To think it's impossible to fit even half of life into the day?

[LittleMyIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm struggling to manage what I see as getting a basic life into the week and wondering how everyone else is managing! I'm sure it will look like I'm just trying to do too much but I can't see what I could cut out without having to give up on things I basically need so I'm hoping I just need some tips on how to manage!

I work 40 hours a week, on barely over minimum wage, plus 3 hours ish a week commuting. On top of that I need to sleep (hopefully!) and do a part time OU course which in a few years will hopefully mean a new job and more money to make things easier. Then there's cooking & cleaning.

I also need to spend a little time each week supporting my parents who have no-one else. I don't do care for them, they have a cleaner etc to help them manage but just managing their help takes time (eg, finding new cleaner when old one stopped, sorting issues with prescription delivery, helping with bank problems etc etc etc). On top I have a very minimal social life to stop me being a hermit and need time to spend with DH and DD.

Then there's all the random bits that come along, needing to fit in going to the doctor because I have a minor but recurring medical issue, needing repairs done to the house, sorting out bills, and on and on.

DH has chronic health issues so helps as much as possible but can only manage work part time and be minimal help in the house. TBH the amount of work he does looking after himself to make sure I don't have to look after him as well as everything else takes up a fair amount of his time!

How can I manage all this without burning out completely?

Thanks for this recommendation. I just watched one of her ted talks and it’s very insightful

It was totally worth missing out for a few years (minus the summer off) to get my job and my life is infinitely better now with better income etc. Those years of sacrifice were worth it.

@Notplayingball don't be ridiculous, I have a chronic health condition and work more than full time hours. Fancy a swap, no?
OP, your life like many modern day families is tough. The hours we are expected to work to fund a basic lifestyle (while the rich get richer 🙄) are back breaking for most of us.
My advice is little and often for everything. For example I don't spend all weekend cleaning, I would rather keep on top of it through the week (ie, clean the kitchen in the morning and again at night, 10 minutes each time). Wipe bathrooms over daily (less than five minutes each)
Tidy as you go, if you walk past something put it away. That's the house taken care of.
Meals are quick, most things take half an hour or less to cook, clean whilst you wait for things to be cooked.
Mostly it's multi tasking that gets me through but it's bloody hard work and I feel for the OP.

I mean I think you need to prioritise. I’m doing my degree now and have had to drop to part time (four days a week). If I was doing the degree plus full time plus big commute and also wanted a social life and family interaction I would burn out! Is it necessary to travel 3 hours? Where can you get a bit of time back? For me I’d looking at a closer job and combing through finances to see if it was possible to go even four days a week.

If you switched to part time work would you be able to claim any benefits?

I find getting up at 5am is a game changer! I can workout, have 20 minutes with a coffee, prep stuff for the day and be ready before toddler wakes up.

we meal plan and batch cook to save time during the week so dinner only takes a few minutes. Dinner bath and bed is a military operation at our house so I can be sat down with everything done by 7:30.

I’m feeling a lot like this at the minute. My dm has always been very independent but she’s not been well and is starting to need support. Working ft, running the kids around and trying to spend time with my dm is proving a real challenge, and I’m not studying too! I’m thinking of dropping a day at work as something has to give.

How much time do you spend/waste on the internet? This is a massive problem for me. I'm doing it now FFS!

Your phone should have an inbuilt wellbeing app (or you can download one) to see what your usage patterns are.

When I was doing an ou degree on top of a full time job, I was a nightmare for going down journal article rabbit holes as a form of procrastination. Really 16 hours study on top of 40 hours work should be busy but totally doable, but I waste time easily. Listen to some procrastination podcasts (ADDitide podcast is good) for strategies to address this.

Can you do some of your studying, extra knowledge and revision via podcasts whilst commuting, there are loads of great ones for every profession/subject. I do most of my CPD via podcasts, either dog walking or whilst driving around at work (paramedic). It's always better to do it in someone else's time!