To what extent is this your typical weekly schedule? Are there more frequent variations?

This schedule is rather schematic, taking into account the variety of activities during the week. It happens that some of them are intensified, e.g. before going to a conference or sending an article for publication. Then the scientific work actually dominates my entire working week. The schedule of the day/week is also changed by the absence or illness of family members, which forces everyone to reorganize their duties. When you live outside the city, such a schedule is closely intertwined with the seasons. In the summer, commuting to work and school takes much less time that can be devoted to research or rest.

How do you draw motivation and strength from your week?

I am most motivated by my own satisfaction with teaching and generally good interpersonal relations at work. When I see the effects of my scientific work and I manage to reconcile it with the organization of household duties, then I fully believe in my possibilities as a woman and scientist. However, I know that such an ideal situation is rare, so I try to appreciate every little positive aspect of my work and forget about failures.

Is there anything you would like to change about your weekly schedule?

Yes, when I work from home, I would like to be able to separate this time more clearly from caring responsibilities (children and elderly). However, this is not always possible. What’s more, as a mother, I know that a home office is one of the benefits of research work. However, experience has shown me that this asset can work against us, especially when it comes to women.