Working this week but I don't have time for it

[fondoutcheese]

I have so much to do to prepare for Christmas next week. I just don't have time for work. I'm FT and cant afford to take any time off.

I am WAH today, just sitting staring ay my PC looking at all the things around me that need doing. They are within arms reach ... but I cannot get to them due to work. Sigh.

I agree about the unpaid overtime. I think that’s par for the course in the majority of senior professional roles. I know it is with my sons and husband. My husband WFH. His employer is flexible to a degree. If your employer is flexible that’s good and as it should be providing it goes both ways. There are those employees who WFH and do take the piss unfortunately. My husband has had to withdraw the privilege from a couple of his staff.

To check for messages or respond to a quick personal email etc, absolutely if essential. I’d never begrudge my staff replying to something personal during work hours, even if it’s just confirming who’s picking up dinner on the way home.

But, to start non-essential conversations with random strangers on the internet about not wanting to work? Completely different.

Just be glad you don't work in retail, or your not delivering parcels! If you haven't got any work to do, hope your manager doesn't notice, because when it comes to cutting costs you're already in the starting gate.

At one of the places I worked, staff would be on peronal social media in the office. Might say that was none of my business, but they talked a lot too, which affected by ability to get work done. In my present job it would be impossible to wfh (I'm on a day off today, before anyone asks why I'm wasting time not working!), but being in the office doesn't mean people work harder-lots of people say that.

Some real boot lickers on this thread!

How do you know what people are doing unless you are looking over their shoulder. It work, not a POW camp!

I don’t.
We’re not even allowed our phones on us.

If I did have my phone, it would be used for emergencies or answering important phone calls or messages - not for going on MNs or Xmas shopping.

Why are some people so addicted to their phones.
If you’re that desperate to go on it then use it at lunchtime.

Ermm because OP has started a thread saying that she currently at work 🙃

Leaving it this late to order presents and plan food is, well, crackers. Your employer shouldn't take the hit for your lateness.

Plenty do.

What? This makes no sense to the above.

Christmas is the same day every year…there is zero need to not be organised for it.

Make a list and tick things off. Will feel less overwhelming once you get through a few items.

for next year - plan ahead. If relatives cannot do their own Christmas shopping then they need to give vouchers or money if a gift giving is required.

Supermarkets are open until 10pm if you want to physically go to the shops. I guess it is too late for online slots now.

Make a plan to book time off well in advance in 2026.

How can you be so confused?

You asked that poster how she knew that OP was using her phone for non work related tasks, like creating MN threads.

The thread is literally about her being at work and being on MN at the same time.
I am not sure what is confusing you.

I don’t, I trust my staff and their commitment. You’re right, it’s not a POW camp, it’s a work place where everyone is paid to WORK during their contracted hours. Not moan that they are not prepared for Christmas, which is the same day every year I hasten to add.

The OP has made a thread on the internet to chat to strangers, procrastinating over work. Hardly defendable.

I think BuildbyNumbere was responding to CluelessCass' point about how they'd only allow using phones if it was something 'essential'- the point being how would you know whether it was (by their measure) 'essential' unless you were looking over their shoulder at what they are doing.

No, how does she know whether the people that work for her are quickly looking at their phone for essential communications or something else … whether or not the OP is using her phone and for what is clearly obvious 🤦🏻‍♀️

You do know that if your company decide you are no longer needed and to make you redundant, whether you didn’t touch your phone and did a solid 8 hours at your desk like a martyr will be irrelevant!?!

Yes, it’s just acting clueless to start an argument for arguments sake.

@PersephonePomegranate could you explain more about this please? I need to get more organised on my day off. I think you've nailed it with "paralysed by the overwhelm" there's so much to try to get through on my day off that I feel overwhelmed by it and often end up doom scrolling 🙄 I know I'm lucky to work part time and want to be more productive on my day off!

I do this everyday. Each morning I sit down with a tea and list everything that needs to be achieved that day, it’s a shared list for the whole house and people just mark tasks off as they are done. I don’t put for example, clean the kitchen which could take a while, I’ll put load the dishwasher, empty the bin, wipe worktop. Or for the washing I’ll add put washing in, take washing out, put washing away etc. By breaking it in to much smaller tasks everything feels manageable, or that you can do one task while the kettle boils, and there’s also the added satisfaction of crossing multiple things off the list.
It also serves as a reminder to everyone in the house of everything that has actually been achieved that day, as we all know some of “hidden” tasks such as ordering the food shop, topping up the parent pay accounts, renewing the house insurance all add to the mental load but you don’t necessarily see the output of the time spent like you would with a clean kitchen for example.
My husband often jokes that by the time I’ve written the list each day we could have marked half of it off between us, but it’s my 10 minute ritual now and empties my mind before a busy day at work.

I feel like a lot of people need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Also, even if you work full time, especially from home, over your 5 days you should still have around 50 hours of your own time apart from sleeping...get organised, and get it done!

Also, good luck getting a hair appointment!

Only way to stay sane in our job 😁

I do everything I need to do when I WFH and IDGAF. My deliverables are met, my work is done and in between meetings I do all my life tasks. Who’s gonna find out?