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Original poster

Why does life admin overwhelm me so much?

106 replies

Lamont77 · 09/12/2021 05:58

Anyone else sometimes feel completely overwhelmed by general life admin that seems to be non stop and never simple.

Here I am, awake since 4am because I renewed insurance over the phone yesterday and checked the policy this morning (was working til late) and some of the details I asked for are incorrect. So I'll have to call again at 8.30. Such a small thing, and hopefully easily fixed - but it does bog me down that routine things never seem simple.

Also made worse by the fact I can't get anyone on the phone most of the time. Another example is the Dr's still haven't given me medication despite receiving letter from hospital in October! I've called 3 times and they tell me they will action it and call back ??? I've ended up just buying it online but I'm pretty sure that's not safe.

Gas fire broke, gas fire man apparently came on Tuesday but no phone call and didn't hear the door. So that's been rearranged after chasing it up twice.

I could go on 🤦‍♀️ but yes, life admin sucks and often drags small things out into larger, annoying things, and I generally hate dealing with it and if I was rich I'd most certainly get a PA Grin

OP posts:
daisydoh · 09/12/2021 09:00

OP I certainly could have written your post - it's absolutely horrendous j agree and I'm also close to hiring a life admin PA!!

daisydoh · 09/12/2021 09:00

Big problem though - I can't afford one 😕😂

Babybooboodedoo · 09/12/2021 09:09

There’s a whole episode of Feel Better, Live More, about this with tips on how to cope/ not stress you out.

Babybooboodedoo · 09/12/2021 09:10

^ as in the BBC Sounds podcast

zafferana · 09/12/2021 09:14

I think this time of year is particularly grim for 'life admin' too. Not only all the end of term shit for DC, but Christmas to organise as well. I don't even work and I find this time of year stressful!

Agree too about the inefficiency and unprofessionalism of so many businesses that screw up stuff so you have to spend ages sorting our their mistakes, on hold, all made worse by WFH and bloody Covid.

scooterbear · 09/12/2021 09:29

I hear you. On top of the normal admin stuff I'm in the middle of house selling and buying and it's honestly making me want to cry!

Indecisivelurcher · 09/12/2021 09:34

Thanks @Babybooboodedoo... >wanders off to make coffee and listen to podcast instead of chasing up useless kitchen suppliers yet again>>>

mumonthehill · 09/12/2021 09:36

I took the whole family to the dentist last week. However we were a week early….. I do not seem to be able to keep up with life!

Original poster
Lamont77 · 09/12/2021 09:36

@scooterbear my sister is in the same position - sold her house, moves out early Jan, not found another house so she has secured a rental and I feel stressed just watching her. Flowers for you x

OP posts:
CasaBonita · 09/12/2021 09:38

I was about to write out a huge detailed rant in response. However I just can't be arsed! Suffice to say I completely agree and I hate it!

Original poster
Lamont77 · 09/12/2021 09:38

Sorry meant 'but she hasn't found another house' (understand you have) x

OP posts:
gersteddybears · 09/12/2021 09:52

I never used to find it a time consuming or much of a loan. However I've now got 2 young kids and feel like I have a zillion jobs to do. It's hard to find the time and is a massive pain now.

I recently renewed my sky contract to get a better deal. I have to do it every 18 months as it then goes nearly double in price! I was on the fine for 1hr and 20mins. Doesn't usually take this long but I also took out broadband and was in hold for about 25mins before I got through.

My dh does none of it and never has because I'm good at it obvs 🙈 I do work pt though so yes I do have more time that him but still he doesn't realise how much time and effort it takes. I'm paranoid I'm going to miss something like the car tax or and insurance etc.

AtLeastThreeDrinks · 09/12/2021 10:00

God I hate it too, but am very fortunate to have a proactive partner who somehow doesn’t get stressed out by it (?!). For the stuff I need to do I keep a running list in my phone, but it takes me weeks to get round to the smallest thing. I feel constantly low-level stressed by it. Why is there always something 😭

InvincibleInvisibility · 09/12/2021 10:01

Its a total nightmare and never ending.

The worst are the medical appointments: GP, neurologist (every 6 months x 3 people), orthodontist (every 6 weeks for DS1 and now DS2), optician (2 of us), dentist (all of us), physio (me, weekly), psychologist (2 of us, weekly), appointments to manage DSes' disabilities...2-3 a week...

And I work a 4 day week (DH is full time).

Fitting all those appointments around work and school is like bloody tetris. Plus the time needed to make the appointments.

InvincibleInvisibility · 09/12/2021 10:02

Oh and i have to pay for all the appointments up front and get some money back. So i need to regularly check that the money is paid back...

