to coast in my job or a bit ... maybe forever!

[BigBoris]

Just a bit of context, I'm an academic/university lecturer. I feel like I have busted a gut since I finished by Phd seven years ago. I've got somewhere. Well, I've got a job. But I haven't been promoted, ever. I am just scraping by, meeting the minimum requirements.

And I've been feeling terrible and inadequate about that for some time, in what is a very very competitive, egotistical, back-stabby world. And at the same time, I feel as though I have let my kids down by always working, not being there for them as they start school, not supporting their learning, being distracted, and generally being a bit rubbish. Classic working mum dilemma.

But now, I want to feel different. I can't give up work for lots of reasons not least money, but I think the demands that are made on me by work are just too much (this is a common complaint in academia!) I just want to be able to say to myself that it's OK just to coast, to be a bit mediocre basically. Do what I have to do, but no more. Say no to more things. Carve out time for the family and let the rest go.

Has anyone been there already? How has it worked for you?

[Maddaddam]

I know where you're coming from. I'm an academic and have tried various strategies to keep a decent work-life balance. I love many things about academic work, but the incessant demands and expectations to do it "properly" are impossible, for me, without giving up on time with kids, my sanity, health etc. Previous "coasting" efforts included cutting down my hours and also taking a job step down when I had 3 children under 6 - I wouldn't recommend that last bit, I hadn't really appreciated how hierarchical universities were and how hard I'd have to argue subsequently to get back to the level I'd been.

My current "coasting" includes shifting the balance of my work from reserach to teaching/lecturing, which I have found far more manageable in terms of workload (in research there is always another grant to write, another conference, more networking, more papers, better papers in better journals, a book...).

So currently I focus mostly on the teaching and doctoral supervision (I teach only postgrads and they are lovely, I don't skimp on that at all and would never short change the students) and have pulled various research irons out of the fire.

I'm sure that this is going to be a problem in the longer run. That lack of grants, networking etc is going to show. But I have a good work-life balance and haven't left academia (a few of my friends with these dilemmas have).

[bedraggledmumoftwo]

I agree wholeheartedly. It simply isn't possible to fit in with the long hours culture we have when you have a family without sacrificing something for it. Personally I would rather be the one that looks like a part timer leaving at 445 each day for the nursery run than not see my kids in the evening. But I am aware I look like a slacker, even if I have done my hours and am on top of everything. But no, I can't go over and above without sacrificing my family time

[tumbletumble]

I'm a university lecturer with three primary age DC. I work part time and am not research active - my focus is on teaching. That is the agreement with my manager so no one feels let down by me. I find it rewarding and relatively stress-free - it really suits me. I think it's fine to coast!

[NewTwenty]

This is an interesting thread as I just made the decision not to go for an internal vacancy being advertised at my workplace.

I currently have the 'perfect' work life balance of a pt role with a lot of autonomy. I do my job very well and always meet and often exceed expectations.

A management level post (one grade up from me) came up and I was thinking of applying for it, well because that's what you do... But I realised that there were only three plus points - I wrote a pros and cons list so it is quite interesting to look back on that, albeit only at a distance of a fortnight.

The pros list has just three items on it: 'better status', 'a little bit more pay' and 'better cv'. Yet when I thought of not taking on the job I felt instantly relieved, partly because I realised that it would be far harder to meet those higher expectations in the time and space in my life that I have available. The pay would only be a couple of thousand more p.a., yet the increased responsibility would, at times, be significant. So not worth it to me.

[SomewhereIBelong]

don't think of it as coasting - think of it as just being good enough...

good enough is good enough sometimes...

[irregularegular]

I'm also a university academic. I enjoy the environment, the teaching, the students. However, I've almost entirely lost interest in the research side. The area I was working in was very narrow and theoretical and it's hard to branch out now. Plus I'm really just not that good at it - it's definitely not my strength. I've spent years and years stressing about it, putting in hours and hours and just not getting anywhere very much. Recently I've decided I've had enough - it's a waste of my life.

I'm extremely fortunate that I've got a rare permanent, reasonably well paid position in a very nice environment with fantastic students where I don't really need to do much research (I have a college only position in an Oxbridge college). In fact I've got a more or less official agreement that I don't need to.

However, I don't want to "coast" in the sense that I don't want to just do the same teaching for the rest of my life and not develop and do new things. Nor do I like the feeling that I'm not contributing fully relative to my position and rewards. So I am searching out new roles within college and the university in things I'm interesting in: welfare, admissions, outreach and other admin type things. For the moment I don't want to give up the teaching entirely so I'm trying to do these activities alongside my main role. But I will follow my interests and if these things go well and the right opportunities come up I may make a complete switch.

I'm also focusing more on stuff outside work. If I can't grow and develop and make a worthwhile contribution in work then I will do it elsewhere. For example I am currently training to volunteer with the Samaritans. Selective coasting, not coasting through life.

[BigBoris]

Hello irregularregular, I wonder about going on to teaching only but if I'm honest, although I do my absolute best at it, it's not why I became an academic and so for me, the research is the thing. Even though I am not a brilliant theoretician and that is also probably another reason why I struggle. I sometimes wonder though whether I need to be a little less of a pushover and then the workload wouldn't feel as bad. For example, I am just completing a massive report on which I was meant to have two collaborators, who have quite honestly done nothing, but who are claiming equal credit. Grrrrrrr.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

BigBoris Research is why I am an academic too. :) YY on lazy collaborators. I'm picking my collaborators more carefully these days.

