How do you work?

I stumbled across a great quote about work at the hairdressers the other day. It was part of this tongue-in-cheek exit-interview with the cast of Girls, as the series finished up. The show's executive producer, Jenni Konner, asked the questions and I especially loved Lena Dunham's response to what she would change about her time on the show:

"Making my deal with HBO as a 23-year-old woman, I felt that I had so much to prove. I felt like I had to be the person who answered emails the fastest, stayed up the latest, worked the hardest. 

As much as I love my job, I really, like, injured myself in some ways. If I had felt like, "You're worth of eight hours of sleep, not four; you're worthy of turning your phone off on a Saturday," I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the show. [But] I could have worked with a sense of joy and excitement, rather than guilt and anxiety of being 'found out'. 

Can you relate? I used to pull some crazy hours when I was in my twenties and am much more sensible these days (and productive too!).

Good advice

I'm about to start my third Banana Yoshimoto book in as many months (I'm up to this one). Her stories are addictive and sad, and remind me of the work of another favourite author, Haruki Murakami.

Earlier this year I stumbled across this quote, about how she lives and works: "I will make my life simpler, aiming to have more freedom and fewer responsibilities."

It popped into my head after a restless Sunday, where my mind wouldn't stop racing. So this week, I'm planning to give myself a break and properly chill out after work. I'm hoping to read lots :)

P.S What are you having for dinner this week? I'm planning to make onion fried rice with Kewpie mayo, kale, tomato and lemon spaghetti and Japanese chicken and egg rice bowls. I also managed to track down the American toffee bar needed to make these choc chip cookies on the weekend.