Work stress + insomnia

[patagoniamama]

Hi all. New to the site and posting for some advice as I’m struggling.

Im 27 weeks with my first baby and working as a full time teacher with additional leadership responsibilities. My job is so demanding and the commute is at least 1 hour each way (without traffic). I’ve been getting by so far but I’m beginning to struggle with the job entirely.

a couple of weeks ago, I began waking every night at around 4am with a very active baby, restless legs and general insomnia. I was able to get back off to sleep for 6am-ish for the days I was off work (half-term) and those I wasn’t I just went to work off little sleep. I am prone to anxiety and stress related to work because of the demand it brings. Switching off at night isn’t an option due to my workload and I usually work at home 7:30-9:30 Mon-Thurs.

Now I’m back at work this is continuing. I have to wake around 5:45am to get myself to work on time because of the long commute, but this is meaning that I’m averaging around 3-4 hours sleep per night.

im struggling with sleepiness on my commute (driving), keeping up with the demands of the job during the day and then switching off at night. I have a supply teacher in my class 1 day per week to release me for management duties, however this has to be completed in house and I also plan the whole day for the supply teacher, which is the expectation at my school.

i have spoken to my headteacher but in all honesty there is very little adjustment that he is willing to make. Im really not sure how to go on over this next half term with this amount of work and this little sleep.

In an ideal world I’d work from home on my additional management duties a couple of days a week and manage the commute in to teach the rest of the week. I just want to know whether others think that this would be an unreasonable request to make.

any advice would be welcome.

I have a similar job (assistant head) and I'm now 40 weeks. I don't however have the long commute, but our alarm goes off at 4:30 for my OHs job in finance.

Knowing schools, I think it's highly unlikely they're say yes to this. I would perhaps go in with the suggestion that you come in later in the day, perhaps 9:30am which could help a little. If it helps, the insomnia may not last and will probably just be a phase in this part of your pregnancy. If you're struggling now though, I would prepare to take mat leave early because it gets much harder when you really grow from 34 weeks onwards. Sometimes even earlier depending on the aches and pains you get...

Just be super upfront with your manager and lay your cards on the table - schools also do need to be careful about managing welfare of staff these days so you never know...