To not understand claims that life admin is 'not a thing'

[LabradorsInThePond]

I keep reading this on MN threads about organisation, time management etc. And that the life admin tasks of renewing insurances and checking mortgage rates can't take up that much time. But I spend a huge amount of time in the throes of life admin. We live a pretty normal, busy family life. I work 4 days in a professional role and can easily spend the 5th day (or at least half of it) in the throes of dreaded life admin.

My list tomorrow extends to twenty three separate items. None of which involve renewing insurances, but they do include buying clothing items (Scout shirt etc.), paying instrument hire, photocopying medical reports for school, booking airport parking, collecting worming tablets, booking a restaurant, buying zoo tickets, arranging a delivery of flowers for mum's birthday, an online grocery shop, buying a thank you gift, arranging a birthday party, booking a roofer, buying new windscreen wipers, emailing the GP, updating kids' Nimbl cards, finding a way to teach DS about dividing decimals, paying various people online etc.

None of these are yearly tasks, and next week there will be another 23 items to complete. It is relentless. DH does most of the house and long-term financial admin and he's also executing his father's too-complicated will, which makes my 23 items look like peanuts.

Do we just have an over-committed life, or does anyone one else find (what others consider non-existent) life admin burdensome and time-consuming? What am I doing wrong here?

Isn't it just 'stuff' that needs doing?? Calling it 'life admin' just gives it an unnecessary label to make it sound more of a job than it needs to be. It's just stuff that needs doing outside of your working day (although it could probably be done in your lunch hour or a slow period at work)
I don't think saving it all up is helping you eg just put money on your DC's lunch account and ask partner to pick up working tablets from vet on way home. Just deal with a task when it needs sorting out. YABU You are seriously over-complicating your life.

Worming tablets!!!!

It depends on your life really. We have one very severely disabled child. The admin that it requires is huge.

I automate as many things as possible. But when I have been working full time there is a huge backlog of tasks that need a couple of days to get through.

It depends on your job doesn’t it really? If you’re a nurse or doctor or factory worker you can’t just take 10 minutes out to sort out your insurance. If you’re a lawyer or receptionist you probably can.

But if you have for example a disabled child, a parent who has dementia, pets, other children and perhaps an old house that needs work, life admin can be very time consuming. And real.

Also, my previous boss was always very smug about her life admin efficiency.

She used to order everything she needed from John Lewis to the office, next day delivery. Had a full time nanny. Car valeted regularly at home. Cleaner.

It all ran like clockwork. But was extremely expensive presumably.

YANBU.

THIS

What I will say is that things often take 20 times longer than they should because of human/organisational incompetence on the service provider end or tech issues.

Some of these tasks are just parenting (taking dc to activities and buying their clothes) not life admin.

I make a note in my diary when things like utilities contracts end and another note a month before, a few come together but they're mostly spread out, they're all done mostly online with maybe a phone call, much easier than when you physically had to go into the bank, insurance office etc.

Very jealous of all these people able to book a GP using an app! Up to hours to book a slot and you might randomly get cut off even then or sometimes all the appointments will have gone… Then you start again the next day.

Of course you can do other housework things whilst waiting on the line but doing a paid job isn’t one of them…

Yes some people are naturally good at admin and take it in their stride. Others - not so much. So much condescension on this thread! It must be great being so PERFECT!

How often do you need to look for a new mortgage/utility provider?

I think some people are just more organised, if you work full time and have a busy life you have to be organised. I don't want to spend my weekend making bookings, paying bills etc. so I do things like that as they come up so I don't end up with a list. If I had a non working day in the week I can see how it would be tempting to let things build up and end up with a big list.

Totally agree. It reminds me of some of my friends who have retired and suddenly become so busy🤣. The tasks they say they have had to do in a day I've usually done before I go to work! The more time you have, the more inefficient you can become I think.

Nature abhors a vacuum @LimpBiskit! Since I retired my life admin’s been minimal, if I spend ten minutes a week on it, it’s a busy old week.

Exactly this. I read the post and thought, that’s just life

Who said they were perfect?

Why are you making those things up? It’s very defensive.

You also mean you can’t wait on hold along side some, paid jobs.

I absolutely can sit on hold whilst doing my paid job. Even in the office. One ear bud in so I know I am still on hold. When they answer go somewhere private.

My teams all the do the same. In plenty of jobs (I have worked in different industries) it absolutely is possible. Wether you want to or not, is obviously entirely different.

@LabradorsinThePond - You choose to have your life that busy and complicated. If you pared down and scrutinised your what your true priorities are, you would probably find your life to be a lot simpler and laid back.

I'm with @linerforlife I fit these little tasks into my day as I go along.