People need alone time in which to work. Or, at least folk involved in certain kinds of creative production (the post refers to coding, but I would add any kind of writing — particularly that of dissertating). I think part of why I feel so stretched (not in pleasant) ways at work, is that I live in the stress of competing commitments.

Example: needing to be fully present to students, staff and my fellow faculty; and yet needing time apart to get research and writing done. Example: needing to be actively involved in the worship life of our community at Luther, and needing to be grounded in worship in the Catholic community. Example: needing to be available to and present with my kids; and needing to find silent time to be with myself. These are real and powerful commitments, and they work against each other in real and powerful ways.

It gets even more perplexing and difficult when these needs are also bound up with WANTING to meet them. It’s easy enough for me to give up things I don’t want to do, even if I NEED to do them. But giving up things I also WANT to do? Not so easy.

The result? Stress.

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