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Original poster

Back to work after almost 15 years. Nervous

22 replies

Hamnan84 · 06/04/2022 08:59

Hello everyone !
I have 3 kids and have been sahm for all this time as my husband has a good job and it worked OK for us.
Anyway now they are getting older and bills are going sky high I have decided to return to work. I was really lucky and have landed a work from home job I start next week.
The closer i get to the start date the more nervous i am getting! I have chatted with a couple people who just say everyone's nervous starting a new job and I totally get that. But for me this has been sooooo long ? And I have never worked from home so I'm feeling loads of pressure and anxiety.
While being off work I have suffered with anxiety and some depression so I'm also worried about managing this while working.
Also, how do you just fit stuff in?! I'm doing 9-2 weekdays.
I have been going to the gym for 4 years now and it's been massive for mental health for me so I'm worrying now I won't have time for that either ?!

Just really needed to sound off to people who do understand what it's like to be a mum and all that goes with it and fit work in too. Any tips or advice hugely welcome !!!!

Thankyou 😊

OP posts:
dreammattemousse · 10/04/2022 21:07

Can I ask what job it is?
I'm desperately trying to find a job with those house working from home 🙈

Good luck!

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 11/04/2022 07:25

It's just a local person has set up a business and needs someone working from home on the admin side. So I'm very lucky !! Will see how it goes I'm very nervous

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 13/04/2022 20:47

I've started a new job this week after 16 years as a SAHM. Have only been doing induction things so far but it's been fine. I shall be working 3 days a week and the Easter weekend's making my start rather bitty but everyone's really helpful.

Just ask lots of questions and take it slow. You'll be great.

Movetothebeat · 13/04/2022 22:02

Congratulations on the new job! I’m still a SAHM so I can’t offer any specific advice on juggling work and DC etc.

Can I ask if you have done any other work or volunteering at all? I’ve been a SAHM for 7 years but was more or less told on another thread that recruiters wouldn’t find me a serious contender due to being out of the workforce for so long (and I’m late 40’s so ageism will be kicking in). Finding voluntary work has been so difficult too. Argh!

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 14/04/2022 07:07

I was SAHM for 15 years and done nothing in between no. Well I dabbled in selling Avon and things like that but nothing CV worthy.
I put my CV online and had loads of calls! The only sticking point was the hours they were offering but tbh I haven't found that the time away from work has been negative really?!I was expecting it to be harder!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hamnan84 · 14/04/2022 07:09

@QueenMabby

I've started a new job this week after 16 years as a SAHM. Have only been doing induction things so far but it's been fine. I shall be working 3 days a week and the Easter weekend's making my start rather bitty but everyone's really helpful.

Just ask lots of questions and take it slow. You'll be great.

Ahhh so almost same as me then?!!! How are you finding it? I really enjoyed yesterday! I'm so busy ! But I do like it. Weirdly in the evenings I'm still getting nervous for the next days work even though I'm enjoying it?! How are u finding fitting everything else in life in? Im literally just not stopping...looking forward to a 4 day weekend 🤣🙈
OP posts:
eurochick · 14/04/2022 08:00

Fitting everything in is genuinely hard! We both work full time and it is a problem. Once I had my daughter my evening gym sessions went out of the window and I only got back into fitness during lockdown when I could use my commute time for working out. As you are finishing at 2 can you do something after that and before school pick up?

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 14/04/2022 08:04

@eurochick

Fitting everything in is genuinely hard! We both work full time and it is a problem. Once I had my daughter my evening gym sessions went out of the window and I only got back into fitness during lockdown when I could use my commute time for working out. As you are finishing at 2 can you do something after that and before school pick up?
It's hard isn't it?? I know I'm only a few days in and it's been half term so it's not 'normal' routines just yet. I used to go gym after 9am school run but obviously can't now. I went last night at 6:15 and it was just sooo busy and I was so tired 🙈 when I have been finishing at 2 I have been taking dog for a walk and having a quick clean round. I find my evenings go super fast now ! And I haven't felt this busy in years!
OP posts:
TottersBlankly · 14/04/2022 08:11

Congratulations on your new job, OP!

