The Human Condition: Productivity

It’s a public holiday, I find myself with two child-free hours and my mind starts to race as I consider the opportunities at my disposal in this pocket of time. Exercise, blog, fix my website, tidy the house, catch up on washing, fix the garden, iron something (I do that now albeit poorly), watch something on Netflix, read my book. I’m exhausted by possibility.

I force myself to stop and eat. I don’t want to stop for food but the rumble in my belly tells me I must. I force myself NOT to reach for the quick, easy option — toast perhaps? But instead take the time to pick cress and rocket from the garden (which I note needs some urgent attention) and actually cook something.

I love cooking but when I’m busy it’s something that becomes an inconvenience. Easy and quick becomes the mantra and (quite frankly) easy and quick makes my waist enlarge.

I sit to eat the meal and notice crumbs all over the floor. I push the seats from the breakfast bar and prepare to sweep. I notice what I’ve done and push the seats back in and force myself to continue with the meal.

I notice the warm gooey egg melting in my mouth and the fresh zing of the herbs in contrast. I hear the birds in the yard and I note with glee that the rain has started (there’s a whole bunch of things off the list). It doesn’t take long until my chewing speeds up in anticipation of getting on to the next task.

Again I force myself to slow, to stop, to focus on the meal.