A Sunday e-mail sabbatical

There’s something seductive about counter-intuitive solutions. The fact that they feel wrong makes you think that they’re right…

I’m trying something counter-intuitive right now. I’ve been struggling with balancing productivity and family time since my wife went back to work at the beginning of the year and I committed to only working a four day week at the same time. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done that I need to get done. So far, I’ve been doing the intuitive thing – working more. I’ve slowly carved away hobbies and relaxation time to try and cram it all in. When Hazel goes down for her nap, I bolted to the computer to get some stuff done.

The last few days, I’ve gone the opposite direction. Family time is family time. I check my e-mails during my daddy day on Fridays, because that’s working time for everyone else. Today? I have not opened my e-mail once. There are plenty of other non-e-mail ways of reaching me, if it’s urgent. I’m just treating myself to a 24 hour break from the urgent ping of the in-box once a week, and see if that helps me focus better on my family time, and then on my working time tomorrow.

Today, I took Hazel to the play park, walked her while she slept, and played with her on the beach. It was awesome. It was worry-free.

Tomorrow, I work.