Hello all, I'm in my last year of my Ph.D. and I had moved up to Maine almost six years ago to work an ecology project that would specifically have me spend more time outdoors than what I was doing previously.
While I was happier being outside more frequently for my research (my field seasons are over now), it is the time I spend outside for leisure that is most cathartic. I specifically got a dog when I moved to Maine so that I would have to go on walks in the woods everyday because I knew it would make me feel better. What has truly made me feel the best is making time for my life. That has included making time for sports and clubs outside of academia like roller derby and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Making time for my family, my spouse, my friend networks, and myself has really been beneficial to my health. Being open and honest with fellow graduate students has also been very helpful to realize I wasn't the only one toiling with emotional problems. Best, Skylar On Sun, Nov 20, 2016 at 4:45 PM, leon <[email protected]> wrote: > Howdy David and others, > > There’s a lot of evidence that green regions in urban areas bring a sense > of calmness to many individuals. Unfortunately, as an academic, I am (and I > am sure many others are) bogged down with administrative things and I don’t > get to spend the time outside as I did in earlier years. I also have a son > who will start college soon and was talked out of marine biology by marine > biology PhD students, claiming there is no future. Instead, his current > intention is biotechnology. If biotechnology keeps him in the lab every > day, I am quite sure that he’d be happier as a marine biologist since he > loves to be outside in nature. > > Cheers, Leon > > > On Nov 20, 2016, at 6:31 PM, Luis J. Villanueva <[email protected] > <[email protected]>> wrote: > > > > I wonder whether ecologists, who may get to spend more time outside > ("in nature"), are less susceptible to depression than researchers in other > fields. > > Why? This seems to be based on an idea that nature cures all or that we > all derive healing from nature. I spent tons of time in the field, it > didn't help. Being outside for work is still work. > > A better work-life balance can help alleviate this pressure, something > very few people advocate for in this high-pressure environment. We all know > PIs that look down on students/researchers that invest a lot of time in > other aspects of life, be it family, volunteering, outreach, music, > athletics, or other hobbies. > > Depression is a disease like any other, something that works for one > person may not work for others. > > > > Luis > > > On Sat, Nov 19, 2016 at 11:16 PM, David Inouye <[email protected]> wrote: > >> There's an interesting article in the latest issue of Nature about mental >> health issues for scientists facing career pressures: >> >> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v539/n7628/full/nj7628-319a.html >> >> I wonder whether ecologists, who may get to spend more time outside ("in >> nature"), are less susceptible to depression than researchers in other >> fields. >> >> -- >> Dr. David W. Inouye >> Professor Emeritus >> Department of Biology >> University of Maryland >> College Park, MD 20742-4415 >> [email protected] >> >> Principal Investigator >> Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory >> PO Box 519 >> Crested Butte, CO 81224 >> > > > -- Skylar Bayer Ph.D. Candidate Marine Biology School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Darling Marine Center 193 Clark's Cove Road Walpole, ME 04573 [email protected]
