How has it changed?
My husband usually left for work around 7 a.m. and came home around 7:30pm.
That said, I often sacrificed one of my allotted work hours to take a walk or exercise.
I needed alone time.
I never thought Id be able to do that, but I guess our brains find ways to adapt.
Literally all at the same time.)
I also did a lot of writing at night, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. or so.
Im pretty surprised at how productive I managed to stay during this time.
And I felt like work kept me sane in some important way.
But for some reason, I craved work.
Still a lot less than pre-COVID, but it feels amazing.
I know I am incredibly fortunate.
Your book is calledHow to Raise Kids Who Arent Assholes.Where did you come up with that?
Did your kids do something particularly asshole-ish?
The journey to my book was an interesting one.
Meanwhile, all my friends kept asking, why dont you write a parenting book?
because Id written a parenting column for Slate since 2012 and this kind of writing came naturally to me.
I just never seriously considered it.
Fast forward to October 2018, when Brett Kavanaugh was being confirmed.
Trump had also just mocked Christine Blasey Ford on national TV.
It honestly just came out of nowhere.
Then my husband and I looked at each other, and he said thats it!
I contacted my agent the next day and started writing the proposal that week.
Im amazed he stuck with me.)
I wanted to help parents do that.
That curiosity keeps me going.
That said, sometimes the excitement lags.
I owe it to them to keep pushing forward and get the piece out there.
The thought of engaging with the topic really turned me off.
With two kids, youre often in a loud environment.
Do you have strategies for blocking out distractions and focusing when theres so much noise?
Sometimes I turn on my phones white noise app to block out distractions.
When its really loud, Ill put in earbuds with white noise.
I have also been known to strategically relocate my children when they are doing loud activities.
Are there any other platforms or apps you use to help manage your workflow?
Then I work backwards and calculate when the various steps need to happen.
For organizing my research, though, I adoreScrivener.
I used it not only for my book, but also for big features.
I love how it visually organizes everything, and makes everything easy to find.
I also now use Otter.ai transcription software so I dont have to spend hours transcribing interviews.
I think its helping me fall asleep faster.
Do you have any tools or gadgets you just cant live without?
Myneck/back massagerand my heating pad, for sure.
(Election week was especially bad.)
And a phone headset so that I can bang out while I talk.
I couldnt live without that!
I also love my Kindle, which I use to read books both for work and for pleasure.
Its great because I can read in the dark even after my husband goes to bed.
Do you have any favorite shortcuts or life hacks that make your work and/or family life easier?
Im always trying to be productive and thinking of ways to be more efficient.
When I clean up the kitchen, I often listen to news podcasts.
If Im waiting for curbside grocery pick-up, Im on my phone shopping for Christmas gifts.
On the weekends, I rarely sit down.
Im always fretting around trying to do something useful.
One big thing I did about six years ago was to switch entirely to home workouts.
I didnt want to waste time driving to and from the gym.
I do Suzanne Bowensbarre workouts, and honestly, I dont think Ive ever been stronger.
They also save me money.
Its been wonderful during the pandemic to not have to completely overhaul my workout routine.
I bake a lot on the weekends (and make ice cream nearly every week).
Those things arent productive in a career sense, but theyre productive in a give-me-joy kind of way.
I have also learned that I basically never need to use a hair dryer.
My hair is just fine when it air-dries.
Who else would you be curious to know how they work?
Oh, thats easy.
I have three, and theyre all working mothers.
One is Brown University economistEmily Oster.
Shes written two very successful parenting books, too.
The second is New York Times magazine contributorTaffy Brodesser-Akner.
I want to know how she manages to be so productive and also so original.
