The line between work life and home life was becoming very blurred. I'd drop Monkey off, come home, start working and then go do laundry while my application was building. This would mean 15-20 minutes away from the computer and when I'd get back, I'd sometimes forget what I was working on specifically or where I left off. Sometimes I'd take a nap, especially if Monkey was up a lot during the night or got up really early (I can hear some of the F/T working parents moaning at that one). I'd have to make up that time elsewhere, usually late at night which meant I'd be tired again the next day. Rinse and Repeat.
All of these things were bad habits leading to a downward spiral I couldn't stop. I'd catch up in one area and then have to stay up late to catch up in the other. Plus, I would beat myself up for neglecting one or the other. Stress + guilt = more stress, less sleep. Something needed to be done.
Folks at work had been asking, "When you coming back?" and most were asking out of curiosity or in an effort to make small talk on the times I did go into the office. Others though, the ones whom I have been working with closely, seemed to have more meaning. Or perhaps that was my tired, guilt-laden mind perceiving these things.
All of these elements plus the guilt, stress and tiredness generated by them led me to caving in about coming back to the office (about a week ago). I decided that I would go in two days a week and work from home one day. They decided to find someone to handle my client's concerns on the two days I'm not available.
This week was the beginning of my new work schedule. And yes, I worked a little tonight even though this new plan was supposed to alleviate that. (Long story, but to sum up, a computer wasn't ready for me when I went into the office on Monday and I couldn't go home because DH and I had carpooled that day since his car is in the shop for some major repair.) So I'm playing catch up again only because I had deadline and still need to get my development environment working on the computer at the office.
I'm also giving my list of to-dos a niptuck including these few important changes:
- I'm nixxing (for now) the Politics Wednesday posts. Not that I've been doing them anyway but by declaring it, I'm ridding myself of the guilt of not having done them. No promises, but perhaps when we get closer to the election, I'll start them again.
- Dishes and laundry will only be done on my non-working days or weekends.
- Yoga is no longer optional. My mind needs the release and my body needs the strengthening and stretching.
- Reconnect with the people in my life, starting with my husband and son and then other family and friends. The balancing act I was performing before didn't provide much time for them.
Hopefully, all of these changes will provide a less stressful way of living and free me up to do the things I enjoy which I haven't done because of my constant balancing act.
7 comments:
Good luck with your new plan. It sounds good. Goals to be successful should always be realistic. I think you are on the right track in balancing work and home. They play off one another and when one is off, the entire thing fails. Good luck and remember Rome was not built in a day so try to smile!!
Thanks Constance for the encouragement! And the reminder to smile, my sense of humor seemed dulled as well. Hopefully, it will become sharp again!
That's a great plan! I always function better with some sort of structure. I think you're going about this the right way and you certainly know your priorities. I know some ft working moms think that us pt working moms have nothing to whine about but sometimes I think we have it a little tougher b/c we pile extra (as does everyone else in our lives) on our plates thinking we have more time. Before we know it, it snowballs and is out of control.
Good luck!
Hey there,
Sorry we didn't get to talk today. I'll try to call soon.
I hope your new plan brings all you're hoping--it sounds logical. I'll pray for your success!!
Hope to see you soon~
Good luck! I can't imagine trying to juggle everything you were doing. I think PT work and WAH is harder than FT WOH work, because I have clear deliniations about my time and responsibilities.
I hope going back to the office works for you, and I hope your reprioritizing includes me somewhere. hehe. We need to go out for lunch sometime soon... but only when you have time. ;-)
Sure seems like a more manageable situation. Best of luck!
How's being back at the office going?
dana -- being back is good, however, it gives people there the opportunity to try to task me with more stuff. so far, I haven't caved in but my personality is such that it's hard to say "no".
Post a Comment