I have had a day off today. Or rather, I have had a day with my daughter which I consider far more exhausting and demanding than a day at work. However, for me it is a case of "a change is as good as a rest" in that days with my little girl are a complete contrast to days at my "proper job" and mean that, when I am back at my desk, I am far more focused, effective and sharp than on weeks where I do the full five days.
I do not think about work consciously. That would be impossible. I can barely hold a half intelligent conversation at the same time as keeping an eye on the little un. So deciding at the start of the day to ponder a specific issue would be pointless.
I don't even have "ah-ha" moments - the sudden solution to a problem being worked out in my hippocampus while I dig holes in the sand and stack plastic bricks.
It is simply that a large part of my brain takes a vacation while the rest of my brain takes over solving such problems as "Is it time for a nappy change?" (hers not mine) and "Is it time for a cappuccino?" (mine not hers).
I never managed to find this time before becoming a parent and, I am sure, once she is in school full time, I will not be able to find the time again. But having this imposed on me is of great value and I only hope that I will remember that when the pressure to resume full-time working increases.
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