We met 10 years ago, precisely when our daughters were born. For nearly a decade, I’ve been observing your professional achievements and I can say that you are one of the most hardworking but also proactive people I know. How do you manage your time?
Fortunately, better and better. In recent years, a lot has changed for me, and I can confidently say that I’ve taken control of my time. Work no longer overlaps with family life. For some time now, I’ve had my own studio, which allows me a clear division between work and personal life. And I no longer work at night (laughs).
It’s great you mentioned that because your nighttime work routine has always fascinated me. If I remember correctly, you used to wake up in the middle of the night and spend 3–4 hours doing what you couldn’t manage during the day, right? What do you think about that now?
Exactly. In hindsight, I think it was complete madness and at the same time the only possible option. I adopted that schedule when my daughters were small and needed care. I wanted to be a mom 100%, to be with them, to give them my time.
At the same time, I didn’t want to give up my work; I couldn’t imagine it. Work is completely natural to me; it relaxes and calms me.
So, you could say that you’re made for work.
For the kind of work I do—my work—probably yes. Although I think I take a very task-oriented approach in almost every area of life.
Tell me a bit about your daily rhythm.
If there are no children’s illnesses or other emergencies, I work in my studio every day, except Tuesday, from 9:00 to 15:30. That generally sets my whole rhythm. For the first 1.5 hours, I’m alone; I plan my day and answer messages—I really value this time.
When the team arrives, we switch to collaborative work, which motivates me because I can no longer afford carefree procrastination (laughs).
On Thursdays and Fridays, I have a nanny for 2–3 hours in the afternoons, so I can work until 18:00, and usually I go to the ceramics studio near Warsaw. That’s a bit of a trip, so I need more time for it to make sense.
The second half of the day is filled with family-related commitments. I try to make sure each day has “something.” We plan something together with the kids, so every day includes time for listening, drawing, or simply talking together.
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What about weekends?
They can be challenging, which makes me reflect that maybe I should ease up a bit, that perhaps not everything is necessary. I was one of those people who adapted very well to lockdown. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t do anything, so I naturally slowed down and adapted quickly to the new reality. But as soon as the pandemic eased, I went back to old habits, planning: a climbing wall, a trip, an exhibition, or other activities. I immediately felt that sitting at home was a waste of time. On the other hand, I remember the lockdown time very fondly, and sometimes I dream of reducing our domestic activity. So now I’m trying to balance it: one day filled with activities, the other relaxed and free.
You mentioned that you don’t come to the studio on Tuesdays. What do you do instead?
Ha! On Tuesdays, I don’t work. I’d like to say it’s my own decision, but that’s not entirely true. Various personal matters happen that day, like tennis, which I discovered and fell in love with last year, or an afternoon swim with my daughter. So Tuesday is my sacred day, on which I don’t reschedule or cancel anything. And even though I constantly watch this situation because I often feel I devote too little time to work, and rarely manage to do everything on my list, I value those Tuesdays.
Do you use any tools, apps, or systems to help with daily organization?
Maybe I should start by saying I’m not very tool-oriented, and I don’t even use a ruler when designing (laughs). In daily life, I use notebooks with a “day and week perspective.” I write down tasks for the day but also create a weekly overview. I also have other, more informal notes without deadlines, just so nothing slips my mind. It’s very convenient. For less obvious tasks, like a costume for a kindergarten party, I set a specific phone alarm, which works perfectly. And recently, I discovered Excel, which I absolutely love.
And your calendar?
I have two KALs. One hangs at work, and I’m recording more and more there. I have employees, so I can’t keep all the information in my head. Everyone needs to know what we’re doing and where. We record tasks and major meetings. It brings order, which is very satisfying.
The home calendar is for family notes, mainly for the kids, so they can see what’s happening and prepare for it. KAL is a very minimalist yet sophisticated project, so we debated at home whether they could draw in it.
The children’s need to doodle won, which means I don’t want to part with those calendar pages afterward—they stay as keepsakes.
We talk a lot about work and home life. Where is the time for pleasure or rest?
Regarding rest, I’m not sure I need it the same way most people do. I think it will be the next stage of my life—when I learn to sit and do nothing. It may sound strange, but I rest while working. And if I could work longer and more intensely without losing anything from home life, I’d gladly do it. What tires me most in my professional life is lack of comfort at work, the constant rush, fragmented tasks, and not being able to finish anything properly. I like doing things 100%, at my own pace, without hurry.
But, you know, we’ve had a plot of land near Warsaw for a while, and when we go there, time feels different. Even a single day there feels like time stops. Those are very pleasant moments. I feel like I’m experiencing life, and that’s real relaxation for me.