Really can't face work tomorrow

[boxingdayisbest]

I know I'm being unreasonable I suppose (as I'm sure thousands of others feel the same) but I go back to work tomorrow and have a lurching feeling in my stomach every time I think about it. I just don't want to face it.

Before Christmas it was very high pressure and stressful and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. I've been in a new job since June last year (2022) with a company I've been at a few years but it hasn't panned out as advertised at all. My direct line manager is the same (and a good guy) but we've been moved to another team and management above him are all different. They are archaic in behaviour and stuck in the 90s, no appreciation of work/life balance, never any acknowledgment of hard work and don't appear to even value our function.

I get paid very well and work from home though (which due to kids and health I value deeply). There is now little chance of progression further.

I feel very stuck and don't want to face it! I feel a bit like my kids not wanting to go back to school but know I really just need to get a grip! Leaving isn't an easy option either as it won't be simple to get something else that pays enough and largely let's me work remotely.

Anyone else feeling similar today and want to get through tomorrow together?

Me too! I’ve been looking at retirement and although dreading the change of life - absolutely dreaming of NOT having to work my arse off for the benefit of someone who isn’t wonderful.

@FlissyPaps I really hope I have the power to change it. I feel very deflated and lacking in confidence at the moment which a lot of people I work with would find hard to believe as I put on a good confident front.

I worry about jumping out of the fire pan and into the fire and even if I could find something suitable, I don't feel I've got the energy to throw into a new role at the moment. I think I need to work on myself first.

Me too, I start a new job very soon and am just working out my notice period so it feels so pointless going back. I was also tricked into taking on a management position in this job for what I’ve recently found out is not a single penny more than I’d have got if I didn’t after my incremental pay rise am I’m so angry about it. I feel totally screwed over. I can’t wait to start my new job though!

I'm absolutely gutted about going back - and I love my job!
I'm WFH through the train strikes but when I'm in the office I cant get up later than 5am as I have over 2 hrs commute but where I live there aren't any employment options that match what I have now.
I think my main reason for feeling down is that I haven't had any real time off last year, just the odd day, so desperately wanted the Christmas break to have a reset but extended family dramas and accommodating people who are making others a priority (to avoid drama) has taken up an awful large part of the break so it feels like its all passed in a bit of a blur of cooking and cleaning.
Ah well, lesson learned. Not so accommodating next year!
Fingers crossed its not as bad as we all are feeling it will be - and its a 4 day week if you don't work weekends! 😀

Totally relate to this and the waiting for a phone call….

Same :(

I hear you.
I absolutely hate the hard slog. I'm nearly 50 and need to be winding down a bit. Life should not be like this. I'm convinced we could all have it a lot easier, but the powers that be don't want us having enough time or energy to challenge them.
Thoroughly depressing.
I just don't want to be working any more. Worked since I was 14 (part time whilst at school). I'm just shattered.

At least you’ve had a break over Christmas and haven’t had to work all the way through, on minimum wage.
Sometimes you need to appreciate how good you’ve got it.

@Abeachsomewhere same here!

It’s been a constant thought in the back of my mind, throughout Christmas.

The relief of no phone calls from school, no emails, no DS being a completely different person (due to school) and dealing with this day in, day out. Sitting a work, feeling the lurch in my stomach when an incoming call sounds on my phone and it’s school’s number. The heavy weight of dealing with a ND, DC within the school environment has almost left me at breaking point. The only relief I get is during half term and weekends.

I’m counting down the days to February half term!

So sorry 😔 It’s awful, isn’t it - I used to love it when they were at school as it was the only respite I would get (husband not supportive and family live abroad), but now I think it is actually easier when they are at home so I don’t have to deal with phone calls from school! Or, even worse, the daily negative feedback at pick-up time!

I could have typed every word you have said. The last few months have also nearly broken me. Sending hugs, 🍷and 🍰 in complete solidarity.

