Any research role, especially within an academic institution, is going to come with extra ‘opportunities’ for professional development and progression. And if you’re lucky, as you advance in your career, you might find yourself having to pick and choose exactly which extra bits to ‘say yes’ to.

I might start off by asking, what exactly is a side project? I speak from the perspective of a PhD student, which means that what I consider a side project may look quite different from an early career researcher or senior academic. I’m currently considering, for example, tutoring and teaching and research assistant roles, getting involved in research groups/clusters, and taking on academic service opportunities, such as peer review or PGR community support. As I (hopefully) advance in academia, this ‘buffet’ of extra offerings, I imagine, will get increasingly more complicated. And what exactly constitutes a side project – as opposed to something integral to my own career progression – will become less clear. For instance, I could write an entirely different post on publications as either ‘side project’ or main research activity. But that is for another week.

As a new academic year begins, I think it’s only fitting to muse on how to systematically assess and address the value of what I call ‘side projects’, or, anything directly outside of your role as a researcher. How do you know if you’re taking on too much? And how do you know which opportunities to pursue and which ones to (politely) decline?

Here are 5 questions to keep in mind for the next time you are presented with the possibility of a side project…

1. Is it paid?

A fellow PhD student once advised me not to take on anything additional to the PhD unless it is paid. Considering how small our UKRI stipends are to begin with, this is sage advice. At the same time, there are many unpaid opportunities – such as starting your own research network/reading group, peer review for publication, organising PGR networking activities – that can be essential to your own personal and professional development, depending on where you see yourself in the near future (more on this in question #5). It’s important to take this into account as well. Paid work is great to supplement your income, but how valuable is it, really, if it doesn’t contribute to your own development?

2. How well does it fit alongside your ‘main gig’?

Every researcher has different contracts and time commitments. In any case, the time you’ve committed to your main contract – whether that be a PhD, postdoctoral fellowship, lecturer or otherwise – always takes priority. When confronted with a potential opportunity, be realistic about your own time constraints: Will this opportunity in any way prevent you from doing your ‘main job’ fully? Is the time allotted for the side gig realistic? If not, should this be revised in the provisional contract, research proposal, etc.? If you’re unsure about the particular time commitment, ask the colleagues around you. Has anyone else performed a similar role that might know more about what to realistically expect? This is a common concern for teaching, tutoring, marking, and demonstrating roles, so it is worth engaging with the colleagues around you should you have any doubts.

3. How does it fit along with other commitments you’ve made?

Keep tabs on your time commitments. What have you committed to already? How might this new opportunity fit or clash alongside these pre-existing commitments? Think about the near future. What other conflicts may arise? For instance, do you have an upcoming study that requires in-depth fieldwork that will require your undivided attention at some point in the next 6 months? For this reason and so many others, it’s a good idea to have a working timeline for your research so that you are able to refer back to it when considering tacking on anything else.

4. How is it advancing your own development?

As with any new opportunity, this is all about a balance between professional growth and development and honing in on your unique selling points (USPs). Although researchers come in a wide variety of forms, we all possess a love of learning, and we are commonly eager to begin new pursuits. Considering the opportunity in front of you, is it a chance to develop a brand-new skillset? Is it an opportunity to advance any pre-existing skills you may have? You want to make sure that you are not adding a slew of seemingly disconnected tools and skills to your CV; at the same time, you should consider venturing out of your comfort zone from time to time, especially in the latter stages of your career.

5. Is it aligned with what you want to do in the near future?

When any new side project presents itself, I think carefully about what I want to do in 3-5 years time. How does this potential gig fit into that vision? If you don’t see how this opportunity could be useful to your future self, it’s probably best that you leave it be.

In summary, there is no clear answer as to, How much is too much? The answer ranges based on a researcher’s pre-existing personal and professional time commitments, which can be wide-ranging. However, one piece of general advice I received last year that I won’t forget? If you can’t remember the last time you had a real break, you’re probably doing too much.