How do you manage housework and child?

[Bluela18]

I feel overwhelmed with housework and things to do. I used to work and study full time but I got so stressed with everything, to the point I was having nightmares and walking in my sleep, but trapped in a nightmare sleepwalk. I couldn't keep up. Now things with work are more balanced, but I struggle so much with my to do list. I try to have a room a day to sort but I feel there is just so much to sort and do. It's task after task. Call after call for different appointments and other things. Then I think I can finally sit down to relax for 10 mins but I remember I need to phone however many people to sort this and oh I forgot this and that. Constantly caught in a battle with housework and things to do. I can never have me time or do anything. I have a small child too , I do my best with but I always feel I'm thinking OK play time , then watching the clock and getting stressed about my next task. This isn't normal or is there some advice to manange things more?

We got a cleaner to come every other week. It gives us a good base level of cleanliness and keeps us tidier too.

@Bluela18
It sounds as if you need to talk to your GP about anxiety or get some support from another source. If your work involves deadlines or dealing with difficult people, does your employer offer any mental health support? Or even if it doesn't, does your employer offer MH support?

Unless your house is a hoarder style tip, there's surely not that much work to get done in it? And unless you are managing a gut job of the house and a kitchen extension project, how many calls and other admin tasks are there to get checked off?

I know you may feel this is just one more bloody thing to get done, but could you find the time to write a list of exactly the tasks you feel must get done in the house - tidying, washing, folding, ironing, putting away, dusting, hoovering, sorting, throwing away, buying, cooking, etc. Everything you can think of. Then try to recall how long it takes to do all of that, put the number of minutes beside the task, and multiply by the number of times you do it every week. For example, 30 mins emptying and loading the dishwasher X 6 or 7, 60 minutes sorting, folding, ironing, putting away laundry X 3. You'll get a better idea of how long you actually spend running after your own tail, and maybe see where you can cut back.

Housework and the care of small children have a lot of sheer drudgery attached to it. It seems to never end, like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. It's normal to get frustrated and feel there's no time for you, but to become so jumpy and frantic and overwhelmed (as your OP comes across) indicates you may need some support. Don't be afraid to reach out for it.