I have been on "time off" for a while now and I have been seeing friends and family seeing me with an eye of envy. All of them believe that I perhaps have just “NOTHING” to do but let me tell you there is never a time in the life of an “Academician” when he isn’t doing anything. That is not just the academic way of life. Though I must admit that during my break that I have managed with great difficulty, I found time to do all the things that I have not been able to do for a long time, from cooking to watching my favourite TV shows to water surfing but despite that, being into the academics field, work has always tagged along with me.
Though I could have really done what I wanted to do during my break, but I have to admit that doing my PhD has so conditioned my brain that it works like a nonstop engine even when I don’t want it to. My research has become an inseparable, indispensable part of my life and I have truly become the machine that my friends describe me as and I am addicted to my work and not anything else.
Has your PhD / research made your personality also addicted to work? And if you coped up well with it, it surely is an indication that these tendencies of yours can be capitalised to the production of more innovative ideas as you would not bask in the glory of one successful achievement for long. A great publication would not make you rest, rather push you towards greater avenues to work hard further. I have to agree to this for myself, I don’t feel the high of blog post publication or a paper acceptance for long, rather I am always restless for a new accomplishment.
Like they truly say, "Greatness does not cause addiction but addictive qualities do cause greatness."