We’re onto the lighter lockdown. It’s nothing like the first, because nursery is still open, but there are a lot less options. What me and Hollie have learned this this period is that, really and truly, we need a lot more time off than we realised. Not even time off work though – time off bad sleep!
I’ve said it on here so many times, but Marlo’s sleep isn’t the best, and it means that we end up struggling our way through the day, if both me and Hollie end up waking up at about 5am (thanks to our smallest one). He’s just got a thing for waking really early, after having woken several times in the night (and possible fighting us to even lay down to sleep in the first place).
I try not to nap in the day now, because it proper messes up the schedule when I do, but it means that by 8:50pm, I’m done. That’s not great when that’s prime time to get another hour of admin done.
Prior to the first lockdown, our lives were a lot different when it came to looking after the kids, because Hollie had to go away quite frequently. This meant that from time to time, I could do the same with her. For those nights away in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester or somewhere like that, we could finally have a proper healthy amount of sleep, and at least one of us could have a half day of uninterrupted work (something that is so rare now).
We didn’t see it as this at the time, but it was recharging time. We proper needed it, because our sleep was a myth. But now we’re forcing it back – through a big incentive. I’ve decided that whenever I sell a domain (of which most of mine are priced over $1,000), we’re allowed to escape. It means that I’m encouraged to improve my domain investing game, and we get to have solid recharging time as a result. It’s a win-win all round.
Me and Hollie have got into the habit of heading to this spot in town that really feels like a home away from home and, although we’re trying to only do it when I hit the belly on another domain, it’s getting harder and harder to resist making it a weekly thing. I don’t know how other parents deal with sleep deprivation, especially ones working in proper jobs, but this is another reason why I know I can never trade this life for my old one again.
While I’m on the topic, does anyone fancy sponsoring our next night away? The most relevant things I have in the portfolio are sleepinlondon.com, holidaykeeper.com and intimateplaces.com One could be yours if you just shout me.