance between these aspects of my life, and how I am coming to terms with the fact that true “balance” may instead be the continuous movement between unstable states. Throughout this talk I will highlight lessons I have learned and those I am still learning, while sprinkling-in thoughts from colleagues across the field.

*This talk is a reprise of a seminar Prof. Barnes gave in 2019