By Friday I am beat…

[RunItOff]

Working full time, office job with a little UK travel… Work from home on Fridays and wake up feeling like I have been run over. Just drag through the day, annoying of leading team calls on video and that takes the last of my energy to be positive and rational. I just feel like telling them to fuck off and do some work.

Then Sat to recover, Sunday chores and it’s back on it, recharged, slowly releasing energy until next Friday.

Any ideas how to stop the mini burn out cycles? Thank you.

Can you afford to go PT ?

Personal trainer? If so, I do not need one, I already work out and pretty fit, as in healthy and slim. But thank you for a reply.

Drop a day.
Otherwise prioritise sleeping enough daily, eating well, include some vitamins and iron supplements if needed, some exercise even if it's 10 minutes daily to start off with

@RunItOff i think the PP means go part time, not get a personal trainer!

I am also slim, healthy and fit.

I've dropped some of my HIIT stuff and transitioned into some more mindful yoga which after years of working as hard as possible in the gym has been a real delight.

Could you do that?
Also yes to vitamins etc.

Do you sleep well? Can you take breaks for walks during the day for some daytime sunlight on your face?

Cut down the 'chores' as much as possible, most people on MN do far more than is necessary. Can you do a couple of hours on Saturday so you can do something fun on Sunday? Or get a cleaner.

What can you cut out of your job? Can any of the meetings be shortened? Can any of the processes be streamlined?

Nothing really constructive to add I'm afraid but just to say endless meetings / interactions are indeed very draining, you have my sympathy. I don't know the solution except winning the lottery!

Thank you. PT - unfortunately, no. Already on vitamins but sleep is a good call. Need to fight that FOMO, nothing good happens after 10. Let’s see if this helps next week.

I'm the same. I'm thinking about going PT, maybe 9 days a fortnight. I resent the idea of being paid less when they'll get the same amount of work from me though. I keep hoping my company will adopt 4 day weeks as default, but that's wishful thinking

How do you spend your annual leave? I'm now FT after long period of part time and I'm using day's leave here & there to break me in.

Now my kids are grown I don't need full fortnight's off work.

I used to get this, most colleagues too. Could you get up a little earlier on Fridays and do some light exercise before starting work? That’s only treating the symptoms but it might help as a starting point. Then as suggested prioritise sleep and diet, maybe drink more water?

Sorry, that should have been light exercise or stretching.

I'm currently thinking about working 90% over 4 days, M-Th with the Friday morning that I should be working covered by a mixture of working longer M-Th (I also travel to clients a bit so this will easily be achieved) and some of my annual leave (I'd still get 37 days incl BHs on 90% of FTE).

But I'm fortunate that my employer will reduce my client list that makes up the majority of my job accordingly, so I wouldn't be trying to do a full time job in PT hours that I'm paid a PT salary for.

What housework are you doing that takes ALL DAY??

You sound like you have a normal job..
Not sure why it's so draining?

There must be another reason why you're so exhausted? Have you had blood tests? Like iron deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis etc?

What time do you go to bed ?
How is your diet - do you eat processed food or lots of refined carbs ? Alcohol?
Can you streamline your Sunday chores/ delegate?
Can you get groceries delivered for the week and have a meal plan ready?

In addition to the above I wfh on a Wednesday to break up the week and give me a rest from the rat race (can stick on a wash or give the bathroom a quick clean whilst on calls, taking the pressure off the weekend)
I prioritise having a pj day on a Saturday or a Sunday and do simple meal prep for the week so I'm starting the week on a full battery.

Caveat- I don't have kids but I do have a condition that causes pain and fatigue and cancer atm but I still need to work ft.

How old are you & do you have dc? I don't think it's normal to wake up feeling run over every Friday

How do you all cut back on cleaning?! We only clean once a week and the house is disgusting by then, plus laundry. Cleaning for me only means giving the bathroom a wipe and running the hoover round, but tidying first takes ages with no energy. Mopping and window cleaning are a once a year treat. With shopping and catching up on sleep it doesn't leave much of Saturday.

Lower your standards.

I'll bet the house isn't "disgusting".

Tidying surely is just done as you go? How much crap are you leaving laying around each day? Surely things like shoes, coats, bags aren't dumped on the ground? Crockery is returned to the kitchen and cleaned and put away daily?

Just put shit away when it's used, not entirely sure there's that much that actually needs tidying once a week.?