Woke up at 4am and got cracking on setting the weighted assessment that was due this Friday. Logically speaking, I ought to have enough time during the week, but work life is full of curveballs and I hate to have my peace of mind held hostage by tasks thrown to me last-minute.

Did some focused work and managed to pull it off. Finished setting the paper at 6.30 a.m. sharp. *Heaved a huge sigh of relief after that. Having gotten the most urgent and important task out of the way, I felt that the rest are just details. Rushed to school with my son. Fed him bread and went through some idioms with him.

Continued with my workday, clearing all the miscellaneous tasks that gobbled up my time. Conducting a reading test separately with two students. Meeting the business manager of the food composter machine operating in my school. Teaching three rowdy classes six lessons. Involved in an online call and vetting the PPT slides of a National Parks team who was slated for a conservation talk in my school. Completing my Code of Conduct quiz and submitting my Annual Declaration to the Ministry of Education. I could tick all these nitty-gritty tasks off my list because I did not have a gnawing worry (that darned weighted assessment!) to weigh me down.

It’s 3.15pm now. I rushed back home, with a cup of cold orange juice in tow. Having typed this, I intend to nap for a bit before I pick up my kids. That is what work-life harmony means to me