Struggling to cope with job

[NeedaplanNeedtogo]

I'm 50, a single mum of 2 DD aged 9 and 13, their fathers not in the picture from day one. Been separated from their stepfather for over a year and divorce almost finalised. The relationship was not a good one from day one really (as my old username suggests) and lasted 7 years.
I moved over 300 miles 5 years ago mainly to suit my ex and have been isolated and fed up in this semi rural insular place but my kids are settled and like it.

My mental and physical health are not dire but equally not great. I have chronic issues and take daily meds for low thyroid, HRT, Sertraline and now iron and vit b12 as just exhausted and struggling with low mood and incessant periods. Not having any money didn't help and struggling on benefits.

I've not worked much since having dc mainly due to lack of opportunity and support and also poor mental health. In the last 2 years I've started learning to drive and level 3 counselling.

I reconnected with an old friend who recommended me for a FT 37 hrs WFH remote customer service job and I was delighted and felt it was the answer to my work problems.

The reality has been very difficult for me. I have been nervous on the phone and felt completely incompetent often, made silly mistakes like forgetting to read scripting, needing to put people on hold a lot. Struggling with being sat down for hours in ready with only 10 mins break. My back has all but seized up. Struggling to get my youngest out early for breakfast club and not being there to pick her up, she walks now with her sister as I can't get finished on time to collect her.

I don't get finished on time as calls will come near finish time and we have to answer them and my kids are not getting fed til 7 or 8 regularly.

I have to visit the office once per month (over 4 hrs away by train) and the company put me up in a hotel. I need to rely on ex for overnight childcare which I know he won't do long term as he is unhappy that I do not want to reconcile (secret alcoholic and used sex workers) I have no family or friends I can call on.

Any ideas to help me sustain this job?
I do feel better about myself being in work and the extra money has of course been wonderful but I'm too exhausted to do anything when I'm finished or at weekends.

I'm aware that my age and lack of work experience all goes against me for trying to find something else.

Just finding it all a bit much though!

Thanks to anyone who read all this!

Really great to hear your update OP.
I hope you take from it that you're clearly a valued employee and an asset to them, and that you gain some confidence from that.
Well done!

Well done! Also go to dr and get iron supplements if you can. Everything feels. Or overwhelming when you're anaemic

Thanks so much everyone I feel a lot better about everything, such a boost. I will ask the GP about getting more iron tablets for sure, I'm still feeling very tired.

You are working at home, Your hours are standard. You get an hour for lunch and 2 x 10 minute breaks. You should finish soon after 5pm. Why feeding kids at 8pm? That's unnecessary. You can prep a meal at lunchtime. Or batch cook. I batch cook chilli, bolognese for spag Bol, meatballs for spaghetti and meatballs, lasagne, curry, marinated chicken kebabs. Plus fajitas, pulled pork, jacket potatoes can be ready to eat within the hour, so you should be able to eat by 6pm.

Unfortunately the type of work it is means I rarely finish on time. If I am scheduled to finish at 5pm and get a call at 4.59pm have to take it and see it through to its conclusion. Most of our calls are at least 30 mins long, usually much longer as they involve lots of fact finding and form filling, plus a fair bit of admin afterwards. This is why the kids were often not eating til later.

Yes I plan to batch cook now, it's a good idea, but finishing earlier is an even better solution that I am glad I can now have.

Definitely sounds like a good idea to cut down work hours so you can continue with your studies if you can afford it.

Firstly the company should allow longer / more breaks. Its not in their interests to have you go off sick or end up with serious back problems.

I have friends who do a similar job and they've all ended up needing to have a significant number of days off for back problems. And then work say ' you must take regular breaks, move around '

Secondly, does it matter if you need to put people on hold.? Especially while you don't have much experience.