Why does life admin overwhelm me so much?

[Lamont77]

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

We share it unevenly (me doing more) partly because I work p/t with DCs at school and partly because I am much better at it (DH is dyslexic / not really sure what but struggles with memory and detail). He does all his family cards, presents etc and his own car stuff and personal finance. I do my equivalents plus insurances and DCs stuff. He also does more day to day housework than me. It's not perfect but it sort of works.

The absolute life changer for me was getting my AirPods. Pop them in, call the insurance company, GP etc then go about your day as normal while on hold.

It's done wonders for my ironing pile

I relinquished it to dh - big mistake. It’s now a clustwrfuck of disorganisation and he won’t hand it back to me to sort because ‘he’s done it’ (badly). I think a lots of it’s due to the ‘automation’ of everything - I reckon to was far easier when you could pick up the phone and speak to someone (who spoke the language fluently) and sort stuff out that way.

Oh yes!

Is it because companies don't recruit admin staff to run things properly? They seem to be more interested in employing people to manage their social media and sell more shit rather than looking after existing customers.

My PA friend grumbles about the five minute job perception. I keep telling her to set up on her own as a lifestyle PA.

Was waiting for a thread like this. Surprised people dont write about it more often.
We have recently hit a milestone in life, and I decided to sort out all our bills. I have barely started! Everything just takes so long.

My elderly mum had to wait on the phone 50 minutes just to even get through to a doctor's receptionist!

I wont even begin to list what has happened to an inlaw and her experience with the DVLA!

The country is falling down, in my opinion.

Oh, and our accountant cant give us figures until at least April. Says that due to covid, his staff are wfh, and their work keeps coming back into him, littered with mistakes. In his own words, it is a nightmare.
Has been to the "doctor's" 3 times, and each time been seen by a paramedic[once he did refer something to a doctor as well].

oops! That last sentence should come after the receptionist part.

I agree about the Airpods being a gamechanger for holding in queues, also means you can check notes/calender in your phone while speaking but without having to put the speakerphone on.

I hear you.
I often get overwhelmed with this. In particular at Christmas and Summer holidays. holidays even more so now with tests and entry requirements.
Everything takes so much more effort. Reality is computers and automated phones haven't really made life more simple. Simple was paying a cheque into the bank or popping it in the post to pay a bill.
We have over complicated our lives thinking we have made it easier. Fools.

@AllotmentTime

Yes as hidetheicicles says, the “it only takes 5 minutes” brigade will be along soon. Insurance is the one that makes me grind my teeth, people claim it’s super quick to do online. Maybe if you spend loads- but if you’re trying to find the cheapest deal and actually reading it to make sure that you’re covered for everything you need- that your breakdown cover isn’t some one man band with a terrible reputation, or that any valuable items are up to date on your home insurance, for example- or if you have anything remotely complicated like a flat roof on your house or a named driver who’s had a speeding ticket - then it’s really not quick and easy!!!

Rant over

Totally agree with you. Takes bloody ages to do it properly.

I'm same. Can't cope with it.
Delegate what you can within the family (obviously you have to then return the favour with something you are great at!).
As for the rest... Google hints and tips for living with ADD. I'm not saying you have ADD! But the practical advice I've found on this subject really helps me. (I don't have ADD but also struggle with 'life' and the tops are helpful)

@3luckystars

Can you email the doctors and ask them to reply back when they have received your mail.

Anything with workmen is a nightmare so I totally understand that.

Don’t worry about the insurance, that’s a 5 minute call this morning and you will have all the info next to you this time.

My advice is get a list, and start crossing off what you have done. I use KANBAN on my phone. You are actually doing loads, be nice to yourself!!

I second the vote for kanban board. Easy either with post it notes on wall/page, or on a screen (excel or word table)

Btw I fail regularly and have incurred thousands in HMRC fines etc as a result.
Didn't want to think I'm putting myself in the "oooh 20 mins once a year!" brigade. Definitely not

Today I cleared a room for my adult son to use as a WFH office. I was appalled to discover that I have 3 very
large boxes of papers to sort out - all now in the garage (a garage that has not housed a car for a very long time...). I do not even have an excuse for not keeping up with life admin as I am retired. My sympathies to you OP.

I've downloaded Kanban so hopefully it helps!

Update on the gas engineer: they said last week he would arrive between 12 and 5 (handy). Half 4 comes round, we decide to call. Turns out the person who was supposed to book us forgot to click 'confirm' on the system and our booking didn't go through. So we waited 5 hours nearly for an engineer who didn't exist and its now been dragged out and rearranged for next week. Let's hope third time lucky

Great about the KANBAN app. I use kanban flow.
It absolutely changed my life but I have to remember to click into every morning first thing. The great thing is, you can have it on PC and phone, so if something pops into your head at any time, put it into the list.

