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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think there is no way out of this loop?

9 replies

Anxiousabouteverything · 01/05/2025 08:49

Shamelessly posting here for traffic. I have also name changed to avoid outing myself!
I am mid 40s, I have 4 children, 2 adults in their mid/late 20s and 2 teens. My eldest and the teens live at home. DH also at home. My 2nd child lives and works abroad near to my family and in the area I grew up.
I was born in England, moved away with family as a child and moved back when I met my DH.
I work full time and over the last couple of years my salary has increased from around £35000 a year to around £65000. This has involved a couple of large promotions and a lot of hard work.
Despite this I seem to be in more debt than ever. One of my close family members abroad died suddenly about a year ago. Without going into any details that could be outing, as a result of that I was left with some hefty bills to cover and needed to take out a loan to help me. At around the same time, we were going on a big holiday that had been booked and paid for but spending money was still needed, hence the lack of disposable cash.
I also love the company I work for but the level of responsibility and work load are crippling, however I now can't afford to take a step down.
I feel like I'm stuck in this never ending loop. Wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed. No social activities and nothing to look forward to. I have no friends, although I am relatively close with some work colleagues.
I am constantly disappointed in myself that despite my apparent 'success' I'm not actually succeeding at anything.
I have no focus for anything. As well as family life, I manage a large group of staff. I know how hard it can be to work with a bad manager so I try to be available, I listen to their work and homelife concerns, I message when their kids are sick, I check in when they have a big life event. I remember anniversaries (both the good and bad) and birthdays. I try to be present for everyone at work and at home.
I know what I need to do to make myself feel better, eat well, selfcare, exercise, fresh air. But when I do get 5 mins I am so exhausted that I can't bring myself to even contemplate any of that.
My house is a mess and needs some significant time and effort to get it looking like anywhere near acceptable. My DH does help, he's not a bad person or anything. But I have been told many times by colleagues and family that I'm a bit of a control freak and I do tend to micromanage everything, which I recognise can be exhausting for the people I live with, as well as for me! I sometimes think, if I had a couple of weeks out of work, I could at least get the house under control but all my annual leave is tied to school holidays at the moment. I would feel too guilty to take any time off when the kids are in school and also worry that I would waste the time procrastinating and doom scrolling.
If I could start to clear debt, I could consider a pay cut and a step down but at this moment in time I can't see a way out. Does this ever end? Do others feel like this? Has anyone else pulled themselves out of this type of situation and what advice can you give?
I see ads for apps on social media and I always think, what if that's the one that will fix me?!
I'm sorry, this has turned into a very long post about nothing really. I'm just so overwhelmed with everything and I just can't seem to get my head straight.

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 01/05/2025 09:04

I think it sounds the typical life for a working mother to be honest. Not that that makes it right. Last year I took a week and went on holiday my myself. It was just what I needed. Highly recommended

ToKittyornottoKitty · 01/05/2025 09:05

Firstly, your youngest kids are teenagers, so your annual leave doesn’t NEED to be tied to school holidays. Even if you just took a week for yourself it’s better than nothing.

How much debt is there? Is the interest high? You mention your husband as if he’s a dependant really, are your finances totally separate? Does your oldest contribute around the house and financially?

andtheworldrollson · 01/05/2025 09:16

HRT?

toomuchfaff · 01/05/2025 09:20

So sorry youre overwhelmed. In order for life not to be a toil, you need to drop some stuff, stuff that's not important, stuff that others can pick up. And you need to do it now. You manage everything, that's exhausting, unsustainable and is probably why your feeling stuck in a loop. You don't need time off to do more stuff, you need to start to make some "achievements" vs becoming stuck in the loop.

I am constantly disappointed in myself
This is making you more depressed and makes life feel worthless. Stop yourself everytime you start to do it. Give the voice a name - "We are not doing that today Sharon" and stop it. Visualise a big red stop sign, everytime you hear the voice and stop it. It's hard at first and the voice may start within minutes but keep STOPPING it... its important.

Procrastinating and doom scrolling - see it, recognise it and STOP. You pick your phone up, you get a bag, you put it in the bag, in another, in another, then into a kitchen cupboard. I throw my phone onto a chair furthest from where I am, so I don't Procrastinate now. You can do it, it's hard at first, but you know when you pick up the phone - say to yourself No, visualise a big stop sign NO. Then go make a brew and decide what's next? You're going to decide one task to do, that will make you happier and go do it (small task). Instead of doom scrolling - I'm going to go write that note I needed to do.

