---
title: "Work hard, play hard: part 1"
description: "Work hard, play hard: part 1"
---

[Lantum Blog](https://blog.lantum.com)

# [Work hard, play hard: part 1](https://blog.lantum.com/p/blog/gp-parent/work-hard-play-hard-part-1)

 Written by [Lantum](https://blog.lantum.com/author/lantum) | Sep 10, 2015 4:25:41 PM

***GP Dr Karen Skinner writes the first of two posts on  balancing having 2 children, homes in England and Lagos and  no less than 8 different portfolio roles.***

<https://blog.lantum.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/karenskinner5-8.jpg>

**Work hard play hard**

From an early age, my parents nurtured within me the work hard, play hard philosophy. I remember delivering the yellow pages around our local area - I believe a thousand in all. After our task was finished we were each allowed to choose a “small pet” with our earnings. My siblings chose hamsters-(yuk!) but I got my first cat, Tilly.

I adored even more then a small girl normally would, as I knew I had earned the right to have her.

So, I am writing this article in a log cabin in Virginia after driving from the Big Apple, on holiday with my kids and family. Two weeks in the States, followed by a music festival in England then a two-week trip to Nigeria in the house we rent.

In this time I will be doing no physical face-to-face work – phew! But I will still be doing plenty of work; hence my salary last year when I did my tax return still topped six figures.

<https://blog.lantum.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/nigeria-desk4-8.jpg> Karen's desk in Nigeria

**Put yourself at the centre**

When I first qualified as a GP I pictured myself working five days 9 ‘til 5. Initially I took a position in the surgery I had trained, working five sessions with a view to partnership.

I was going to work the other two and half days in Ophthalmology, the specialty I love and in which I had managed to get MRCOphth. I planned to get to registrar level (showing my age!). But I could see the disillusion amongst the consultants at the department meetings, as they were shoved around by managers.

I suddenly got the feeling one might get just before getting married – trapped!! and I decided to locum to evaluate my options more before commitment.

During this time I learnt a very hard and valuable lesson, being sucked into a tumultuous employment tribunal, losing all my maternity pay and struggling with my first child. After this experience I made a pact with myself: never again would I not be in the centre of my own life.

Thus, all my different roles revolve around me and what I want and not the other way around. This is not selfishness because it allows me to give of my best to my family my, my friends and my patients.

**Get organized, get good technology**

Until recently I kept saying to people how disorganised I was, at which they would look surprised. I now realise that I am actually one of the most organised people I know.

Apple computers are crucial. I have all the kit including the watch. Indeed, I am writing this article on my lap in the wood cabin. I answer e-mails in the strangest of places doing the strangest of things-which I won’t share with you today.

<https://blog.lantum.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cakes4-8.jpg>

**Don’t see your home as a temple of no work**

When you have small children, (mine are 3 and 6), you may wish to ban work from your home. However they do sleep. And occasionally they amuse themselves.

I don’t see my home as a temple in which work must not feature. I play hard with my kids doing arts and crafts, baking etc. but when they are asleep or amused I get out my trusty Mac and do some jobs- be it on line housing assessments, appraisal write-ups, or answering emails, to name a few.

***Right now Karen is a salaried GP, VTS programme director, appraiser, senior appraiser, OOH GP,  RCGP CSA assessor, housing medical assessor and a GP with special interest in ophthalmology.  She is also about to embark on a diploma in dementia.  We wish Karen the best of luck with all those roles!  (Claire, ed.)***

[View full post](https://blog.lantum.com/p/blog/gp-parent/work-hard-play-hard-part-1)

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