This is really just a massive rant!!! How do other working mums do it?
I've had a hectic two weeks at work which has resulted in a hectic two weeks at home. Don't get me wrong, I love my career but it is so hard to juggle a career and a family...and I only have one child!!
My weekdays over the last couple of weeks have been like this. Wake up between 4-5 and once a week try to go to the gym at 4 in the morning. Get ready for work, feed/dress etc the toddler and then head to work just after 6. Start work at 7 work until 3:30-5(should be 2:30 as I don't take a lunch break but it is busy at work), if finish work at 2:30 then it is gym time (about 2 arvos in a work week), pick up child from childcare, make dinner with toddler wanting cuddles, hubby comes home, eat dinner with child (she doesn't always eat what I make though!), bed/bath routine and she's asleep between 6:30-7. Then work an average hour or two (the other day it was from 6-11pm!!). There is also the chores throughout the week as well which hubby and I share together.
Seriously, this is ridiculous! It's not even busy season where the overtime will probably be between 10-20 hours extra per week. I'm not really one who actually enjoys exercise (I hate it despite changing it up with cardio, strength training, swimming and HIIT) but I need it to maintain my weight so it feels like another chore! I'm not interested in working less than fulltime as it is important that I financially can support our daughter by myself and really my career is a good paying professional career, my work is really flexible (it's just busy at present) and I love the work. I feel like I am managing to spend good quality time with my daughter but then the work slips into my personal time/sleep time!!!
I'm interested to hear how other full time working mums do it and maintain their sanity, particularly those whose role does require some serious overtime? How have you managed the work-life balance as you've climbed the ladder/progressed in your career?
6 Replies
You go to the gym twice a day??? There is no way I could have fitted that in and work full time hours. No way in hell. If you are maintaining your weight (and you don't have a medical condition, but even then) there is no reason to work out twice a day and sounds like your exercise program is innificient. I work out 3 times a week to maintain.
I'd be talking to a PT about my program and your goals and talk to a dietician.
Maybe I miss read that???? Maybe an edit is needed lol
Haha. I wish gym twice a day! No occasionally before work and maybe after work!
So here is what worked for me.
Cook in bulk- basically cooked double or triple when I cooked so I only cooked every 2-3 nights, besides making a salad, but even then would make enough for 2 nights. It means a lot less cleaning up, getting things out, prep etc.
Robot vacuum-even though I don't work I have one, wished I had one when I worked. I still vacuum/sweep but much much less often.
Online food shopping! Saves so much time.
I feel you. Hubby and I are both in professional careers & work shift work. We have an 18mo with #2 on the way. I struggled BIG TIMEbeing full time as I felt I never got enough time with my daughter. I have cut back 1 day, yes it's about if a financial drop. But when I look at Childcare fees, less tax paid & spending a day with my daughter it's worth it. Although this day is pretty much clean the house day!
I'd suggest maybe cutting back on the gym in the arvo's & doing exercise with your toddler? Going for a walk? Running around in the backyard etc? Then you are spending quality time as well as getting a workout.
Other than that I can't think of much else to suggest. Working full time is hard + being a mum + housewife + working out etc, it all adds up.
What I've discovered after trying to juggle work with three kids, is life is ALL about priorities. You can't have it all.. Well, you can, but just not all at once. So right now, you feel your life is chaos. The only way to 'fix' it is to do less. Simple as that. You love full time work, but is it working for you? If the answer is no, then just do less hours. Busyness is not a badge of honour. And you hate the gym? So don't go. Try HIIT workouts at home. There's LOADS on youtube. Your weight is 90% what goes in your mouth. So if you really work hard at eating well, you don't really need to do all that much exercise at all. If you have a desk job, doing 20 minutes of HIIT (very high intensity workouts) 3-4 times a week, from your loungeroom would be good though. Save time on the commute to and from the gym. And you can do it with your little one right there with you. Time is precious. So try to cut your life back so you have more of it. And looking back now, my oldest is now in grade 5. It all goes SO quick. Your daughter will be in school before you know it and working part time/casual while she is little will literally go by in a flash. You can always pick up full time later.