Daily - Start to make a list of what is absolute top priority 3 things today and drop the ball on all the other stuff. Those 3 things (start small!!!), after each you OUT LOUD, VERBALLY to yourself, yay, I did it, I did task one today, today is going to be a good day! look at the blue sky, look at the flowers, look at the pooch (you're creating a dopamine hit by doing this). Tasks need to be small, don't dismissing them. Make a list:
1 - make the bed
2 - Tidy up the pots from making a brew and breakfast
3 - Sort one kitchen cupboard (small activity).

Everything else today it doesn't matter, it can wait, if extra gets done that's a bonus, but those are the 3 things I'm aiming to achieve today.

You may want to get the support of family, tell them you're overwhelmed, you're not managing all of "this" and you need their help and support. Sounds like you have potentially 3 adults in the home, but it sounds like you do mostly everything? That isnt good, youre creating monsters who will need someone to manage their life. Look at how the house tasks are split and make some changes that so others are responsible for things and its not all on you.

In wider life, list everything that needs to be done, give it a priority, and a timeline - kitchen refurbishment- priority 10, timeline 2 yrs. more importantly when you look around, don't fall into the "look at the state of this place such a mess, it's disgusting, how can you live in this place, you're. amess, you...." This is where you need that stop sign above. STOP ✋️ identify the activity thats making "Sharon" have a go at you, write it down (so its not forgotten and come back to give it a priority later. Then forget it. Don't tackle it then, that's diversionary. Write it down, leave it.

Am thinking you definitely need to start working on your micromanaging tendencies. No one likes to be micromanaged, it's not good for you or anyone around you.

Maybe should start looking into Mel Robbins - Let Them theory, understanding what is within your realm of control and what is outside it, and letting go of the stuff that will inevitably be causing you stress.

Hope this helps (been there, this stuff helped me, it wasn't easy, it wasn't quick, it takes time and effort to do it but now it's automatic)

Skirtless · 01/05/2025 09:33

You don’t need to step down. You need to stop mammying your reports. You’re their manager not their best friend. Just make sure they do their jobs with reasonable efficiency in a reasonably friendly, collegial atmosphere. That’s the end of your responsibility. Their home lives, children’s illnesses, anniversaries etc are not your concern. You are choosing to think that a colleague’s child’s hand, foot and mouth is more important than your own mental and physical health, and you’re over-involved in their lives because you’ve chosen to put your job above making and maintaining fruendships. Respectfully, this is mad. You are eating yourself alive by maximalising your role. Ditto with the school holidays. Your youngest children are teenagers. Take leave whenever suits you. Do fuck all for a fortnight if that’s what suits you.

The key to all this is developing better boundaries, and letting other people take responsibility for themselves. You would really benefit from therapy.

Anxiousabouteverything · 01/05/2025 11:08

ToKittyornottoKitty · 01/05/2025 09:05

Firstly, your youngest kids are teenagers, so your annual leave doesn’t NEED to be tied to school holidays. Even if you just took a week for yourself it’s better than nothing.

How much debt is there? Is the interest high? You mention your husband as if he’s a dependant really, are your finances totally separate? Does your oldest contribute around the house and financially?

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I guess I do see DH has a dependant sometimes, rightly or wrongly!
We have always had separate finances, he earns about half what I do so I also take on the bulk of the bills and anything the kids want/need (within reason). I paid for the big holiday last year and took on the bills for my family member passing myself as I didn't feel this was something he should obliged to get involved with.
My eldest doesn't contribute financially but he has supported in other ways over the years, watching the younger ones if required or the pets if we go away and he stays home. He's pretty self reliant though as you would hope for someone his age, does his own washing, cooks his own food, buys his own food etc and he never asks me for anything. He's a good kid so I'm happy for him to stay home and save for now.

OP posts:
Profhilodisaster · 01/05/2025 11:15

Sorting out the house is easy ,divvy out jobs to your husband and kids and it'll be done in no time, don't micromanage them ! Even if they don't do it to your standard, it will be cleaner /tidier.

