The past month was one of the most difficult months in recent memory. At work, it felt as if my work tripled at the same time my meetings tripled as well, leaving me with much more things to do, and very few hours at work to do them in. Some days, I literally drop my bag at my desk, haul my laptop and water bottle and then run from meetings to meetings until the end of the day.
Which would have been fine, any other time, because I’ll continue with a second shift at night — except, I’m expecting! And there are two consequences of that. First, the first trimester is always the most exhausting and it’s nothing but sheer willpower that gets me through the sleepy afternoons and to pull myself up to continue working after putting Isaac to bed in a dark, cool room. On the bright side, I’ve had very little morning sickness so far — I get a shade queasy after lunch and dinner but I’m mostly fine. So that helps in getting through the days. Still, there’s another four weeks before the end of the first trimester so hoping I won’t be struck by more serious bouts of morning sickness.
The second consequence is that Isaac is so so so much more sticky after I learnt that I was expecting. It’s very sweet. He calls for me all the time, lights up when he sees me (even if I’ve only been away for five minutes in the other room!) and snuggles and kisses me. I don’t think I have ever felt so loved or needed! But it’s also tiring when he only wants me and Daddy wouldn’t so. It also makes the long hours at work hard, knowing that Isaac is missing and calling for me through the days.
So I was feeling quite bummed over the past week — I don’t feel as efficient as I can be at work, and also not quite as good as mother as I should be.
But! It struck me yesterday that I really should not be despairing. Instead, this is the time to challenge myself to raise my own productivity and find ways to do things more efficiently and effectively, and achieve a better balance!
So! I shall examine and rethink my own processes and see how I can change the way I work to achieve the same, or better outcomes in less time (see, all the productivity talk is getting to me). If every industry in Singapore can achieve it, so can I!
I suppose some of it is really about planning, understanding and managing my own energy levels, and also redefining my role so I’m focused on creating value at the right level. I’m not sure I can achieve a 20% productivity improvement but I shall try! (And at the very least it amuses me that I’m giving myself this same pep talk on productivity and trying out the same strategies we’ve been selling to industries!)
It is actually quite amazing to have two major things happening in my life at once — a new baby on the way and a new role at work. I shall
make the best of it. Fortitude and tenacity YX!