For anyone thinking of returning to work who isn’t sure what they want to do, you may find the Mature Study and Retraining board, here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

  • helpful, inspirational, stimulating … Countless people pursuing new qualifications after periods as SAHPs or in unsatisfying jobs. All ages, all levels of study and training - access courses, degrees and postgrads, apprenticeships, train driving …
tiredanddangerous · 14/04/2022 08:17

Congrats on the job op - those hours sound ideal!

I had 12 years as a sahm and went back to work full time a couple of years ago. I can still remember how scared I was for the first few weeks!! Finding time for stuff is definitely difficult and there's no way I'd fit the gym in on work days. We got a cleaner which definitely helped - I no longer feel like i spend all week at work and all weekend cleaning the house.

LizzieMacQueen · 14/04/2022 09:06

I'd also add there are several return to work schemes. I'm on a mailing list for one - Women Returners - and the most recent mail was for this - pic attached.

I was successful in an earlier scheme - a large organisation took me on - I'm not there now but it was a great stepping stone to the job I'm in now.

Back to work after almost 15 years. Nervous
QueenMabby · 15/04/2022 08:05

@Hamnan84 - I've only done 2 days so far. I'm working v part time in a large organisation. Working 2 days at home and 1 in the office. Think I'll be in the office a lot at the start while I get up to speed. I'm terrified I'll make a mistake!

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 15/04/2022 09:30

[quote QueenMabby]@Hamnan84 - I've only done 2 days so far. I'm working v part time in a large organisation. Working 2 days at home and 1 in the office. Think I'll be in the office a lot at the start while I get up to speed. I'm terrified I'll make a mistake! [/quote]
That sounds good?do you prefer being at home or office?
I feel exactly the same all week I have just been trying to be confident but inside I'm terrified I'm not doing it right or not good enough etc! It's hard isn't it ! I'm so glad it's a long weekend now🤣🙈

OP posts:
madroid · 15/04/2022 09:37

I think most employers expect some mistakes to begin with I think an interested attitude goes along way. If they see you are making an effort and asking for information then that's a brilliant start.

QueenMabby · 15/04/2022 10:17

Haven't done a working day at home yet so am not sure. Only checked my work phone about 18 times on my non-working day! I don't even have any formal work related jobs yet - just training and set up!
Will only do a day at home once I feel a bit more confident.

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 18/04/2022 12:27

I have the 'Sunday dread' about going back to work tomoro 🙈🙈🙈🙈

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 18/04/2022 12:29

You are going to do brilliantly. Don't be thrown if you have some pretty significant anxiety when you start, but I promise it will pass. Congratulations!

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 20/04/2022 19:20

Aquamarine1029 · 18/04/2022 12:29

You are going to do brilliantly. Don't be thrown if you have some pretty significant anxiety when you start, but I promise it will pass. Congratulations!

Thankyou so much !😍 yes my anxiety has been pretty intense tbh ,it doesn't help that the job is way more in depth than expected. So I'm trying to adjust to it not being what I thought. I had a major crisis of confidence yesterday,it wasn't a great day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hamnan84 · 20/04/2022 19:21

How's it going this week ???x

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 21/04/2022 07:49

Well I produced a document yesterday! Took me longer to work out how to save it on the system than it did to produce! One of the team is going on holiday next week so it'll be in at the deep end at that point! How is your week going @Hamnan84?

Original poster
Hamnan84 · 21/04/2022 20:42

QueenMabby · 21/04/2022 07:49

Well I produced a document yesterday! Took me longer to work out how to save it on the system than it did to produce! One of the team is going on holiday next week so it'll be in at the deep end at that point! How is your week going @Hamnan84?

That's Ace!! Bet you were happy to learn something new?! I had a bit if a meltdown about the whole thing yest tbh as its alot more responsibility than i expected and the lady who is showing me what to do leaves in june so my boss pretty much said her stuff will become my stuff for a bit while they replace her which felt completely overwhelming...today was much better though and I felt I was actually learning.
Roll on the weekend tho 🤣🤣🙈🙈
What hours are you working ????? X

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 22/04/2022 08:09

I'm v v part time but a team member is leaving (also in June) and she's full time so am a bit worried that they'll ask me to increase my hours smack in the middle of my son's GCSEs. Will have to say no!

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