Posting because I was drowning this time last year and got some fantastic tips which kept me going for a year....
...but once again I feel like I'm drowning...
I work 9-2..DC has SEN and finishes at 2 so its straight from finishing work to pick up, taking him to appointments/therapies, then making dinner, clearing up, a bit of other housework, a bit of time for homework and play and the wind down to bed.
If things are going okay I can usually manage to wake up at 5 or 6 and do a bit of exercise and journalling before DC wakes up. The rest of the day is very on the go and there aren't really enough hours in the day to do what I need to do. By the time my husband comes home to tag me out I can sometimes manage a walk or something reading, or cleaning to a podcast etc.
It's only just manageable... until something pulls my health down. This happens once a month leading up to and during my period, so then I can't wake up early, can't concentrate well at work, and also feel knackered in the evening. The loss of time to myself makes me feel like I am drowning. It also happens when I'm ill (as I am now) or if my DC has a restless night due to illness. I start resenting that we are living a life that can't accommodate something I go through monthly or mild illnesses. I hate taking time off sick because if I take days off sick every month for my period AND every time i am ill with other things I feel my employer would hate me. Equally though, if I don't take care of myself I end up in a vicious cycle where I get worse and worse.
Does anyone have any tips on how I can better manage my time to accommodate?
I can't get more help as my parents already help a lot around afternoon work meetings and appointments. My DC doesn't cope well with having too many different caregivers, he needs respite and home comforts after school, so a part time nanny /after school care wouldn't help. I can't take contraception to stop my periods for medical reasons so am stuck with them affecting me as they do; natural remedies take the edge off, but not enough for me to feel as energetic as I do the rest of the month...
...the only thing I can ever think of is to stop working...which is a financial hit I could cope with for a year or two for respite, but am worried I'd never find a role with these hours again....and last time I said that on MN I received lots of really helpful ideas to keep me afloat so hoping that'll happen again!