Head of Department Letter April 2026

Excellence requires breaks

It is early April, most development reviews have now been completed, and holiday planning is well under way. As always, excellence in education and research is at the top of our agenda. At the same time, I would like to remind you that excellence also requires recovery and time off – whether you are a researcher, a teacher, or work in a support function.

Historically, the workload at Fysicum has often been high. Unfortunately, this year’s development reviews show that far too many people feel tired, work excessively, and find it difficult to take time off or to relax even when they are on leave. Many enjoy their work – which is very positive – but that alone does not protect against exhaustion. We all need to take our wellbeing seriously.

Research clearly shows that continuing to work when you are overly tired is inefficient. Listen to your body and take time off when you need it. Even better is to work preventively by taking regular breaks. Spring has arrived, and we all have the opportunity to step outside and enjoy some fresh air. If you have time, you might exercise or take a short walk in central Lund. Our long corridors and stairwells can also be used for a quick round while chatting with someone in another building – providing both physical movement and social interaction.

Close your door if you need to focus, but try not to do so too often. It is easy to end up in a lonely spiral together with all the work you feel you are falling behind on. Colleagues are, in fact, a key part of a good working environment – even if they sometimes interrupt.

Addressing symptoms is important, but we also need to tackle the underlying causes of why so many people experience excessive workloads. Some problems, such as understaffing, have clear solutions. In those cases, the institution and I simply need to act in good time. Other issues are more complex and require dialogue to understand what can be done. Researchers face intense competition both nationally and internationally, which, combined with passion for their subject, often leads to long working hours. This does not necessarily have to be a problem – as long as we remember the importance of recovery. In order to meet all demands, staff on the technical and administrative side also experience periods of high workload. The challenge is to avoid prolonged periods of working beyond normal hours.

Please feel free to talk to your colleagues and your manager about your work situation in order to find ways to be both productive and well. Work does not have to feel enjoyable every single day, but it should feel possible to go to work with energy on most days.

Happy Easter!

Else Lytken
Head of Department