Fairylights25 · 09/12/2021 10:02

Its a tsunami of relentless demands and it does not stop.

Do you have a diary?
Do you a running to do list?

Without these too things I would be screwed as my menopause as reduced my memory to that of a goldfish. I reached peak capacity some time ago.

Fairylights25 · 09/12/2021 10:04

It is one of the reasons I live for holidays if nothing else a week or two break from the mental load.

Freshprincess · 09/12/2021 10:09

It ebbs and flows for me. Sometimes I’m on top of everything, know what’s happening and when. Then something unexpected will happen and it throws me off and takes me ages to get on top of stuff again.
I procrastinate when I’m really stressed, then I feel bad I’ve nit done something which makes it all worse.

AtomicBlondeRose · 09/12/2021 10:12

Car insurance for me this year:

Begin well in advance of date using usual comparison site. Prices seem a little high. use different comparison site, find good deal. Wait for renewal price from current insurer before I decide. Renewal price is £££ so go back to comparison site. Decide to check if I can get cashback - I can, so use Quidco and go to the insurer direct saving even more £££. Great but has taken me probably 1 hour + so far. Current insurance doesn't renew until 10th December and can only be cancelled by phone so wait until I have time during the work day to call (as only open during work hours obv). Wake up Monday morning to find current insurer has taken money from my account 5 days early so then have to call during the day (leaving phone on speaker while I wait in the queue) - another 30 minutes to do that.

Five minutes my arse. And I'm computer literate and deal-savvy. If I was neither I could have paid £130 more than I needed to (plus £30 cashback!). So it was worth it money-wise but oh the time and stress.

Shedmistress · 09/12/2021 10:13

I used to think life admin was hard work.

Then I moved to France.

We have two laptops set up on the dining room table now, and are at them every day sorting stuff out. It is relentless.

penguinwithasuitcase · 09/12/2021 10:21

@Shedmistress

I used to think life admin was hard work.

Then I moved to France.

We have two laptops set up on the dining room table now, and are at them every day sorting stuff out. It is relentless.

Came on to say exactly the same thing.

Sitting here in Spain, I'd give my left arm to deal with HMRC / the AA / basically ANY customer service helpline in the UK instead of the carousel of horrors that is trying to get anything done over here.

Take all my teeth, just don't make me go to hacienda.

Feeling frustrated that you have to use an app instead of calling a helpline?

Welcome to Spain, where you have to get a piece of paper stamped - twice - by different people who work on different days and for which you need appointments (that nobody keeps to so you'll still have to queue for 2.5 hours –not an exaggeration).

And of course these appointments are only available between 9:30am and 12:30pm, because everyone, including the banks and bureaucrats, finishes work at 1. So god help you if you ALSO work those hours...

(Excuse the ranting, this is especially fresh for me –I needed to update my address with the council and it's taken me three months)

Shedmistress · 09/12/2021 10:24

The summers had better be worth it!!!

5 weeks now and we are only just starting the process of getting 'into the system'. We have two files full of paperwork, more than I'd have in the UK in a year.

Wokahontas · 09/12/2021 10:32

I hear you. I am inundated with admin, emails and texts despite constantly unsubscribing from things and dealing with things quickly. I get loads of emails from school all the time and they are 2 pages long, every time. Then reminders.

I work P/T and I have to constantly log on to internet platforms to access training remotely, view videos posted online on various platforms to find out what is going on that week, go on other platforms to get schedules etc. etc. It is a nightmare, all with different logins and passwords. I am unable to do this at work as I don't have a desk (nature of work) and have to do it at home.

I get sent emails from people and then they are followed up with a hard copy in the post.

I have much more admin to do now than when younger and no internet or immediate access via phones and messaging.

Franklin12 · 09/12/2021 10:35

You can spend hours comparing. Used a broker for some private medical insurance earlier this year. Best money spent and he spent time asking what was important to me i.e access to London Hospitals and Drs.

I have a voucher for some Virgin flights. I have a couple of queries. If you try and call them on their website it says up to 2 hour wait! Needless to say I wont be doing that. They want you to Twitter them or send a form in and some day someone will get back to you. Its completely unacceptable. For Ryanair with their eye on all costs maybe but Virgin.....

TheLovelinessOfBaublyDemons · 09/12/2021 10:41

My problem with life admin is remembering it because of autism, mostly school stuff. DS 10 has his first residential trip at the beginning of January and making sure he's brought home the medical and dietary forms I have to fill in, even before I fill them in, is a challenge. Plus all the usual things every morning.