To ask you to see if I'm missing something in my day

[bapplebanana]

Could you help me to manage my time better in the day- every day is the same, never enough time to go to the gym / do something for myself, or so it feels.

6.30am wake up, get two young DS ready, do breakfast, get myself ready
7.30am leave the house for first drop off at nursery
8.00am second drop off at breakfast club
8.20am arrive at work (secondary school)
4.00pm leave school, pack up school work I haven't finished, and pick kids up, be home by 5.00ish
5.00ish start dinner
6.30 husband arrives home, me and husband eat
7.00 husband starts bed time for the boys, I start work
9.00-9.30 finish work and fall asleep on sofa by 10!

What can I rejig there to make life a bit less repetitive? I love working out it makes me feel much better and currently only managing a work out at weekends

You are barely getting statutory PPA, OP, let alone any time for your TLR. I am not surprised you are taking so much work home.

Mentoring a trainee is a huge amount of work in autumn 1, and there is no trade-off as they teach very little. Having a strong trainee in the summer is blimmin’ marvellous but that’s a long way off right now.

@bapplebanana how about getting a peloton and a few home weights? I have a peloton and absolutely love it! Makes working out so much easier as can do a 30 min workout first thing then jump straight in the shower. Or could you run where you live? Get out for a quick 5km and save the gym for the weekends?

Oh life as a teacher, never had any spare time either as evenings and parts of weekend was always working! I left, did supply and got another side job, so much more free time! Also batch cooking helps. X

I was a single working mum with 3 an 5 yrs kids. I used to layout the breakfast bowls spoons cereal etc on table after dinner clean up. I also had a slow cooker which I would make enough curry stew roasts for 2-4 family meals a week. Put it on low it will cook all day while you enjoy your saturday at the gym and doing something with the kids. No pots an pans to wash up. You will cope better with me time and you deserve it

Much the same, but home by 7pm, (I'm not a teacher). Then a couple of hours work prep for the next day and then home prep (including meal for tomorrow), school bags, guinea pigs, bills and admin. Bed by 11pm if lucky.
I think it's just how life is these days. I haven't had any free time since before the kids were born. I mourn the total loss of a personal life. I don't regret for a second having kids.

The biggest thing to change is working at home every night. Not sustainable and leading to you missing out on life! Primary deputy head here and I set boundaries for this so I have time with my my young family and time for me. Yes I will then block some bigger jobs in the holidays and do some occasional evening work as a reset but 2 hours every night is a firm no. I wouldn’t advocate this for any of my colleagues either and actively encourage limited home working unless choosing to do PPA from home! You also are loosing out on time to just be, to talk to your husband, meet a friend, etc.

Im sure a couple of ‘easy’ meal nights and some morning drop offs being handed over would also benefit your time but ultimately you’re spending 10 hours a week working at home and god knows how many on the weekend. Address that to give you back time for exercise which in turn might make tackling the workload feel more achievable.

Would it be possible to cycle to school? Obviously it depends how far you have to go, but I ride a cargo bike to take my children to school/preschool. The school/preschool run is about 10 miles so between doing this twice a day and cycling to any after school activities (swimming lessons, etc) I get in a good bit of exercise and it is quicker than the car as I can take some cycle paths that let me miss the traffic so it saves me time too. Cycling for transportation is the best lifestyle change I've ever made.

Batch cooking might also help you find some more time for yourself.