Need motivation!

[Whatisthisarghhh]

This is a bit of a self indulgent post sorry. I work 4 days a week for a NFP type organisation. My role is relatively interesting, a bit stressful at times but a lot of that is due to how I manage my workload and my lack of organisation/motivation and tendency to procrastinate. I am in a middle management type role on approx £42K FTE. My work is flexible, I can mostly work form home and manage my own workload and my manager and team are mostly pleasant to work with. The problem is that I was promoted back in Oct 2020 and have kind of burnt out over the last year, having worked full time to keep up with work load. My motivation is now very low and I find it hard to focus on my work, especially working from home. It feels like there is always something to do - the house is a mess, we aren't eating well, kids are 7 and 10 and need support/ferrying to activities etc. I feel like I am lucky - flexible role that works with kids, part-time, good wage, interesting work- but just cant get my shit together to make it work. DH works fulltime in a busy role and does pull his weight but he earns over double what I do and is more senior so tends to do longer hours / travel etc.
Not really sure what I am asking ? Maybe some ideas on how to motivate myself/ manage my work hours/ get to a point where I can make the most of a day a week to myself and being able to work flexibly.

I've WFH for most of my career. It's so sooo easy to get distracted by house stuff.

The things that work are:

• Daily To Do loads (I just create a tick-off list in the Notes app);

• A weekly housework routine (like Flylady or Organised Mum, where you do specify tasks on specific days; stops you doing all or nothing, or feeling overwhelmed);

• Slow cooker dinners. Bang it on in the morning, feel like a superhero at dinner time;

• Writing tomorrow's To Do list at the end of each working day;

• REWARDS. You don't get as much recognition or feedback when you WFH so you HAVE to give it to yourself or you'll get disheartened. So praise, reward and compliment YOURSELF every time you do stuff well.

I could have written your post. I am so demotivated. I work for a great company, flexible working at home, earn lots and can still pop out to do the school run, go to the gym when I want.
But I'm burnt out. Can't summon the energy or enthusiasm for it. I wonder sometimes if it's the menopause but it's easy to blame everything on that. I think I've just been working too long and need a break.

If you are spending 20% of your day on home stuff, you probably need to work 5 days to make up your workload of 80% FTE.

Rather than giving yourself a hard time that you should be more productive and also somehow more relaxed, either stop doing home stuff on work days (maybe not an option) or make a positive choice that you spread your 80% over 5 days and don't beat yourself up about it.

If you see it as 80% over 5 days you need not feel guilty taking time out for the kids each day, or not having a work-free clear day on the Friday. You could even just decide to strictly work school hours.

I have a very busy job and a lot of your challenges.
I plan my day to the half hour. Every 30 mins is planned out (takes 5 minutes). With flexibility if my team need me/emergency stuff pops up.
Don’t check your emails more than twice a day so you can concentrate on other work. I found I was wasting so much time answering emails that could have waited.
It’s honestly helped SO much with motivation and organisation. I read it in a self help book but can’t remember which one.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions, they are all really helpful.
@AlbertBridge I think you are spot on about the rewards! I will come off a difficult phone call and if I was in the office, others would have overheard it and said 'that sounded tough' etc and we would have had a chat but you don't get any of that at home! Love all of your ideas and I think the weekly housework routine is very much needed. As is writing the next day's to-do list - this is where I come unstuck at the moment as I sit down post school run and feel so knackered already and overwhelmed by my work that I end up on FB, Mumsnet or Daily Mail!! I really need that distinction between work and home life as at the moment I feel like I am doing a crap job of both when really neither should be that difficult in reality. I listen to other people complain about their jobs, kids, partners etc and quietly think 'I'm so lucky' but I definitely feel like I am not making the most of it!

@Snakeplisskensmum I'm not quite menopausal yet but definitely feel demotivated and like I need a break. I've put on over a stone since beginning of 2020 which is not helping my over all health. I keep thinking that mostly working from home now I should be making the most of the flexibility and being able to exercise in my breaks etc but that just isn't happening. Not sure what sort of kick up the bum I need!

I've had a chat with DH and we've agreed we are going to spend an hour each evening and all weekend over the next 2 weeks decluttering and organising the house. I feel like it is the root of all evil as it constantly hangs over me and I feel that it affects work, kids, school, ability to switch off an relax, social life...

@MotherOfCrocodiles think you are spot on with regards to spreading my working week over 5 days, at least for the time being. In my head I think that I am best off having 1 day a week where I dont have to work at all but in reality that doesnt happen but I still spend my week feeling guilty for logging off early to collect kids etc. I'm also going to try logging on at 6:30am a few days a week to catch up on things. With the aim of getting my work load to a point where I can actually have my non working day at least once a month.

@Campfirewood I like the half hour slots and in fact you've reminded me that I tried this a few months ago (for about 2 days!) and it really helped focus me so I think I should try it again. I think I just have to tackle several tasks that I really dont want to do but keep in mind how much better I will feel once they are done. I'm the absolute queen of procrastination!

I haven’t got much advice to offer but the slow cooker meals (as another poster has suggested) sound a brilliant idea as I know you feel the children aren’t eating healthily. Pasta and sauce is quick and easy but not too unhealthy (I don’t think 😃).

Once you get the house organised, would you consider a cleaner /housekeeper? Can the childrens’ activities be reduced slightly? Can you spare a couple of hours each week for self care - doing something for you? Whatever “floats your boat”.

I must admit I, without fail, have to walk at lunchtime, even if it’s just for half an hour, as I’m working from home and I desperately need to JUST MOVE 😁

Best wishes