Anxiousabouteverything · 01/05/2025 11:24

toomuchfaff · 01/05/2025 09:20

So sorry youre overwhelmed. In order for life not to be a toil, you need to drop some stuff, stuff that's not important, stuff that others can pick up. And you need to do it now. You manage everything, that's exhausting, unsustainable and is probably why your feeling stuck in a loop. You don't need time off to do more stuff, you need to start to make some "achievements" vs becoming stuck in the loop.

I am constantly disappointed in myself
This is making you more depressed and makes life feel worthless. Stop yourself everytime you start to do it. Give the voice a name - "We are not doing that today Sharon" and stop it. Visualise a big red stop sign, everytime you hear the voice and stop it. It's hard at first and the voice may start within minutes but keep STOPPING it... its important.

Procrastinating and doom scrolling - see it, recognise it and STOP. You pick your phone up, you get a bag, you put it in the bag, in another, in another, then into a kitchen cupboard. I throw my phone onto a chair furthest from where I am, so I don't Procrastinate now. You can do it, it's hard at first, but you know when you pick up the phone - say to yourself No, visualise a big stop sign NO. Then go make a brew and decide what's next? You're going to decide one task to do, that will make you happier and go do it (small task). Instead of doom scrolling - I'm going to go write that note I needed to do.

Daily - Start to make a list of what is absolute top priority 3 things today and drop the ball on all the other stuff. Those 3 things (start small!!!), after each you OUT LOUD, VERBALLY to yourself, yay, I did it, I did task one today, today is going to be a good day! look at the blue sky, look at the flowers, look at the pooch (you're creating a dopamine hit by doing this). Tasks need to be small, don't dismissing them. Make a list:
1 - make the bed
2 - Tidy up the pots from making a brew and breakfast
3 - Sort one kitchen cupboard (small activity).

Everything else today it doesn't matter, it can wait, if extra gets done that's a bonus, but those are the 3 things I'm aiming to achieve today.

You may want to get the support of family, tell them you're overwhelmed, you're not managing all of "this" and you need their help and support. Sounds like you have potentially 3 adults in the home, but it sounds like you do mostly everything? That isnt good, youre creating monsters who will need someone to manage their life. Look at how the house tasks are split and make some changes that so others are responsible for things and its not all on you.

In wider life, list everything that needs to be done, give it a priority, and a timeline - kitchen refurbishment- priority 10, timeline 2 yrs. more importantly when you look around, don't fall into the "look at the state of this place such a mess, it's disgusting, how can you live in this place, you're. amess, you...." This is where you need that stop sign above. STOP ✋️ identify the activity thats making "Sharon" have a go at you, write it down (so its not forgotten and come back to give it a priority later. Then forget it. Don't tackle it then, that's diversionary. Write it down, leave it.

Am thinking you definitely need to start working on your micromanaging tendencies. No one likes to be micromanaged, it's not good for you or anyone around you.

Maybe should start looking into Mel Robbins - Let Them theory, understanding what is within your realm of control and what is outside it, and letting go of the stuff that will inevitably be causing you stress.

Hope this helps (been there, this stuff helped me, it wasn't easy, it wasn't quick, it takes time and effort to do it but now it's automatic)

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this response. It is really helpful and I know I definitely need to start making changes. I have definitely recognised the need to change everything! My youngest is incredibly helpful, they will do lots of jobs for the house without being asked such as washing up, laundry etc
But I do need to stop micromanaging everyone and everything!

OP posts:
Anxiousabouteverything · 01/05/2025 11:26

Skirtless · 01/05/2025 09:33

You don’t need to step down. You need to stop mammying your reports. You’re their manager not their best friend. Just make sure they do their jobs with reasonable efficiency in a reasonably friendly, collegial atmosphere. That’s the end of your responsibility. Their home lives, children’s illnesses, anniversaries etc are not your concern. You are choosing to think that a colleague’s child’s hand, foot and mouth is more important than your own mental and physical health, and you’re over-involved in their lives because you’ve chosen to put your job above making and maintaining fruendships. Respectfully, this is mad. You are eating yourself alive by maximalising your role. Ditto with the school holidays. Your youngest children are teenagers. Take leave whenever suits you. Do fuck all for a fortnight if that’s what suits you.

The key to all this is developing better boundaries, and letting other people take responsibility for themselves. You would really benefit from therapy.

I know this, of course I do. I think the difficulty I find is that I've been with the company for a long time and worked my up. Only a couple of years ago, these were my colleagues and friends, now I'm their manager. The change in relationship has been one of the hardest things to manage.

OP posts:
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