![enter image description here][1] Dan and James share their thoughts on a [recent paper](https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009124) that proposes ten rules for improving academic work-life balance for early career researchers and the figure from this paper that became a meme. Here are the rules: 1. Long hours do not equal productive hours 2. Examine your options for flexible work practices 3. Set boundaries to establish your workplace and time 4. Commit to strategies that increase your efficiency and productivity 5. Have a long-term strategy to help with prioritization, and review it regularly 6. Make your health a priority 7. Regularly interact with family and friends 8. Make time for volunteer work or similar commitments that are important and meaningful to you 9. Seek out or help create peer and institutional support systems 10. Open a dialogue about the importance of work–life balance and advocate for systemic change Dan mentioned an app he sometimes uses to track his time, called [Timery](https://timeryapp.com/). **Other links** **Everything Hertz on social media** - [Dan on twitter](https://www.twitter.com/dsquintana) - [James on twitter](https://www.twitter.com/jamesheathers) - [Everything Hertz on twitter](https://www.twitter.com/hertzpodcast) - [Everything Hertz on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/everythinghertzpodcast/) **[Support us on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/hertzpodcast) and get bonus stuff!** - $1 per month: A 20% discount on Everything Hertz merchandise, a monthly newsletter, access to the occasional bonus episode, and the the warm feeling you're supporting the show - $5 per month or more: All the stuff you get in the one dollar tier PLUS a bonus episode every month **Music credits** Our outro music is by [Lee Rosevere](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/) **Episode citation** [1]: https://files.osf.io/v1/resources/7f3kn/providers/osfstorage/61070b6c904bff01049b38a9?mode=render