[balletnotlacrosse]

I'm kind of coasting where I am. I'm in a job that uses my qualifications, that I know I'm good at, where I have a lot of autonomy and work in beautiful tranquil surroundings away from the rat race.
I could keep pursuing challenging work, more opportunities, a higher profile, to be back at the cutting edge, working later, rushing around etc.

But I just don't want to. I'd rather be at home at 6pm pottering around with the radio on, or reading a book or going for a walk than still at work, or just leaving a city centre office and heading out into the rush hour madness of public transport.

[BigBoris]

Yes - me too re: "collaborators". Never ever again I keep muttering under my breath as I plan to spend all this weekend working to meet the funder's deadline, and in order that I can keep on top of exam marking next week, whilst they tell me that they can only spare a couple of hours next week as they have lots of exam marking. Aaaaaanyway, that's another story.

[Babyroobs]

I am costing in my job. I have 4 kids and work part time but know I am unlikely to work towards any kind of promotion for many years until all my kids are teenagers. I do the minimum required to earn enough money to pay the bills. It does stress me sometimes seeing newer colleauges climbing the ladder quickly just remind myself that they are generally younger with no commitments and that my priorities have to be different for the time being.

[TheChandler]

Have you thought about writing an academic textbook? Working on it could excuse you from publishing for a few years, you could collaborate with a colleague and once the thing is up and running, you can make additional money from it, as well as using your own book to lecture from and getting paid for updating it. Very compatible with teaching.

[spaceal]

When I opened this thread I imagined you might be an academic, OP. I am and I'm coasting. I find it so difficult to do research without completely throwing myself into it (reading, writing, doing grant applications, doing conferences, really investing emotionally in the research) and I'm not in a place family-wise to want or be able to throw myself in. So I'm working v hard on my teaching and PhD supervision but 'coasting' on the research side. My DP is in a v similar position (we both work PT).

I feel absolutely fine about coasting for now (I worked extraordinarily hard to get where I am) but I'm not sure I can bear it forever. I think ultimately I'm going to leave but I'm taking my time to work out what I'm going to do longer term.

I've also thought about a teaching only contract, as it would remove a lot of (REF) pressures but I worry that my teaching load would skyrocket and my position in the department plummet.

I also like 'good enough' - it comes originally from child psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott and his idea of 'good enough mothering'. It's pretty much my mantra these days. Good enough is always good enough.

[BigBoris]

Yes, good enough is a good term. But sometimes it feels like in this job good enough just really isn't good enough in the eyes of peers. But .... who cares. I do wish I had someone to talk to about this at work, but my mentor is pretty senior and influential and although I like him, I can hardly say to him that I want to chill and enjoy life a bit more. He would probably say that my publication looks like I've been chilling out already! I have noticed though that a female professor in our dept works part-time (she keeps that quite quiet!) I would REALLY like to talk to her about her "journey" (awful word but you know). Not sure if I'd come across as a bit intrusive and nosy though.

[rookiemere]

I'm coasting - I asked to go down a grade a few years ago as I was really struggling to do the job p/t and had some health issues at the time as well.

I like my job, I throw myself into it when I'm there and I'm very careful to keep myself up to date with training and experience, plus being flexible when I need to be (and when it suits).

I did think about going back up a grade when I saw people who used to be a grade lower moving up to the level above, but it would involve 4 full days and more travel, so unless circumstances change, I'm not going to do it until DS is at secondary school. It was actually a mumsnet thread that convinced me to stick rather than twist - I have perfect hours for school and we don't need the extra money, so yes there we go.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I think you should go and talk to her if she's friendly - just say what you think the pressures are and how she manages to cope with part-time work. Also do you get publications with your PhD students? Sometimes we have opportunity to give little projects to PhD students which do end up with publications jointly. I think collaboration is the way to go but pick your collaborators carefully ... Easier said than done. It is hard to get research done when you don't get large blocks of time, but I must say, for me, there is nothing in the job like getting results and having them published!

[spaceal]

At the risk of outing myself. I'm a PT female professor. I would be extremely happy to talk informally, confidentially to a colleague about the sort of stuff you're talking about. I think you should approach her.

I'm pretty sure I'm not your PT female professor, btw!

[applesareredandgreen]

Sorry OP if I suggested you may be letting your students down. I didn't understand what your job entailed. I suppose I have coasted in a way work wise since having DC in that I have reduced my hours and put work life balance before promotion but I do give 100% when I.m there.

I think your situation sounds as if there are several aspects requiring your 100% and that is not possible. So no U r NBU

[RaskolnikovsGarret]

I was pushed into applying for a promotion by a well meaning but pushy boss. I was too much of a wimp to say no, and got the job, and all my concerns have been realised. It's more money, about £1200 extra net a month, but really really not worth it. I see my DDs less, and am permanently attached to my Blackberry, I didn't want this job and wish if had been strong enough to say no. I bitterly regret it and am formulating my escape plan.

Coasting sounds god, esp with a young family.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I also work PT and while many think I'm a bit meh I'm very happy with my work and my outside-work life. :)

[spaceal]

Me too LordCopper. My relationship to work works for me. And I don't feel like I'm letting anyone down. My only concern is whether it'll sustain me long-term.