Working to live or living to work?

Superbiatch

I work full time, as does OH who tends to work away 3 days per week too. I have a 'no chore' rule at the weekend as I do a 2nd job (ann summers parties) so therefore all the washing, cleaning, shopping online (and delivery) is done on weekday evenings along with sorting deliveries and preparation for weekend parties.

I too like to have a snooze at the weekend, but i make sure i'm up and about by 9.30 to make the most of my time off (i try to only work one night at the weekend). Saturday tends to be our active day where we will visit friends, take a drive out for the day or just head into town for a nice day out (meals, cinema, crazy golf and a few drinks!). Sunday is very much lazing about, making sunday roast or heading out again if we feel like it. It seems as though you have got yourselves stuck in a routine rutt.

Try mixing things up a bit whilst the OH is on his commute home, pop some washing in the machine, throw the hoover around and get tea ready. Its give and take, so his commuting time leaves you some spare time (make the most of it) otherwise you'll end up resenting your working lives in the future.

Superbiatch

happy35 wrote: »

parents could be visited after breakfast and that way you would gain an extra half a day at the weekend

Better still, have breakfast with the parents

VfM4meplse

Bambywamby wrote: »

IMO life is too short to lose 3 hours a day commuting. It's a horrible waste of time and in general makes you tired and cranky.

I couldn't agree more! I used to have a commute of 3.5-4hrs a day, on top of a long work day and I felt during those 2 years that I had NO life whatsoever, didn't appreciate good things and never had a decent night's sleep knowing I would have to be up by 5am every morning. Nor did I feel that I was making the most of weekends either. It more or less ruined my life so I will never work far from home again.

VfM4meplse

Snuggles wrote: »

Me and OH both work full time and we don't have children.

Interestingly, having children forces people to use their time more effectively as spending quality time with the kids is so important.

Caroline_a

I believe that we work so we have a home life, not the other way around. I would look to finding out ways that you can reduce wasted time in travelling for a start. No house/job is worth spending such a high percentage of your day in a car. Remember you only ever borrow your desk for a while, but your family is longterm!

Pee

I have to admit usually we are a bit like you - I leave the house at 8 and could get back for 6.30. My boyfriend has had problems finding enough work recently and I really appreciate the fact that he is doing all the housework - something that is beginning to change as he is getting more work again.

At the weekend I sometimes plan stuff so that we go away or have a day trip and I did reduce my work hours but increased them again due to money worries. Having an extra day off a fortnight worked and wasn't a noticeable reduction in wages, when you consider petrol costs. Sometimes you do have to do stuff or the weekend just goes. Lots of weekends are just spent catching up and sleeping though.

view

I think you'll find a lot of people who feel like this. Some people say 'I feel guilty for wasting a day' but to me, a day relaxing and chilling out with the one you love or simply unstressing yourself is the most furtherest thing from a waste. Just becasue you don't actually do something outside doesn't mean it's a waste. If you feel like you do want to do something, why not plan one Sunday a month where you actually do go out and do something. Make yourselves stick to it for two months - see how you feel after the two mnoths and if you enjoy it, then continue and maybe even add another day a month to do this - but if you don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it.

diable

I don't have a job at the moment so don't have an issue, no cash coming in is an issue though ;o))

Snuggles

JodyBPM wrote: »

As a (part-time) working mum of two children, when I read your post, I actually thought how MUCH free time you seemed to have - every evening plus a whole weekend day to chill - that would be total luxury to me now! But before I had children, and when I was working f/t, we probably had a similar pattern!

Yes, I often think about this. I really cannot comprehend how people manage their time when they have children! We don't plan on having any, which is just as well, because I really couldn't fit them in!!!

bluenose1

I would get a cleaner if you can afford it so at least you can relax at the weekend.
We have one and I love coming home to everything done after an exhausting day at work.

i would also look for work closer to home, if you plan to have children you will find it even harder to cope.