I have always had a high bandwidth for work and for social commitments. A typical week for me is often overscheduled, and a peek at my calendar is something that would probably provoke anxiety for most people. For example, the first week of May was supposed to look like this: Friday night alumni event for my husband’s medical school, a 10:30am Saturday morning work event, a Saturday afternoon 2nd birthday party for my granddaughter, a Saturday night event for work, leaving Sunday for Seattle, then back on Wednesday for a two day-trip to Washington DC.
But, what actually happened that week?
I watched my granddaughter open her presents on Facetime, I attended two video conference meetings to replace my meetings in Seattle and Washington and I participated in video meetings and visited my team at the hospital.
I almost always have events on weekends, dinner meetings and travel, but now, I’m not sure when those types of activities will resume. I’m realizing that this significant change in schedule is not all bad for me, and I have been reflecting on the positives of this new pace. I have had dinner with my husband every night since March 12th. Despite having to work from home on the weekends during this time, I have not worn a suit or heels for almost 12 weeks. More time to connect with loved ones (even if it’s via video or phone), working in yoga pants, not wearing makeup; these are all things I could really get used to doing. I’m adjusting to this change in pace and realizing that I was truly overscheduled.
Although the work has been grueling and extremely stressful, and at one point I had not had a day off in six weeks, there has been something good about spending more time at home and less time running from Philadelphia, to Seattle to DC all in a week. I am wondering how I will adjust to the demands of my job when they shift back to my former schedule? Can I do a better job of controlling it? Will we all have new approaches to how we schedule our work? I hope so.
I know that many of you have also had time to think about your lives, schedules and routines during this unprecedented time. I’d love to hear from you about what you’ve learned and how you think your routines may change post-quarantine. I asked my 35-year-old daughter-in-law (a self-employed mother of a two-year-old) the same question, and HERE is her perspective on what staying home has taught her.