"Somewhere along the way, I started wearing burnout like a badge of honour. In weekly lab check-ins, I make sure to mention I was in the lab over the weekend - slipping in a quiet signal that I was going above and beyond. I've made sure to send e-mails early in the morning or late at night to demonstrate I was working long hours."
"It wasn't until my mother visited me in July that something shifted. She stayed with me for a few days, and although we spent time together - walking outside, catching up over dinner - she noticed I wasn't really 'there' in the moment. I looked pale, she told my partner later. She could see that the PhD journey was taking a toll on me."
"This culture of burnout can be especially difficult for students, including myself, who don't plan to pursue a career in academia. When academic work is exhausting and your research is meant to receive your all, it leaves little time for other necessities, such as career exploration, hobbies and socializing - all of which are essential for a career and a life beyond the lab."
A fourth-year PhD student at Stanford experiences pronounced burnout despite a supportive adviser and a positive lab environment. The broader academic culture rewards long hours, leading the student to signal overwork as a badge of honor through weekend lab mentions and early or late emails. Exhaustion becomes normalized until a mother’s visit exposes physical and emotional depletion and a lab mate encourages stepping away. The student initially defends against perceptions of slacking. Burnout culture limits time for career exploration, hobbies, and social life, prompting the student to launch an extracurricular project called PhD Paths to address alternatives.
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