{"id":262690,"date":"2026-05-04T14:07:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/fidel-alvarez-garcia-conciliar-tambien-es-saber-reservar-tiempo-para-uno-mismo\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T14:25:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:25:25","slug":"fidel-alvarez-garcia-conciliar-tambien-es-saber-reservar-tiempo-para-uno-mismo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/fidel-alvarez-garcia-conciliar-tambien-es-saber-reservar-tiempo-para-uno-mismo\/","title":{"rendered":"Fidel \u00c1lvarez Vargas: \u00abBalancing work and life also means knowing how to make time for yourself\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"

The initiative <\/span>C\u00e1mara Aberta CINTECX a Mulleres e Homes STEM<\/strong><\/a><\/em> continues to give voice and visibility to the people who sustain research activity from within. The protagonist for the month of May in the <\/span>CINTECX illustrated calendar<\/a> is <\/span>Fidel \u00c1lvarez Vargas, laboratory technician and quality manager at the centre, who shares his professional trajectory and personal experience during a stage marked by fatherhood and work-life balance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fidel trained as a technical engineer in Vigo, although he soon discovered that his vocation was closer to laboratory work. After completing a specialised higher vocational degree, he did not hesitate to apply when vacancies opened at CINTECX. \u201cI always had the drive to apply what I had learned in a research environment, working with samples, analyses and testing,\u201d he recalls. Since then, he has been part of the machinery that ensures the centre\u2019s day-to-day operations run smoothly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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His previous experience in industrial companies, with rotating shifts and demanding work rhythms, now serves as a contrast. Compared to those changing schedules, he especially values the stability of his current working hours. \u201cHaving a continuous shift makes a real difference when you have a family,\u201d he explains. This factor became particularly important with the arrival of his son, Elliot, who was also present during the recording of C\u00e1mara Aberta<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Fatherhood marked a turning point. Elliot was a much-awaited child, and since his arrival, priorities and routines have been reshaped. \u201cIt\u2019s an intense stage, sometimes tough, but it fills us with life every day,\u201d says Fidel, aware that raising a child involves sacrifices, but also brings an enormous daily reward.<\/p>\n

Balancing work and life through co-responsibility<\/h3>\n

In his case, work-life balance is built on an equitable sharing of responsibilities. Drop-offs and pick-ups at nursery school, shared afternoons, walks and playtime are all part of a negotiated and flexible routine. Although his job does not allow for remote work, Fidel stresses the importance of being actively involved in daily care and in decisions affecting his son\u2019s health and wellbeing. \u201cIf it can be shared, it should be shared,\u201d he sums up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Living abroad has also given him a comparative perspective. With a British partner, Fidel gained first-hand insight into the UK leave system, where the length of maternity leave allowed Elliot to spend his first year of life at home. \u201cAt four months, it\u2019s really hard to be separated from a baby for so many hours,\u201d he explains, especially when there is no nearby family support network.<\/p>\n

Drawing on both his personal and professional experience, Fidel identifies areas for improvement that would help support work-life balance in scientific and university environments: from support services during periods without childcare to adapted spaces or activities on campus at certain times of the year. Measures which, he notes, would ease a particularly demanding stage for many families.<\/p>\n

Fidel leaves a clear and honest reflection: beyond work and family, it is also necessary to make time for oneself. \u201cHaving a hobby, continuing to learn, doing something that motivates you\u2026 It\u2019s easy to forget, but it\u2019s also essential for wellbeing,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fidel \u00c1lvarez Vargas stars in the month of May of the CINTECX illustrated calendar in C\u00e1mara Aberta a Mulleres e Homes STEM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":262674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-262690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-duvi-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262690"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":262692,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262690\/revisions\/262692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}