In universities we face the triple burden of: a financial model that no longer works well because we are not funded by government and want to resist the push to become businesses; a mental health and economic crisis facing staff and students; intense (and often uneven) workloads, taking us away from what we want to be doing: teaching, researching, writing and contributing to public good.

I am typical in trying to do too much. In my case I’m head of a medium sized department (managing upwards 25 people), sitting on four governance committees, editing an Encyclopaedia, writing a book and around 5 journal articles, PI on a research project on the rights of indigenous people in Ethiopia, reporting on a £2m 5-year project, playing a part in developing 3 new research projects, teaching management at a 2^nd uni, Deputy Chair of the Study of Parliament Group, reviewing endless articles/grant proposals, and trying (and failing) to be a good mother, partner, sister, daughter and friend. Much of my time is actually spent untangling tangles.

This is going to shorten my life. My solutions. First, I have incredible colleagues in the SOAS Anthropology and Sociology Dept, and we are brainstorming new ideas for continuing to be teachers and researchers, while making our financial model create less strain. Secondly, I’m going to start saying no. I did an assertive course in the 1990s and I remember it is important to start the response with, ‘No’ and then explain rather than the reverse. Thirdly, I’m doing to cut out some of those responsibilities without losing my identity – mostly importantly as a writer, a mentor and a mother.

This is a long way of saying this is not really a blog. It is really more of a very occasional update. But I’m not sure how to change the title of this page! And I’m going to try and not feel bad about that.