I am a working mom raising a daughter who is entering the 6th grade. I work a 9-to-6 schedule at my job and I don’t have to work overtime very often. But after a busy day at the office, I come home, do household chores, and take care of my daughter. When all that is over, it’s time for bed. Every second of the day feels precious and fleeting because I have no me-time.
That’s why I decided to make the most of my lunch breaks at work. I believe that these small efforts will accumulate and lead to personal growth a few years down the line.
Two days a week, I have lunch with colleagues. But for the other three days, I eat something light, like a sandwich, on my own. During this time, I study English and read books. I look forward to seeing a better version of myself in the future.
household chores - tasks that need to be done regularly to maintain a clean and organized home
me-time - time when you can do what you want to do
fleeting - short or quick
down the line - in the future: it refers to something happening later on
carve out - to create space or time
나는 초등학교 6학년 올라가는 딸을 키우는 워킹맘이다. 직장에서 9시부터 6시까지 근무하고, 야근은 많은 편이 아니다. 하지만 회사에서 바쁜 하루를 보낸 후 집에 돌아와 집안일을 하고 딸을 챙기면 잠자리에 들 시간이다. 나만의 시간이 없으니 하루의 모든 순간이 소중하고 아쉽다.
그래서 나는 회사에서 점심시간을 최대한 활용해 보기로 했다. 이런 작은 노력들이 쌓여서 몇 년 뒤에는 개인적인 성장으로 발전할 것이라는 확신이 들었다.
일주일에 이틀은 동료들과 점심을 먹는다. 그리고 나머지 3일은 혼자서 샌드위치 같은 간단하게 먹는다. 이 시간에는 영어를 공부하고 책을 읽는다. 앞으로 더 나은 내 모습을 기대해 본다.
- I had to work overtime all last week. / The whole team has to work overtime tonight.
- Parents of newborns usually have no me-time. / I have no me-time on weekdays.
- I learned how to make the most of the software. / I want to make the most of my time there.
A: Where do you keep going during lunch?
B: Oh, I head over to the meeting room to eat and study English.
A: Wow, really?
B: Yes, I wanted to carve out at least some time just for myself during the day.
A: That's a great idea.
B: I just worry a bit that I'm not interacting with my coworkers enough.