This week’s highlight

Second week back to routine continued to be quite exhausting for all of us and it is normal. I tell the girls that I am tired too. If I have more than 4 meetings a day, I feel mentally exhausted and physical drained by the end of the day. By the time I get home, 4:30-5pm, instead of making good choices to unwind, I am either too tired to actively do things that support rest and recovery, or I am too lazy to even think about what’s best. Instead, I go through unread emails and get even more mental tax for the day. As a result, I go to bed with too many things in mind which result in poor sleep. Oura tells me my sleep debt is increasing, my readiness score has slipped to below 80. oh well.. will have to make a plan for next week to manage post-work hours better.

Morning planning and journaling looks like this

Yet, there were few highlights of the week:

• Summer plan shaping up. I signed up for Sofia’s summer camp!!! She’s super excited with the program (3 weeks residential). Now I am in search of what to do with Lizzy. Currently we are thinking of one week of STEM camp and two weeks of play based day camp. Someone already offered us to stay at her house! Things are shaping up!
• New York marathon signed up. I booked the package through a tour package. I haven’t received the race organizers email confirming my entry but I think I got in? because I already paid for the package. Super excited!
• Research projects. I started a research project with a professor last year and it’s finally progressing. I also discussed a new idea with a PhD student that I know for a long time, he seems interested so we may work on it together. My job doesn’t require academic research but I still enjoying discussing ideas with researchers in a rigorous way, so finding co-authors is the winning solution.
• Work lunches with the boys. I had lunch with my team twice this week and it was a nice break and time to discuss non-work topics. I should keep this for 2026: when possible have lunch with someone instead of eating on my desk.
• Food. I made two winning meals for the girls this week. Potstickers that Lizzy is with love with and asks it 3 days in a row for her school lunch. And chicken with buttered onion that Sofia loved. Our current dinner flow like this: I ask our helper to make 2 vegetable dishes, and I’ll make something special for the girls. So far it’s working well. I also make breakfast/dessert when I come home early and have energy. On Tuesday I made two vegan cakes and rice pudding with coconut for dessert.

Today’s plan other than work:

• lunch with Sofia’s classmate mom, part of my connection theme for 2026. We texted for a while on MUN logistics and never met in person. I reached out suggesting to meet up and she agreed.
• Facial.
• Dermatologist.
• Try to make soy yogurt. I couldn’t find a high protein vegan yogurt in Brazil so I’ll try to make it myself. wish me lunch.