A few dishes between school runs

After I drop my son at school, I typically go for a quick walk. I get a cup of coffee and make notes about what I’ve been thinking about and what’s on my to-do list. Then I come home to my office, plug in and get focused.

I make phone calls and do my work. Most of the time, I don’t run into real distractions. Calls can run long and become distractions of their own, but that comes with the territory.

Sometimes I need to stand up. Believe it or not, tidying up helps. I might wash dishes that are in the sink, get a tiny snack or just move around a little. Those resets feel good to me. They’re small enough that I can get right back to work.

I usually don’t take a separate lunch break. I might put a quick meal in the microwave while I’m working, then eat while I’m working. Between drop-off and pickup, I can get a lot done in a compressed stretch of time.

In the early afternoon, I head out to pick up my son from school. If he has an appointment, I take him to that, too. Then we come home, and I get back to work. The day isn’t one uninterrupted block. It moves from school to a walk to work, with a few dishes or a snack in the middle, and then back to school again.