donderdag 31 januari 2008

Discipline

Self-discipline is one of those traits a work-at-home mom really needs.
People often ask me how I muster the discipline of getting down to business instead of paying endless phone calls to friends, watching tv during the day and Lord knows what else.
The funny thing is that my problem with discipline is altogether a different one, as I find it difficult NOT to work.
In order to achieve a better work/balance I have stopped working on Wednesdays -although I do the admin on that day-and try to steer clear from my home office at least one of the days of the weekend. Indeed, countless studies have shown that home workers spend more time working, not less.
Yesterday I did not work. I did not even update this blog. I spent time with Lara and Julie, two-year old twins. They are such fun, they are so cute. It's really difficult to become mad at them, even when they are tearing down the house. I also spent time with the apple of my eye, aka Thomas, we worked on his homework together. After a period of huge indifference with regard to school matters, he is now taking things a lot more seriously (thankfully), it's sweet to see the efforts he makes.
Come to think of it...I did work, but it was only one hour of interpreting at a civil-law notary's office. The Dutch law stipulates that when foreigners buy a property in the Netherlands, an interpreter must be present to translate the deed. This makes sense, as otherwise they might not know what they are getting into and a mortgage has far-reaching consequences.
Anyway, I really had to force myself to stay away from the computer, in the evening too, and enjoy time off.
"Nobody said on their deathbed: 'I wish I had spent more time in the office'", this quote, often mentioned in management books, is one I have to keep in mind, as it also applies to the home office...

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