What eats up most of your time as a postdoc (that no one warned you about)?

Hi everyone,

I’m in the final year of my Master’s in the UK, and while I’ve had the chance to work in a few different labs, I still feel like I don’t really grasp the day-to-day realities of a long-term academic career.

I’m curious about the kind of “hidden” tasks that don’t get talked about much but actually take up most of your time. What parts of the job end up being the most draining or the least enjoyable? And do you think some of those struggles are unique to your field?

Also, with AI becoming more common in research, I wonder how people really feel about it. Not in the “write my paper” sense, but more as a research assistant for very specific tasks. Do you use it like that? Or do you avoid it? What are your biggest concerns around it?

I’d honestly love to hear anything you’re willing to share - especially the stuff you never hear anyone else talk about but that shapes your everyday experience.

Thanks so much!