@Abeachsomewhere hugs to you too, so sorry you’re dealing with the everyday struggles too knowing we’re not alone makes it more bearable.

Here's to February half term and the extra Bank Holiday this year!

Pregnant again? 🙏😂

@HappinessDragon us too, so many guests whilst I've been off. All unavoidable but last ones only left today so no real time to relax or get anything sorted indoors

to those of you dealing with school stress too. I have a ND child and they are so much more relaxed when there is no school too (as am I on their behalf.)

I really can't face going back tomorrow.

I've been working for the last two years paid for 20 hours, doing between 25 and 30. The issue is I had a colleague who was furloughed throughout the time they could be but when she came back, she didn't think actually doing any work was an option. Eventually she resigned saying she didn't have any work to do.
Now, the fact I'd already had a meeting with my line manager the week previously saying that she was doing no work and I was working 30+ to cover her should on paper have meant something maybe?
No. Whenever the possibility of employing someone else this is thrown back at me as "she didn't have enough to do therefore it isn't worth paying anyone else."
Tbf the business is struggling enough that I don't think we could pay someone else
To make matters worse, despite the leadership knowing that I was working extra hours they moved her into a different job where she still does little work, and has spent the last year (except for the month she went on "sick leave" because someone called her out for bullying) being as petty and awkward as possible. I'm talking about saying "can you hold the door for me, I'm carrying a lot please" and her pulling the door to in my face. That sort of level of pettiness.
If challenged she cites her "mental health".
She will be as horrible as possible until a member of the leadership comes in and then she's as sweet as pie. Apparently this is due to her mental health/menopause and so cannot be challenged.

Add to this that we have a very small HR department (1 person) who gives out "advice" which they give out as "legal facts" and at times is plain wrong.

There are some fantastic people there, don't get me wrong, but there's about 3 people (led by this person) who are causing issues for so many.

If I die (from stress) I'm going to come back as a ghost and haunt the place.

I’ve just checked my emails having expected something to be done as promised by a colleague. It hasn’t been, so that puts me in the shit tomorrow, great start. Seriously considering handing in my notice.

Don't want to go either

I've had a lovely break

But shorter week😀

I’m lucky that the industry I work in has it’s quieter spell during December, so I always get this time of year off, know I’m lucky, not everyone has the same privilege. I absolutely LOVE the Christmas holiday. There’s no expectation of going on holiday/insert any number of outdoor DC friendly things to do while the weather is ok (ish)!

I’m still dreading the month of January, not only because of the weather, ice, snow, trying to make it into work, 25 miles away, whilst juggling DC various hospital appointments etc, not forgetting February when it can often turn out the coldest month! I hate it!

So for me, the cosy nights of the lead up & during Christmas are my absolute favourite time of the year.

I need to work on January/February, I’ve had many years to get used to them.

I have just got through a round of redundancies so should be grateful to have my job to go back to. But I have that Sunday night dread too. It was double whammy with schools also going back tomorrow but the SENCO rang me and advised me to keep my DD off for one more day because tomorrow is likely to be too stressful for her with what is planned. Am so surprised but grateful to get a day’s reprieve!

Good luck with sleep tonight everyone.

I should be going to bed to be awake for tomorrow but am considering hanging onto the holiday feeling and eating leftover new year cheese.

Do it! I just had cheesecake and 3 biscuits. Diet can start tomorrow.

Good luck with your first day back tomorrow and thanks for starting this thread - it’s quite nice to know many feel exactly the same

I opened fizz and eating cashew nuts. Totally dreading work. I'm sure the reality will be better than I fear. And hope so for everyone

Me too. I have a mountain of work to go back to that's built up over my Christmas break with noone to help me. It's really made me realise just how unhappy I am and will job hunt regularly. Good luck tomorrow.

January and February are so depressing, dark gloomy, cold days. Post Christmas blues, credit card bill hitting the mat sigh .... I'm sure we're meant to hibernate as a species.

OH loves watching Alaska programmes survival style. I think they're nuts