I've had one of those weeks that didn't want me to leave work for the weekend. After being engrossed in a few very promising and strategic meetings this week, (and a few that weren't- don't we all?), it left me with loose ends not tied up prior to leaving the office today. That drives me nuts. Now, many people would have one of two answers to Friday afternoon dilemma. First would be to say, "Well, you know what you have waiting for you when you get into work on Monday." The second would say, "Well, hell, throw it in the briefcase, you'll draft it up over the weekend so you don't have to worry about it come next week."
Eeyah.. I am not a "first responder". It kills me to "leave it hangin'" on the desktop over the weekend; probably because I will think of about 30 new concepts to add to that project/proposal/draft, and I know myself well enough to know that I certainly will not remember all of these absolutely brilliant ideas come Monday.
However, I can't easily be the "second responder", and here is why. From the moment I get in my car on my way home, my mindset changes from cultivation and solicitation appointments (and that briefcase full of great work to do) to "Did I grab an extra two granola bars this morning for the boys for afternoon snack on their way home? Is Mason's blankie in the car? Did I pull chicken to defrost for dinner tonight? Where is my bluetooth? When did my oil change light come on? Is someone's birthday this weekend?"
You get the point.
So, what is a full-time employed, full-time mother of two preschool aged children, barely insane, yet functioning wife, to do on a regular basis when faced with these dilemmas? Well, I've seen many people be the "first responder" and many be the "second responder"- to both success and failure.
Some, (albeit few in our niche), have the ability to mentally remember all of those great, fabulous thoughts over the weekend, file them, focus on life outside of work and resume as normal on Monday. Fantastic. Kudos to you .00002 percent of the population.
I've also seen others that just say, "Oh, I'll deal with it on Monday." And then Monday becomes Tuesday, to Wednesday and by Thursday when you remember a glimmer of that fantastic idea from last week (what day did I think of that anyway?) just went from a tropical storm to a summer breeze.
When your life loves your job and you love your life because your job reflects your life, you can justifibly take (some) moments to work on that uber-important proposal on a Saturday night after the kids are in bed (but before Weekend Update of SNL) and your husband is watching his 4th college ball replay game of the day. You can also justifibly take those weekends to focus on more important things- like kicking the ball in the backyard, bringing the kids to that cool festival downtown, or potty training (or cleaning up from potty training). You will return to work either way knowing that you made the right decision this weekend. It's not work to live, it's not live to work- it's love work that loves you and lets you live- weekend work or not.
And what did I do this afternoon to plan for the weekend? Well, I filled the briefcase- it's still in the car, or maybe it's in the house next to the macaroni T-Rex creation... plus, I can't forget to add.. what was it.. to that proposal for Monday- oh, it'll come to me!
