Endless endless jobs

[HTruffle]

Does anyone feel swamped by the absolutely endless list of jobs to do? I don’t even mean the big things like work, for example, although they take up a lot of time obviously. What I mean is the absolutely non stop mental list of small and medium things that need doing ON A NON STOP CONSTANT BASIS?

So to illustrate my point today I’ve done the dishwasher, some admin on the computer, ordered Christmas presents, gone to work, done two school runs and one extra child pick up, made tea, packed lunches, cleaned the kitchen for the 8 millionth time this month, helped elderly relative with a house issue, flossed teeth because we SHOULD ETC, picked up bits of crap off the floor, answered hundreds upon hundreds of kids’ questions, a bedtime routine for two kids, washed school shirts, ordered a new diary and probably 4973 other jobs which just have to get done.

is this just how it is!? When on earth is the time for anything else?!?

I'm with you. Life has got a lot busier. And we have less free time. My parents will occasionally remark on something that needs doing in the garden or the house and they just don't get how little time we have. My dad worked hard but locally so had no commute. My mum gave up work when she had a baby and never went back. So out of a week as a couple they spent five days at work and between them had nine days free for everything else. In contrast we both commute when not wfh so have longer work days and both work full time so as a couple we work ten days and have four for everything else.

Plus there's loads more expected now - more school events than I had, kids clubs, evening work events, etc. It's never ending!

yes even though my mum worked, she taught and it was completely different to the workload of teachers now. DH dad had a similar job to him and DMIL stayed at home and they do say they have no idea how we manage. Although this post has made me grateful how much they “get” the load and are really lovely and supportive.
my grandparents looked after me at times and did housework while mum was working but I’d never feel comfortable with that so maybe I’m making a rod for my own back!
next year is my year of not taking on any more bullshit stuff - I’ll let you know if it makes a difference!

I think it depends. I do 'a man's job' and somebody on here commented the other day that if I'm working 50hr weeks I'm presumably not doing this month in and out. In reality, 50 hours are my contracted basic hours (7-5) and I often do between 50-60 once you include overtime.

It's 99% men where I work and my average day is like doing an eight hour office job and then 2-3 hours of housework on top - except the housework still needs done after that. Most of my female friends work 37.5 hrs a week or part time.

50 hours are my contracted basic hours

What kind of job has those kind of contracted hours? Are you in the UK?

I'm in construction on the aggregates side. Mainly providing concrete to large civil builds like HS2 and residential/university builds. Tower blocks etc.

50 hours is on the low end for most truck drivers and is pretty standard for construction guys - groundworkers, piling companies, etc. Although some do eight hours and some do 12.

12 hour shifts are common in a lot of industries. I know HGV mechanics and security guards that work these type of shifts, for example. Concrete drivers are notorious for long hours. I saw an American documentary and the guy was doing 75 hour weeks, which admittedly doesn't happen much over here. But 13-14 hour shifts are relatively common when things go wrong.

I started work at 7am today and it was at least 20:30 by the time I left the plant. I made about £300 though and spent most of the day twiddling my thumbs waiting on suppliers so I didn't really mind - nothing really happened until after lunch. Even managed to get a cheeky hour's nap in.

Here's a couple of the first threads that popped up when I typed 'construction jobs 50 hrs'. Some are discussing Aus/US but the situation is pretty much the same over here. Should give an insight into the industry.

https://www.reddit.com/r/civilengineering/comments/yq6t7w/50_hour_work_weeks/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Construction/comments/o2itms/4550_hour_work_weeks_how_do_you_do_it/

Yep house is a complete shit tip with stuff everywhere. Completely overwhelmed. Mental and physical health is going down the drain.

I feel completely overwhelmed every day, and deeply fed up as the to do lists for life admin and at work are not reducing.

i really struggle to even begin, and when I do, even if I tick one or two items off my list then I find it so hard to keep on going and will instead do other things as I find the list overbearing.

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I'm also selling a house atm. It's just so exhausting 🫠.

I just feel like it’s a constant battle with companies taking money, billing me or fines I shouldn’t receive and the constant emailing, getting proof together and trying to add it into the email only for them to turn round and say I still owe it.

Fined for not doing my tax return by 30th January. Except I did do my tax return and had conformation I had done it and it had been received

Only issue was they didn’t tell me they had fined me till I received a letter telling me I had been taken to court and because I didn’t attend then the court found in favour of the other party. Took me several phone callls to find out who had taken me to court. Then pay the courts to stop a court court judgement on my credit file. Then having to send proof to HMRC to get my £250 back. Still had to pay for solicitor (£125) because I should have told them I didn’t need to be taken to court.
They assured me they had written to me but I never received the letter

Then there is Ovo who can’t seem to read

Asked why my closing balance on my statement of eg £150 on 4th November statement changed to £456 as the brought forward figure on the following months statement

Replied with the £678 was adjusted in June 2023 and that they keep telling me this

Please make it make sense

@Yalta I feel your pain - currently battling with HMRC about a late VAT payment. I accepted it was late but there was no warning of the penalty - there is supposed to be a letter with notice ahead of the penalty being applied. They sent a letter but a week had elapsed before it actually arrived, presumably because the postal service is so dire... endless VAT returns and self assessment stuff is the worst thing about being self-employed, it's a constant struggle even with an accountant!!
I feel like the constant struggle to juggle everything is getting worse and has really peaked this year - I think the cost of living is really having an impact as I am also spending more time trying to find good deals, shop around, negotiate with insurers, phone companies etc etc etc. and it's never-ending and very time-consuming.
@SprinkleOfSunak
i really struggle to even begin, and when I do, even if I tick one or two items off my list then I find it so hard to keep on going and will instead do other things as I find the list overbearing.
Yes, this totally, I am the same! I start each week with a list of to-do jobs and never get through them all, there is always a back log.
I work part time but have a very demanding toddler and can't get much done when he is around - I'm looking to go full time next year as at least that means a bit more money if even less time!!!

AuraBora

I find that you can’t make a mistake or forget anything otherwise it will cost you 3 or 4 figures at least

Yes. I agree that the cost of living has impacted the list considerably. It’s no longer ok to pop and get a quick shop from Morrisons when I could make the effort and go to aldi because it might be £20 wasted.

On top of the to do list of course is 2-3,000 questions a day from my lovely children which, while lovely and fun, makes me feel like I’m in some sort of never ending endurance test of how much I can do while having general knowledge questions fired at me. Unfortunately, there appears to be no prize for getting them right!!