So sad tomorrow is Monday

[geeinitpal]

I'm a social work student and have had two weeks off my placement for Easter. It's honestly been bliss, have spent some much needed quality time with my daughter and dogs, relaxed, read, went long walks, just really haven't had to worry about anything and it's been lovely.

Woke up this morning with such a knot in my stomach the thought of tomorrow being Monday!

Since January my life has been hectic, placement full time, working part time, single mum to my daughter, two dogs, uni work, trying to keep on top of the house etc. it's been intense and I've just loved this two weeks.

I have 8 more weeks on placement to go and then I am off for 8 weeks for summer so I know I have that to look forward to and am lucky but the thought of back to reality for another 8 weeks is soul destroying.

Anyone else got the Sunday blues?

Oh lovely, I did 7 years in criminal justice in a different role, loved it. Once you’re back you’ll get into it.

@Wishona it's fantastic, really challenging but enjoyable work! Just hoping I can get into a job once qualified next year, from what I've heard it's quite difficult to get into?

It seems mad that we spend all week looking forward to the weekend and then a third of the weekend dreading the next five days!! Get a job you're ambivalent about (like me) and then, as Will Young says "if I miss the highs at least I'm spared the lows".

Hahah that's true actually. I don't get it every Sunday, I'm usually quite good at just enjoying the weekend but also looking forward to the week ahead. Today is different though, I'm assuming because I have been off for two weeks.

I hear you. I did an MBA whilst working full time with young kids. I used to carve the year up. The only reason I managed it was because there was no college June to October.

I have it a bit but I’m trying to be positive!

Also have a very hectic life but trying to look on the plus side!

Do you have children to juggle as well though? For many of us, it's not just the job. It's about all the other plates that need spinning.

10/10 for the most circus puns in one post

I've got the Monday blues too. Hate it.

Good luck with getting into your chosen career path. I hear placements are shit because if you're not in a team you want to end up in (placed with kids when you want to work with adults for instance) it can really drag! Good thing is once you qualify the chaos will calm down a bit!

I just left a 12 yr career in social work which I started in the same circumstances as you. My advice is to rehome the dogs, it’s way too much to manage, seriously - put your kid first.

In my role it was easy as a lot of people don’t want to work in this area. I miss it actually.

Say what @Dumbphone? OP has said nothing to imply she’s struggling with her dogs; an absolutely absurd comment along with the likes of just oh give up social work, you’re obviously not cut out for it! People are reading way too much into this post, all OP is trying to say is isn’t it a bummer going back to your work day routine after a break!

Yes me too. I loved the feeling on the Friday before the Easter break up knowing there were no more school runs for two weeks, lots of lie ins and lazy days blissful. Feel really down today.

Thank you @GeoffPeterson , some of the posters have read way too much into this post. How you put it was exactly what I meant.

Ugh I feel you, back to work after a week off, 4 kids to sort for school/crèche etc and I could cry at the thought of it. I quite like my job but if I didn't have to go you bet I wouldn't!!

@GeoffPeterson Well - I’m coming from experience. That’s what we do here, share our experience. I brought lots of people though their ASYE, all non-essentials had to go for them to make it and many didn’t. Yes I did child protection which may have been harder than criminal justice but there is no way on earth I’d have managed being a single parent, getting through ASYE (which is far harder than last yr of placement), only to have to look after two dogs as well - nightmare.

Sad to see so many people’s lives so hard because they’re enamoured to their pets which they either have to leave in alone all day or pay for someone to look after - what a waste of effort.

Sorry OP - that’s just the way I see it. Good luck. Perhaps your choice of career will be far less stressful than mine was, or perhaps it won’t. If you find yourself at your wits end, dogs are a luxury and a huge drain on resource, so you’ll need to decide what to do then.

I disagree, once you are properly working full time

Don’t agree with this at all, I hated every second of my nursing placements but absolutely love being a nurse! Only 8 weeks to go OP, head down and crack on it will be over before you know it. 8 amazing weeks off to look forward to, wishing you the best of luck with your future career.

Why comment without reading..

Only two Monday's before you get two bank holidays in a row so there's that to look forward to!

when you remove university work, weekly supervision meetings with practice teacher, and a part time job? Of course it'll be less hectic!
The social workers i wirk with woukd dusagree.
Once they are nit a student the case liads increase dramatically. I work up to 10pm as part of my job ( non social work) and im getting emails from them at 9, 10, 11pm and as early as 6am. No 9 to 5 for them. When i e talked to them about it they are juggling g reports getting work prepped etc. Many leave within 6 months.
Good luck op. ( i genuinely mean it) it's going to be a hard slog but you can make a difference to people.

Me neither.

I have done a RGN degree and a MSc RMN, and I worked part-time during both. Days when I was not working or at uni were spent writing assignments. The only time I had to chill, pursue hobbies, and see friends was during the uni breaks, which were much shorter than non-vocational degree courses.

Once qualified and working, there are new challenges, but your days off are yours to do as you please, not spent writing essays and doing coursework.

@Nimbostratus100 I am bloody working full time, 9-5 Monday to Friday. 5.45 - 10 Monday Wednesday and Friday at other job

As an experienced practitioner I hate to break it to you but your student days are the easiest you will ever have. I work in adult services and it’s a false notion that it is always less stressful than children’s. At one point a couple of years ago I had to work a solid 24 hour stint with no break as I had an urgent case before the courts and not doing the work was not an option. Fwiw though I wouldn’t do any other job, just don’t be disillusioned that it will get easier as it isn’t likely to.

I work part-time and only have to get up at 5.45 am two days a week but tomorrow and for the next 3 weeks I'll have to get up at 5.45am every day as I'm covering holidays.

I do. Been off work for nearly a month with Covid and then leave around Easter (which I didn't make the most of or even really enjoy because of lingering Covid fatigue). I also have a driving lesson first thing in the morning which is a massive source of stress.