How to deal with renovation and work stress

[outlanderish]

Doing a huge renovation and house is abysmal, I mean a mess. Dust, shit, wood, tools, every room is in a bad state. To top it off I'm travelling abroad for work Saturday and away for a week, it will be chaos, I mean 5am starts and 11pm finishes for 7 days straight. I will come back with to no kitchen, and walls will be being taken down the day I land, so I will immediately be back to doing work on the house the minute I land. We are doing it all ourselves (me and my DP) and work is hugely stressful at the moment. My work load is horrendous, we are short staffed and I have deadlines to hit. I'm currently having a glass of wine to try and relax, which drinking for me is a rarity.

To top it off, it's my MIL birthday and she's coming round, and we are cooking her dinner which I really do not have time for, and we will be emptying the kitchen probably until 1am tonight.

Any advice? Please?

Is it only a week? Just collect easy food and don’t worry for just a week.

Yes im away for 8 days, which is hugely stressful as I'm away from home and have so much to do, it's part of the job I despise, so it's come at a really bad time.

Ok. If your away though, surely someone else is delegated to do the work?
You will just be away and see results on return.

Don’t cook, order a takeaway if you can

I feel your stress I’m in a similar situation, but further down the line. Best tips I can offer:

1. if you’ve got a lot on for a short period of time, have take away or microwave meals. Include this as part of your renovation budget, if you’re hungry and exhausted you’ll not be able to function.

2. create a safe space. Somewhere where you can have a dust free area, even if your things are in clip boxes to achieve this. You need an area to rest your mind in, even if it’s tiny. Plastic sheets over doors to keep the dust out!

3. I know work might not allow, but book days off where you can to organise, clear and prepare for jobs. You’ll feel better just getting your site cleared. Don’t underestimate the mental load of project planning. Having time help with stress levels of juggling tasks.

Just just have to make yourself not care too much. We are having an extension and it’s chaos with 3 dogs, builders, electricians, plumbers, tilers, dust, mud - you name it.

I do a big clean on a Friday when everyone has gone home so at least it’s ok for the weekend, but try to turn a blind eye during the week and just deal with what’s in front of my face. The dogs are the big thing as they will run off if a gate is left open, let alone a gaping hole in the wall, so they are in my office with me during the day - I have a very good set of noise cancelling headphones for work