Does anyone else just have non stop stuff to do after work..

[Countdownto2234]

I mean it's ridiculous. I've just sat down to have my dinner..
I got home at 5.15pm, succession of giving DD dinner, bath, book and bed for 7.15pm.. Did a workout till 8pm, that's the only time I can exercise. Followed by shower, wash hair, blow dry hair, put wash on, make dinner, eat dinner, tidy up kitchen, wash up, hang washing up.. I've still got to make packed lunches and get work clothes ready for tomorrow. I mean every day x 5 days a week.. I don't wfh much so that's probably it really.. But even the days I do wfh, I still have a crap load of stuff to do after work.. Anyone else like this?

Are you a single parent?

If it is just the two of you presumably you dont do washing every day? and some meals you eat together?
and I dont do any working out in the evening. I need a sit down!!

Yes sorry a single parent. We don't eat together as I can't eat my dinner at 5.00pm. Yep I do washing 6 times a week due to a combination of working in a hospital, wearing clinical clothing, exercise wear, pre school clothes. Feels non stop.

I wouldn't have the energy for a workout at that time. Could you cut it down to a couple a week? Then you could shower the next morning instead.
I know it's not ideal but something needs to give.

Yes.
Also single parent.
It's 9.45 and I'm still going. About to make packed lunches.
My two are 7&9 so bedtime is a bit later for us.
It's exhausting and endless.

Why can’t you eat your dinner at 5pm? I do! Single parent, eat with DC between 4:30 and 5pm. No time to exercise, too knackered, overweight though now tbf

Single parent here, working 4 days and 2 kids. Its relentless, yes! I don't do a workout though. I like to sit and stare into space for a bit once the kids are sleeping 🤣

Exercise is my only release. It keeps me sane. I tried waking up for 5.15am to work out but by 7pm I was literally dying.. I couldn't cope.
I exercise 5 days a week and do 3 of those workouts in the week. I've always been into my fitness and can only work out at home now because I'm a single parent.. I have to shower straight after as I'm a sweaty mess. I just wish the days weren't as long I guess. I know if I drop the exercise I'm saving myself an hour a day but it's the one hour a day that's completely mine.. Exercise has got me through some really tough times mentally too.

I think you just need to rejig your evening. Throw dinner in the oven, jump in the shower or hang the washing etc whilst nattering to DD about her day etc. It’s gets harder as they get older and go to bed later and later. But I have two so it’s even more exhausting

I'm not even a single parent and it feels relentless. DP does his fair share but also works shifts so isn't always around in the evenings. Even if he is here we're both running around until after 9pm getting chores done. Neither of us workout either. I feel we're really quite organised but there's just a lot to be done. By the time we've done after school activities, homework, dinner, showers, dishwasher, laundry, homework, packed lunches...that's not even starting on the proper housework stuff like cleaning the bathroom and hoovering.

I’m not a single parent, but my dh works away. I have a 12yr old and 8yr old.

I get home from work at 5, I do yoga or go for a run as soon as I get in (only half an hr) Make dinner for all 3 of us. Eat around 6ish, then get a shower... i don’t bother with blow drying.
I tidy just one room an evening and always do the kitchen. I do this before kids go to bed at 8.
After 8 I sit down and do couple of hours of school work (teacher) whilst watching telly.

I'm not a single parent and I have just got back from collecting Dd from her club. For us tonight it went finish work 5pm, collect DCs from station, home feed one while other has tutoring, 6pm quick walk round park then DH takes Dd to club whilst I cook for the 3 of us, he comes back @ 7:45 we eat, clear away. Put football kit on to wash, go and collect Dd. Up at 5:30 to do it all again tommorow

Oh and we have a cleaner....

It feels so relentless.. It really does.. I'm sat on the sofa now with one eye open and one eye closed..

Yes, and I WFH most of the time. Don't really get time to exercise though.

I feel like this. Not a lone parent but DH has had long Covid for 6 months & the only way he can manage work is by resting after - no he’s not milking it, he’s bloody hard working & I have to make him stop sometimes as actually it’s harder once he’s bone tired & grumpy, or relapses & feels ill!

Full time job, out of the house half the week, kids in different schools with different evening activities. I do almost all the cooking, cleaning, taxi-ing to activities & school / childminder run. It’s an hour to get them both to school each morning. If they went to an absent dad’s every fortnight I’d get more time off. Weekends are football match on Saturday for DD, rugby training Sunday for DS then try to fit in washing, sort out the house & maybe cook something half decent! Our life is so dull & repetitive and I moan too much… luckily DH is emotionally supportive & grateful and I’m not on my own with the more abstract elements of parenting, but he’s in bed by 8pm every night & I spend my time chasing the kids up to bed, checking they’ve brushed hair & teeth, treating verrucas, had a shower, cleared up after themselves, done the animals, at which point I’m too tired to do anything & go to bed myself!
I tried to find a cleaner but they’re like hens teeth and the one I found was flaky & rubbish so it was more work to chase her up etc.
I’m sure I should be more efficient but I can’t work out how.

You're doing the work of two people. I'm
sure there's going to be lots of helpful
suggestions. But no wonder you're tired, hope you find some balance soon

I have a very hands on husband and even between the 2 of us it's just relentless!! I've just sat down and we've both been non stop since getting home at 5.30!

Sounds insanely hard. I'd go for school dinners personally but I know a lot of kids won't eat them reliably. The old staple... it does get easier. How old is your dd?

I know the feeling. Definitely keep the work out though as the last thing you need is it to get unfit/overweight.

I think if the workout is important to you then you keep it, but can you perhaps rebadge it as "you time"? if you are doing it for pleasure then count it as such?

That sounds relentless but bloody well done for having the discipline to exercise 5 nights a week!

If it's any consolation I am wfh full time at the moment, have a very hands on husband and don't sit down until 9pm every night either. Without any exercise.

So I think you are probably using your time more efficiently than I am.

@Countdownto2234

It feels so relentless.. It really does.. I'm sat on the sofa now with one eye open and one eye closed..

So go to bed! Do you at least take some time to sit around and do sweet f.a. For a bit at the weekend?

Yes. It's relentless.

Weekends are even worse. 2 days of catching up with washing/house stuff/admin bits/school stuff/food shopping/batch cooking to make life easier following week, then it starts again.

Up at 6am, rarely sit down until now, then need to go to bed. Life is just getting ready for work, and no down time, no time to exercise either.

DH and I both make effort with house and kids, just feels non stop.

I do all that in the morning so that I can just chill from 7pm once kids are in bed.

Yes! Me too op. I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to manage when we go back into the office more staying as wfh for as long and as much as I can get away with and then a bit more...