Forum: Introspective Journeys and Lessons Learned: Narratives of Self-Care in Academia.

This article forum focuses on the challenges of achieving work-life balance in academia, particularly within the field of International Relations, by presenting diverse autoethnographic accounts from scholars at various career stages and institutional contexts. Contributors discuss how personal experiences—including caregiving, parenting, relationship status, health issues, and institutional fit—intersect with academic expectations, often exacerbated by structural factors such as neoliberal productivity demands and limited institutional support. The essays emphasize the importance of empathy, mentorship, boundary-setting, and self-care strategies, while also highlighting systemic barriers faced especially by marginalized groups, including women and caregivers. Collectively, the forum calls for a cultural and structural shift in academia to foster more inclusive, supportive environments that recognize the complex realities of scholars' lives beyond their professional roles.