The other marvellous thing is that it keeps all your ‘done’ items so that you can check back what day you did something.
This is invaluable for me because my brain deletes everything and have no recollection of what I did or didn’t do!

Also, and this is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, if you get given a job, and it is going to take more than 2 minutes, then don’t do it now. Put it on the list. If it will take more than two minutes, then NOT NOW.

All the best.

How's it going with the Kanban, @Lamont77?

@flowersforbrains it's going well thanks!

I like the 'done' section that makes you feel accomplished Well, if there's a few things on there of course!

Still not got the gas fire fixed though

I can cope with being on hold for hours..

.. but companies that interrupt the insipid music with a pause, sound of ringing and then back to the music.. @#%$jsdjcvs

I am one of the "it only takes five minutes" brigade

However, I do agree that when something goes wrong, it is a pain in the wotsit to sort out. A while ago there was a thing on Twitter about what your named law would be if you died, eg like Sarah's law. I decided that my Schwarzwald law would be that all companies over a certain size have to have a proper complaints procedure WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS and they have to reply within 24 hours or be fined 10% of worldwide turnover. That would make them sort out their complaints procedures.

The really difficult thing is trying to help someone else because it's always computer says no because of data protection. Or a barrier to hide behind. I am a lawyer so I know what the GDPR says, and so much of what companies say about data protection is nonsense.

@JuergenSchwarzwald

I am one of the "it only takes five minutes" brigade

However, I do agree that when something goes wrong, it is a pain in the wotsit to sort out. A while ago there was a thing on Twitter about what your named law would be if you died, eg like Sarah's law. I decided that my Schwarzwald law would be that all companies over a certain size have to have a proper complaints procedure WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS and they have to reply within 24 hours or be fined 10% of worldwide turnover. That would make them sort out their complaints procedures.

The really difficult thing is trying to help someone else because it's always computer says no because of data protection. Or a barrier to hide behind. I am a lawyer so I know what the GDPR says, and so much of what companies say about data protection is nonsense.

How hard is it for them to sort out complaints though really? They generally don't care enough to have the proper systems in place to escalate things.

I can guarantee if you take to Twitter or Instagram to complain, a lot of companies will move pretty sharphish. I had a ridiculous situation with DHL who were supposed to deliver a package. The tracking showed that it was stuck on a van going backwards and forwards between the depot and LHR. Emails were ignored. I posted it on Twitter, was asked to contact a certain number and it was delivered the next day. If companies don't bother to resolve issues in a timely manner then I rarely use them again.

@Lamont77 Glad to hear the board is working! Just out of interest, how have you set it up? I've started using Trello with several boards myself. It hasn't revolutionised my yet but it's working quite well.

I don’t find it too bad, most of my stuff ticks away fine as it’s direct debit and then about every 6 months or so I review my payments and will look around for a better deal for example from
Sky etc.
I have a neighbour who’s a handyman so I pay him to do odd jobs etc.
I am organised though and don’t find life admin stressful. When my DF died I sorted everything for probate and was granted probate within three weeks of his death (just after lockdown 02 and over Christmas period). I sold his property three weeks later.
I have POA for my DM and run her household too. I manage all the financial stuff and household repairs etc.
I often use messenger to get through to people if I’m having no luck on the phone.

@CrimbleCrumble1

I don’t find it too bad, most of my stuff ticks away fine as it’s direct debit and then about every 6 months or so I review my payments and will look around for a better deal for example from Sky etc. I have a neighbour who’s a handyman so I pay him to do odd jobs etc. I am organised though and don’t find life admin stressful. When my DF died I sorted everything for probate and was granted probate within three weeks of his death (just after lockdown 02 and over Christmas period). I sold his property three weeks later. I have POA for my DM and run her household too. I manage all the financial stuff and household repairs etc. I often use messenger to get through to people if I’m having no luck on the phone.

You forgot to mention that you run your own empire, work 80 hours a week and have 10 children....

No, only three DC.

I use ToDoIst and I run my life on it.

Mortgage issue still not resolved. Solicitor has evidence funds were sent. Somehow disappeared between solicitor and mortgage provider. It's starting to stress me out quite a lot. Why can't people do their jobs properly.

@Babybooboodedoo

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

Ooh can you share the episode name/ number? There are hundreds....mind you I'll probably listen to a few as they look like exactly what I need.