Apply for a new job?

[Smilingbuttired]

Just looking for a bit of advice!

I started my job over a year ago, its in a school within the senior admin team. At the time I was taken on I was told that I could be part time and work around my children ( i have since found out the previous girl to me left abruptly so it seems they were in a hurry to replace so agreed to anything!) There was no handover so i have had to learn everything as ive gone on which has been difficult as nobody else does what i do. The last year has really been the most stressful I have ever had work wise, this job should be a full time role, there are simply not enough hours for me to do everything that gets thrown at me. I have a variety of different roles but I am the only one who does them and every single day there are multiple tasks thrown my way in addition to my own work,i have worked from home in the evenings and weekends to catch up but i just feel like i am drowning. I am a single mum of 2 so full time would not be an option although i have increased my hours now to 32 a week. Another job in a nearby school has become available which would be step down career wise and a little less money but I am really considering it for a more peaceful life.

I think what i need to know is has anyone ever done similar, changing their job for one less stressful to help them mentally and do they regret it if so?

The easy thing is to get a new job.

The harder thing would be to set expectations of your capacity within your current role and only work to your hours.

So when someone throws something your way - "with my current workload, I estimate getting this completed by Mid October" (or whenever -but realistic), when they gaspand say they need it today, you follow up with " i do not have the capacity to take on this task, unless you want to de-prioritise some of the other also critical activities, im currently working XYZ, then I can get this done sooner.

Your manager makes the call on what you prioritise. You make them aware of your capacity and the current asks of you. If your role isn't able to be completed in the hours you have available then some tasks need to go elsewhere.

Yes I went from teaching to being a teaching assistant which was a huge drop in pay and responsibility but much less stressed and I was happier.

After a few years I am really bored at work so back at uni retraining.