health
Whisper it: becoming a mum can make you a more productive writer
Before having a child, I had endless days to think about writing. Now, half an hour can suddenly become a window of creativity
TL;DR
- Parenthood significantly alters daily routines, demanding constant attention and care for the baby.
- Despite the challenges, childcare can paradoxically increase a parent's productivity by encouraging efficient use of fragmented time.
- Writers like Johanne Lykke Naderehvandi and Pilar Quintana have successfully produced work while actively caring for their children, often using unconventional methods like phone notes.
- The experience of being 'unfree' while holding a sleeping baby can shift focus from anxieties to creative thought.
- Short, interrupted periods of time can feel less daunting than entire empty days for work.
- The fragmented nature of time and experience as a new parent can influence the structure and content of the resulting literary work.
- Achieving this productivity often comes at the expense of personal relaxation and alone time.