If you love the rocks but hate camp culture, you might be in the wrong type of geology job
Spent my first few years in exploration thinking I just needed to "toughen up" about field camps and that I’d eventually love the lifestyle. Spoiler: I didn't. I loved the actual geology (mapping and drilling programs were great) but being the only woman on site half the time and dealing with the constant "banter" and gossip bubble slowly fried me. I kept thinking that if I couldn't handle the camp culture, maybe I just didn't belong in geology at all.
What finally helped was realized I didn't hate the science; I just hated the specific social setup of exploration camps. I started tracking my days and realized that carrying gear and hiking in crappy weather was fine, but the constant "social performance" of being "on" all the time was what wrecked me.
At one point, I was so stuck that I had a notebook full of rants sitting next to a Coached career test report I’d run. Helped me see on paper that my need for autonomy and a stable "home base" wasn't a "moral weakness" or me being soft. It was just how I’m wired to work best. It gave me the data I needed to stop feeling guilty about wanting out of the 24/7 camp cycle.
I eventually switched into a role with shorter trips where I'm rarely the only woman and there’s an actual HR presence. My Sunday dread dropped by like 80% almost immediately. If you’re in that "I love the rocks but the lifestyle is killing me" space, you aren't alone, and it doesn't mean you picked the wrong degree.
Curious if anyone else here has switched sectors or found a niche that doesn't involve the typical camp burnout? What worked for you?