Part-timers, you are not 'behind'—stop working for free
If you went part-time to manage your workload only to end up using your unpaid days to catch up on email and things you didn't manage to finish, then it's time to stop.
I've met a few people (all women so far) over the last couple of years who have the same story. Their workload was too high, so they took a pay cut and went to 0.8 or 0.6FTE. But then, rather than spending their spare days getting their nails done, going to yoga or chilling with their kids, they spend it answering the vast number of emails piling up, responding to urgent student queries and, in the best-case scenario, doing research for their universities. All unpaid labour, of course.
I thought it was just the odd case, but I attended a union webinar the other month, and it was clear that this is common all over the country. If you are doing this, it's time to stop.
It's not your fault—modern academia isn't exactly built for saying "no." The culture thrives on availability, helpfulness, and always being on top of everything, to the point where setting boundaries can feel almost rebellious. Many of us are afraid that saying no will make us look "difficult" or like we're not pulling our weight.
But—and this is the hard part—it is within your control to change how you engage with it. It starts with drawing boundaries, learning to say no, and managing your time in a way that protects your energy and respects your value. You do not work for free.
When you learn to do this, you'll quickly see whether you've got a productivity leak—or if it's just the voice in your head whispering, "You're behind," convincing you to work for free. And when you acquire the skill of coaching yourself through these thoughts and building self-belief, everything changes. You'll stop suffocating in night sweats about whether you said 'Kind regards' or 'Best wishes,' and instead start clocking off at 1 p.m. on a Thursday, skipping to the cinema for a matinee before picking the kids up at 3:30.
This is why I'm so passionate about helping lecturers and academics get their life back. Because maybe some of this is about time management, but it's mostly about boundaries and enough-ness. Too many of us are caught in a cycle of not-enoughness: not doing enough, not being organised enough, not clever enough, not efficient enough, not a good enough colleague, not giving enough to our students.
Repeat after me: I am done with working for free. If you struggle with putting yourself first, know that boundaries aren't just about protecting your time; they're about creating a system where everyone can prosper. Every time you push back, you create stronger cultural boundaries against overwork.
If you’re ready to stop working for free and start setting boundaries then, Join The Sisterhood – My membership community for women in academia. Get monthly live group coaching, exclusive webinars on planning and mindset, writing groups, and much more—all designed to help you manage your workload and build the confidence to say no. Join here.
