I am not going to work tonight. Right after I finish this post. But wait– I just had an idea today for how I can incorporate a blog onto my corporate site! I should really jot down a few ideas. And then? I am going to stop working. But if I just spent one hour tonight on reading these articles sitting on my desk? I wouldn’t have to do it tomorrow morning. And that would leave me more time tomorrow morning to read Carol’s chapter as a favor to her, before I start working on editing those two sections I have to turn around by the end of the business day.
And then I will really stop working tonight. It’s only 10:00 p.m. now– if I stop in an hour, that will give me some me time, right? Before I collapse on my bed?
Does this sound familiar? I am terrible about setting up boundaries for work. But I am working to get better. I now have a task list set up for Work It, Mom! responsibilities, so when I sit down every day to do my work here, I know exactly what I will do and in what order. I also have a timeline for a grant project I am working on for my editing company, with specific dates about when things should be done.
My problems are usually that there are all kinds of little projects that seem to have no end. (I wonder if anybody has submitted a new article to Work It, Mom! that I should edit and set live? I noticed a typo in an article earlier when I was reading and went in and fixed it. Maybe there are other typos in other articles?)
But if I [continue to] work tonight, chances are that instead of being more productive tomorrow, I will be less. I may, in fact, be a greasy spot on the rug. The third book by Stephenie Meyer came out yesterday. 
It has been sitting and staring at me all day. I am going to go read it. Right now.
What are YOU going to do instead of work tonight?
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Hey Jen,
I’ve let the Avalanche slide, mostly because I spend so long with the computer at work AND because my home desktop is so hideously out of date.
Ages since we talked… luckily Jenorama still generates Google hits.
Actually went to Il Spazio Friday… kept checking the door… shame they quit brewing their own…
Anyhow, enough schizoid rambling. Email me some time (you’ve got access to that on my post I’m sure).
Regina | August 13th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Have you been inside my head??
Now that the kids are back to school, I’m back to swearing I’m not going to work at night. Honest.
Last night the husband and I put the kids to bed and then after cleaning up spent the night playing Scrabble. It was incredibly relaxing! (I said “Why don’t we do this more often?” and he said “Because you’re always working.” Oops.)
Mir | August 13th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Jen,
I’m a bbry addict… even when i promise myself that i will not do anything tonight, i still bring my bbry and check it constantly and reply to emails…. drives my husband crazy! I don’t know how to shake it off….
Victoria | August 14th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Good choice! I’ve learned to always have pleasure reading available: something I can enjoy that won’t keep me up at night with thoughts spinning in my head. The educational research journals can wait. Really, they can.
Daisy | August 15th, 2007 at 3:29 am