Back when I worked six/seven days a week and had no life and no hobbies, I didn’t understand the benefit of taking time off.

I saw only what it would cost me; I didn’t know that, in addition to the obvious pleasures of rest and relaxation, time away would actually make me more effective in my work.

Now, I marvel at how taking an afternoon or a day or a week to completely disconnect from work will result in a surge in productivity, creativity, and satisfaction when I return.

Read More

In some jobs, you get to go home at the end of the day. You might even clock out when your shift is done. At that point, you know your work is complete.

Though this type of job might come with disadvantages (never more so than during this pandemic), many of us long for the comfort and predictability of this type of routine. When we’re working from home and we have the possibility of being perpetually connected to our work, we run the risk of perpetually working. How do we know when it is enough?

Read More

Toddlers are fairly uncomplicated.

When I approached my toddler nephew one morning to greet him, he looked up at me and became distressed. His mom had just left the room, and clearly, he had been expecting her instead. I didn’t take his disappointment personally; when my sister returned, the little boy smiled and pointed at me and said my name (well, his version of it). All was well.

Read More

On the days when I struggle to figure out what I'm going to write or I’m having trouble settling down to do my work, it's not because I have a shortage of ideas.

Instead, it’s because I have too many. And sometimes, too many of the wrong kind of ideas. I have plenty of things to say that I don't think anybody would care about. There's stuff on my mind to do with personal circumstances — boring ones — that I don’t think would be relevant or interesting to anyone else.

To an extent, my ability to write successfully depends on resolving or putting aside any of the issues or challenges I might be experiencing that are getting in the way of being able to express myself clearly and confidently.

Read More

It’s nice to be able to wake up without the alarm.

I did that for most of the summer, popping awake sometime between 4:30 AM and 6 AM. The morning is when I get my best work done, so I usually set up my days to make the most of these hours.

In the summer, I didn’t have to try. But lately, well…no matter how early I go to bed, even if I get a full eight hours of sleep, I’m still groggy and disoriented when the ol’ alarm goes off.

Read More