I guess the first thing I need to emphasise is that there is no such thing as free time in academia. For the next three months I have no classes to teach (except for 12 afternoons of practicals and marking of exams) and so I have "free time". Time that is available to read theses (drafts from my two PhD and one MSc students who are writing up) and write papers and design research programs. Time that is available to read papers in my field (which are produced at the rate of hundreds every week). Time to sort out my laboratory and office so that they are both more efficient. Time to write grant proposals and progress reports. Time to attend committee meetings (necessary but not always pleasant or productive). "Free" time. The real challenge with free time is choice. Of all the loudly screaming demands on my time - which shall I choose?
I read a while ago that when you live life according to your personal values you are more effective and more satisfied. my personal values include building into family and building relationships, so I plan to spend some of my "free time" (hereafter FT) with family and with my post graduate students. They are after all the biggest determinants of success in research.
