Week 27
Work
My main project has been really intense this week, topped off with with Thursday as a 6.30am to 11.30pm day (the working day itself bookended by long train journeys) - so I’m shattered. This isn’t standard on the projects I work on to be honest, so I’m okay with it. It also helped that I was able to sleep until 10.30am this morning. Reflection: I’m expecting to be forced (by my financial situation, not by my boss) to have to return to a five day working week. Let’s face it, I’ve been in a very privileged position to be able to only work four days since my COVID response jobs. Most weeks I use Fridays to work on my book, catch-up on chores, write weeknotes, and prepare for the weekend; occasionally, like this week, I use the Friday to recover. When I return to full-time I’m going to have to be really careful with how I use that fifth working day, so that I don’t end up burned out.
Overall vibe on this project is optimism - the client leadership team is a great set of talented new hires genuinely open-minded and up for taking a test-and-learn approach on a new service; all of them now have a much better idea of what we’re talking about in practice (not just conceptually) - and none has baulked. Reflection: I’ve found myself suppressing my optimism on some projects until I know how justified it is. We’ve all been in organisations where leadership nods and agrees and says absolutely we want that challenge, and yes, let’s work differently, but when push comes to shove they aren’t willing to leave behind the false certainty, leadership and management habits, and comfort blankets they’ve clung to throughout their long careers. I’ll always give new clients the benefit of the doubt on their intentions - but you won’t get true excitement from me until I see them actually doing things differently or having really brave conversations.
The rest of my work consists of small, niche contributions on large projects led by others. I often find myself feeling guilty that I haven’t been able to give them as much of my time as they or I would like - so it was nice to hear a couple of them this week describe my involvement as short but intensely high impact. I might start being a little kinder to myself.
PD has a new office - not too far from Aviation House in Holborn, for those who know it. I’m excited to see it - for various reasons I haven’t made it in yet, though I’d planned to have been in at least three days by now. Reflection: the up side of not having been in yet means I’ve not had to experience the frustration of the inevitable snagging that comes when you move into a new commercial space. Though the PD folks handling the move have been so fast at addressing issues as they emerge.
Personal
This weekend is *two* family birthday parties, and for the one we’re hosting for E (and her friends), I’ve committed to running a proper puzzle-based scavenger hunt. This - and working on my SDinGov talk - is what I’ll be doing today. Reflection: I love creating puzzles and scavenger hunts (I think in another life I’d create escape rooms) - and I love creating and iterating talks I want to give. So I need to make sure I experience these both as enjoyable activities today. There’s a risk I won’t, because I’m still tired. So I’m promising myself now that if I don’t find my flow within 30mins on the talk, I’ll work on it on later in the weekend. And I’m going to start with an MVP scavenger hunt, so that if I run out of time or energy, I haven’t failed to deliver for E.
The kids have been watching Traitors (US) with me in the evenings. It’s nice to have something we regularly do together as a three (we tried badminton but it didn’t stick). Though I’m getting more than a little annoyed at the incessant mocking of Alan Cummings’ accent from E, and Z pointing out the hilarious Panto-levels of overdramatic on the show. Reflection: sometimes it’s more about spending time together than it is about activity itself. This time next year I won’t remember anything at all about the show, but I’ll remember these two girls descending into fits of giggles together, and fighting over whose turn it is to make the popcorn.
I missed Pride London, so I’ve instead decided to attend my first Pride event and go to my first ever music festival - in Brighton at the start of August. Yes, I’ve lived a very sheltered life. I’m very excited. If anyone has any tips - for Pride, or for music festivals, or for women doing either of these things unaccompanied, let me know.