There a lot of people who have a lot to say about how much Americans work. I’m not going to join in. Not really, anyway. I haven’t done any research about happiness or productivity or any of that. I just know that going part-time was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I’d been thinking about making a change at work for a while. While I continue to love the place I work and the people I work with, I found myself less invested in the work I was doing. Some of our processes changed; the work wasn’t as interesting to me; and I was more and more distracted by things I’d rather be doing.

I saw an opportunity to focus my work hours on one project and some peripheral duties, which required me to be present at the office for fewer overall hours. I proposed the part-time position and my employer was understanding enough to accommodate my wishes. I would be making less money and no longer receiving benefits, but I’m lucky enough to be covered through my husband, and the additional time was worth more to me than the income.

It took a little while to get the hang of it. In the beginning, my co-workers had a hard time keeping track of when I was available and when I wasn’t. So I was having to come in on off days for meetings, etc. Once people got used to things, I learned I was pregnant and morning sickness kicked in. So instead of being enormously productive in my personal life, I spent a lot of time passing out and feeling nauseated.

Because timing is apparently my forte, this was the entirety of the first few months of being part time. The second trimester has been kind of amazing though. I went from spending my awake hours moaning on the sofa while watching television to baking and reading and cleaning and organizing and more!

It’s done wonders for my reading life, which is a little bit of a relief. I have made enormous stacks of books that I want to get through in the next few months (before baby “ruins” everything). Having two days a week where I can spend several hours in a book has been amazing. It’s also served to remind me how pleasant it is to spend time reading (which has, in turn, resulted in my reading more on my commute).

And, really…it’s done wonders for my life. I feel like I have enough time for things for the first time in as long as I can remember. I get things done without having to rush or wear myself out. The pacing feels a lot more reasonable and realistic. I’m no longer anxiously micromanaging every minute of every evening and weekend and then panicking when more time has passed than I wanted.

As a result, I no longer put off responding to people and requests. To-do list items get checked off sooner. I eat better because I have more time to think about and prepare food. I’m a better wife: I can keep up the house and make breakfasts and dinners; I can listen to what’s going on my husband’s life without feeling like I’m waiting to give him his share of tasks. I have more time to sleep and exercise. I have more time to think and write.

I have more time to feel human.