Any self care ideas for me for a daunting autumn?

[Trinketsfor20]

I’ve recently returned to work FT after giving birth at the start of the pandemic. Both 7 mo DD and 4 yo DS is my fabulous workplace nursery but come September DS starting school. My job is high pressure and I’ve taken on a major step up and new role spanning all departments of my organisation whereas till now I’ve always worked isnside my own department. Quite a bit of politics, learning ropes of senior management positions and I have really felt the exhaustion. Having spent maternity leave locked down hasn’t helped either although was able to get past PND. I am thinking marathon not a sprint - what sorts of things can I put in place that sort of ensures I build time for myself in regularly - till now I’ve got -

1. We’ve got a cleaner to help keep on top of house as we both work FT and spouse is having to return to 2 hrs each way commute soon (my job has no commute)

1. I’ve blocked out 12-1 daily on my outlook as unavailable for meetings to make sure I take that time out in the middle of the day come what may. In this time will try to spend 10 mins doing my HeadSpace mindfulness as that really relaxes me when I get to it.

1. Physical exercise : unsure on this one. I have a very small dog who i definitely cannot take on super long runs or something but wondering - if as autumn winter comes if a gym membership worth it trying to go in off peak times so as to avoid crowds..... we live near commons woods which get very overgrown in the winter and impenetrably so.... but gorgeous in summer.

We have an instant pot - but not sure where to begin with that! The morning rush is mad - getting out of door for 8:15 with baby and 4 yo.

Two quiet times of my day are baby’s morning and evening breastfeeds. Really chilled and we often listen to Headspace sleepcasts for the evening feed.

Any ideas particularly on making physical exercise an easy part of the week? Even in autumn and winter? I have never been a runner but wondering if couch to 5k might work. I have always had a knee dislocation problem since teens though and knee muscles super weak. Not sure it helps but have lost huge weight lately and BMI around 25 ish...

Any tips for regular physical and mental health looking after will be very warmly appreciated:)

I don't know why you've called this thread a daunting autumn.
You outsource childcare during the week.
You're outsourcing housework.
You have no commute and love your job. You sound sorted
Have a brisk walk around the campus at lunchtime. It sounds lovely.

Argh I am so immersed in autumn worries I forgot to mention - mega drip feed - I am a university academic and amidst much stressful discord hybrid learning and teaching and thousands of students returning to campus is due next month and sans covid autumn term is especially hectic given various reasons workload modules heavier for me etc - so this time with covid disruptions uncertainties school starting for ds and university beginning a strange term is a big shift after lockdown maternity hence we are slightly daunted by autumn coming! Sorry should have explained!

You're a better woman than I am, OP! Good luck with the autumn term.

I’ve been in a similar boat - perhaps not as high pressure job but long commutes etc. Tips are

• central calendar on the fridge: all the school crap (dress up days, school fairs, book return day) go on there so can’t be missed (one hopes)
• af least once a weekend a giant bit of cooking. We get a large fruit and veg box weekly so lots of veg goes into soup or we make curry/stew and so on for the freezer.
• on the exercise front I highly recommend youtube exercise videos, it’s been a game changer during lockdown and I no longer feel I want to go to a gym except for spin etc. I recommend Heather Robertson’s 12 week exercise plan which you can find on YouTube. I do mine each night bang on 7 once the kids are in bed. Over by 7.30/7.40