#4,5; adjusted Sunday writing day habit

Today I have had half an article writing day, with some further editing done in my "Neurosemiotics across species" book chapter, and some 500 words added to my chapter "Nosology and semiotics".

From now on I will keep writing days on Sundays restricted to end at 4 p.m., to allow somewhat more time for other weekend activities, such as clearing the stuff I brought home from my second office almost a year ago.

Total number of writing days this Spring is up to 4,5.

New routine for sake of sanity and focussed work and spare time

New work routine now that I am Vice-Dean of Research: No email in evenings and weekends, unless I am urgently contacted by phone.

End of second round of parental leave

My second round of parental leave (graded leave, 75%) at the occasion of the birth of a certain Matias Laurits da Silva-Tønnessen, my beloved son, ended yesterday, on March 13th. The next few months, however, my work routines will likely remain pretty much as they have been since New Year (he still needs being looked after, after all).

Current work routines - organization of work week in-between child care

There's been some back and forth with the organization of my work week as I have entered the second period of my parental leave. Changes include that 

• now and until March 15th, at least, I will not routinely work during the daytime at all when my son is at home. Except for during naps and days in which he is in kindergarten (without me accompanying him) during daytime, I am routinely only working after hours, after his bedtime. 
• But one day a week plus a further evening is relationship time (date with my wife).
• Thirdly, after a couple of evenings where I tried to put my son to sleep but he only cried himself to sleep (given the sudden absence of his ever-present mother) the first time and didn't sleep at all the second, I now take part in putting him to sleep EVERY evening yet for now leave the finish to my wife. As soon as he's truly calming down with me, I'll start putting him to sleep alone at times. With regard to work this implies that I get ca. 3 1/2 rather than 4 hours work time each working evening.
• In consequence of pt. 1 I do not plan for a full hour of email and incidental tasks in daytime plus a further full hour in the evening, but only 1 full hour whenever I am working. This occasionally puts pressure on my overall flexibility and ability to go through with all scheduled tasks.

See also:

Graded parental leave, part 2

Work and family life - a few new work routines