Reconceptualization means having honest conversations about how much people are working — and how they think they could work better. Not longer. Not by taking on more projects, or being better delegators, or having more meetings. Instead, it means acknowledging that better work is, in fact, oftentimes less work, over fewer hours, which makes people happier, more creative, more invested in the work they do and the people they do it for.

Anne Helen Petersen

The above quote originates from a newsletter from former Buzzfeed writer and author of Can't Even, Anne Helen Petersen. This particular issue succinctly captures a whole bevy of thoughts I’ve had over the last seven months while trapped at home. Like so many, I’m just trying to make it work… somehow. But it’s not really working is it?

From my own experience, it feels like few want to acknowledge the real truth of the situation — we’re very much still operating as though nothing is going on. And along with that, the hypocrisy of organizations telling everyone to take care of themselves while shoveling more and more firewood (aka work) on top of an already blazing fire.

I’m certainly not facing the worst of this situation. Far from it — by like a million miles. What I find the most sad of it all though is that it seems like we’ve put ourselves in a situation where there’s little space left to imagine a better path forward.