How can I possibly work?

[NeedMotivation]

Anyone else with zero work motivation? Im 25 weeks and getting increasingly excited about baby's arrival, wanting to get organised and start buying things. My head isn't in work anymore at all. I feel so bad as I still have a long way to go!

Probably not helped by working from home where after over a year finding motivation is a bit harder anyway, and also the fact I have just come back from holiday, and the nice weather! Work is also quieter at this time of year and I much prefer when it is busier and I can be productive.

How do you all focus and stop getting distracted? Hoping I'm not alone!

Can you use up some annual leave and book 3 or 4 day weeks for the rest of the year until your maternity leave is due to start? I was due late Spring and was encouraged to use up all that year's leave before going on maternity. I also ended up stars l bringing my maternity start date forward (was planning on working until day before), because I had had enough and needed to test and prepare for the baby too.

I had to stop due to HG and SPD.

Totally with you op and due around the same time! Trying not to wish my pregnancy away but also no motivation to work. I had considered using leave to have shorter weeks but trying to save it for more time with baby. I have a few half days booked in which should help.

@HotPotatoHotPotato21 sorry you feel the same but nice to know I'm not alone! Are you also doing office work from home?

I'm trying to get some structure into my day with exercise at lunchtime and 'rewards' for focusing for a block of time but it's still so hard!

I'm also thinking about using up holiday to do 4 day weeks but it feels a bit selfish and like I should save it for actual maternity leave. Urgh, just 3 months to go, we can do it!!

I'm starting mat leave at 33 weeks and it can't come soon enough. Physically I'm still fine but emotionally I'm irritable and can't be arsed with any nonsense anymore. This is the last time I'll ever be pregnant so I might as well treat myself to a few weeks of chilling before the crazy few years ahead.

I'm 40 and had my third last year. Was teaching ft and carried on right up until 38 weeks. The early weeks of pregnancy were actually the hardest as I was so incredibly tired.

But aren't you going to lose time when your baby is here by starting mat leave so early @Definately?

@NeedMotivation yup I'm only 13+4 and feel as you do. I've calculated I have 86 days left to work after my hols etc are accounted for. I can't wait to be off!!

I’m 20 weeks and also starting the countdown.

I’ve set myself a list of things that I want to achieve before my mat leave starts though and that’s helping me to stay motivated.

I was counting down the hours!
I think it’s very normal tbh, as pp physically fine but I just couldn’t be arsed with anyone at work 😂
I think when you know your going to be off for so long with your little baby you just can’t wait to leave! I brought my leave forward by afew weeks and just added my AL on the end!

I’m working from home as of 28 weeks and been given really boring online tasks to do - some of which has already been done by previous staff who have had to isolate etc (but I don’t think they realise that). I’m really struggling to stay motivated at all knowing I’m not going back before maternity leave starts and none of what I’m doing just now will have any relevance to me when I go back after maternity leave. I end up in baby’s room getting his clothes organised and packing my hospital bag (again) 😂 I keep my laptop on just in case anyone phones so I can quickly get on it but my heart is just not in it at all! I’m wondering what the bare minimum I could get away with having done is 😂 I feel like they probably know I won’t care due to this situation anyway but I can’t claim I’ve been busy for another month and have nothing to show for it 🙈

@Horehound

But aren't you going to lose time when your baby is here by starting mat leave so early *@Definately*?

@NeedMotivation yup I'm only 13+4 and feel as you do. I've calculated I have 86 days left to work after my hols etc are accounted for. I can't wait to be off!!

Not really, there's a few factors affecting my decision. I'll have a full years annual leave to take when I go back, I can always take the extra 12 weeks unpaid and there's a possibility my hours will drop while I'm on mat leave so I might only be going back for a couple of days a week anyway. Or I might decide myself to drop a day or two at work. A couple of weeks isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things and by the time the baby is 9 months or so I'll be ready to get a few days a week to myself again. Also I'll be delivering a couple of weeks early because I'm insulin dependent GD, so there's no chance of me getting past 38 weeks, and I want a few weeks to spend with my son who will be starting primary school in September before the baby comes.

