Joburg and the workaholics

Hi Milla.

It's Mom.

I've been thinking a lot about stress and time management and pressure lately, as part of my SLOW LIVING philosophy for 2012 (which is mostly going well, but which I sometimes forget about).

And I've realised that a big part of being a Johannesburger is being chronically frantic. It goes like this:

'How are you?'


'Omigod - hectic!' or 'So busy I could die.' or 'Exhausted.' or 'Having a manic week.' And on and on...

Capetonians and Durbanites and people from small Karoo towns say things like:

'Good, man.' and 'Doing well, thanks.' and 'Taking it easy.' and 'Nicely busy.'

In Joburg, we seem to be bizarrely proud of existing in a state of perpetual mania. We (and I make this assertion based on myself and many of my fellows, although I acknowledge it's by no means empirical...) can't wait to let everyone know how overloaded we are. We like having no time to breathe.

But - is this any way to live, really? And - does it speak to success? I'm beginning to think not.

Your Auntie Georgi, one of the most capable people I know, once told me that good time management is not about filling every minute with work, but about having empty time to do un-worky things.

(I can't remember the exact words she used, but it was something along the lines of, 'People who are always swamped are shitty planners...' And it stuck.)

Now that we are blessed with you, and since I got mid-way through my pregnancy, if I'm being honest, I feel like I have an excuse to let go a bit. To sit with you on the couch at lunch-time. To finish work at 5pm. To go to a 3pm Pilates class on a Tuesday. And whoever doesn't like it - bollocks to them.

I work bloody hard. [She types, defensively...]

Here's an anecdote:

I told a client (a rabid workaholic and all-round 'traditionally' successful over-achiever) that my offices would be closed from 10 December to 10 January. She looked at me, utterly horrified, and said, 'Oh - a month off. Nice for some people.'

This would have devastated me before, because it implies a measure of doubt as to my professionalism and commitment. But I simply said (okay, snapped), 'Yep - that's why I have my own business.'

I'm learning that true success means down-time. Good time management means open space. A solid business translates into nice, long holidays. And mental health sometimes requires mid-day exercise.

I'm also learning that giving 110% is bullshit. Even giving 100% is bullshit. Because 80% is still an A.

May you have balance rather than mania. And may you be proud of it.

I love you.

Mom x