Sorry I know you didn't ask for my life story I can see how working up til the due date or near it is a sensible decision for mums who might possibly go weeks overdue and who have no health problems or anything. But for me I need that month to spend with DC1 and also to get organised because I haven't a thing sorted for DC2

This all resonates so much! Physically I am absolutely fine so really have no excuse, but I also get so irritated and frustrated by people's nonsense and company politics I feel so over it!

With DC1 I worked til the end but as I was going to the office it was fine and much less boring. Busier time of year too so it flew by. DC1 was over 2 weeks overdue as well so I know realistically I still have ages and leaving too early won't make sense for me, I need to stick it out.

I also start evryday wondering what is the minimum I can get away with doing... Doesn't help that at this time of year we plan for September onwards and as I won't be there it's hard for me to be interested!

I'm only 14 weeks and struggling...
Insomnia, nausea and SPD already are making it harder but I also have no motivation.
I'm hoping to get to 30 weeks then 5 weeks annual leave then mat leave but it feels a bloody long slog!

@NeedMotivation Are you planning on returning after mat leave?

@Dontknowowt yes definitely I am the main earner so really need this job. It is a good job and a good company so I am very lucky really. I can't let them down, I need to find motivation!

I think its quite hard to get into it as well because the weeks are so broken up with medical appointments (I have 3 in the next week) which take me away from my desk for a couple of hours each time, and bank holidays and some holiday which I took so I I haven't really been in the 'office' for a decent amount of time for a while. So I find myself just doing the minimum untim I am next out of the office. Maybe once I have a full unbroken week it will be a bit better.

I think everyone loses motivation from time to time, perhaps more so when working from home and when pregnant it's natural to be a bit distracted but you have a long way to go so you need to find a way to motivate yourself. Does a to do list help? If you set yourself a list of tasks to get though that day and then stick to it? Be strict about working hours or only using your phone or doing baby shopping (whatever is distracting you) during certain times?

I'm not sure what the answer is but I've found the feeling is usually temporary.

@NeedMotivation I'm currently at home so trying to set myself little tasks throughout the day and tick them off or I wouldn't get much done. I'm not due to go off until 39 weeks as previous baby born 42+1 and I hated having so long off last time with no baby! Were you induced last time? Hopefully nothing serious with your appointments, I'm seeing the midwife every two weeks due to blood flow issues and I find it helps to break the weeks up.
I'm the same and have worked out I have 66 days left in the office which doesn't sound too bad but just sad it's my last pregnancy and I'm wishing it away.

You may be surprised you know. When I went into the third trimester I became a demon for work. It was like the equivalent of the nesting instinct but for full on work goals. I was an events producer at the time and I booked a trip to London, with a full on event, then added on an extra thing which involved getting up before sunrise on the last day and supervising a film crew shooting the sun coming up over a roof - so I was going to drive to London, work three 12 hour days, then get up at 4am on the last day, then drive home! At 37 weeks....

My (lovely) boss found out, put a stop to it (honestly Holdon, if you give birth on a roof at 4am I'll have to do so much paperwork) and I cried my eyes out in the toilet because she thought I was unprofessional!

@NeedMotivation the appointments thing has been my issue this week and I’ve found myself ruling out half a day thinking they know I’m at this appointment but don’t know how long it takes so I’ll just do nothing else all day 😂

Noooo I'm signed out of work on paid leave due to working in a high risk environment and I would much much rather be working! I feel I had more energy when I was working because I was racing around dealing with different situations and talking to so many different people! I get so lethargic hanging around bored at home.

Working from home is a totally different animal though, I think I would rather just be off than sitting in front of a computer by myself all day!

@hotpotatohotpotato21 yes same, DC1 came at 42+1 and that was after being induced. So I could probably work until my due date and still have time before DC2 arrives!
Nothing serious, just happen to have all appointments at the same time (whooping cough, consultant due to having emergency c section last time etc).

I do like appointments too as its nice to do something pregnancy-related but makes me so distracted!

@HoldontoOneMoreDay wow I am tired just reading that! Though I was similar with DC1, organising events until my last day and getting lots done. That's what I need, a project to throw myself into!

@shivawn, enjoy your time off but that must be tough as well. I definitely feel like the less I do the less I feel like doing and it's hard to feel energised!

Just counted how many days I have left and realised I have a lot of holiday left to use so up I think I just have 57 days to go! That's not too bad I suppose :)