NST June 2025: balance

dizzyblnd

KajiKita said:

dizzyblnd said:

Sneaking back in…

 Need to plan for more balance in my life. The last two weeks have not felt balanced at all. Work has been stressful and some days I have felt like my blood pressure would be high ha ha. I can’t see how to balance work/ life without stress. Any tips? It’s not like work is optional for most and home life jobs just keep piling up. 

Various thoughts in no particular order:

- Why is the job stressful? Are you under skilled or under resourced? Take those to your boss and ask for help - be very clear about what help you think would actually work. 

- If the organisation is just toxic, start planning your escape strategy. Update your CV and LI profile and start reaching out to recruiters. It won’t happen quickly but sometimes just making that decision eases the immediate pressure.
- Can you delegate or get help with some of the home tasks?
- When I was in the crazy job, I started doing ‘bits’ for 10 minutes each morning. It might be a recycling task, a quick wipe down of one thing etc. Or sometimes it was literally standing with the heap of mess and analysing it to understand what it was, how it got there, how much was still needed / relevant and how I could start unpicking it. 

- If some of the home life tasks are admin, I take some into work and make that call and wait on hold whilst eating my lunch. 

- Accept that things are busy atm and not everything will get done that you would normally expect to or like to. Prioritise what must be done. Celebrate if you manage those things - that’s still a big win 😊

- A gratitude practice at the start and end of every day can be very grounding and reminds us of what we really value - might be worth a try. 

Does any of this help at all? I do sympathise - I have sooo been there …

KK

Thank you for all this advice. I appreciate you taking the time to think about my craziness. As a teacher we don’t always have much work/life balance. It’s not a toxic environment, definitely under resourced, not undertrained but the summer term just gets a bit wild. Report writing, wrapping up the year, planning for next year, etc, etc. I will try some of your suggestions though and see if they help over the next 4 weeks. 

Well, I’ve blinked and another 2 weeks have flown by. I have been keeping up with nsds and I think I’m up to 14. I’m catching up on everyone’s posts tonight so hope everyone is well and keeping happy in this unusual hot weather. 

Thrifty_Taylor

The morning was spent doing things for the funeral. Had another visit from DS1's boss, the staff would like to do a guard of honour, as his coffin comes out of the church. She's panicking about the number of people going back for the wake, so I said we'd invite the people we want specifically. All sorted!

Visited the funeral parlour late afternoon, to do paperwork, then took DH to buy some trousers, as the ones he'd planned to wear are navy, not black! Remembered at the last minute that I had a £4 off voucher, so used that.

Spent the evening knitting the arms of my gonk, & giving DS3 pointers on how to alter a suit for his friend. Why do they leave these things til the last minute to do, & late at night?!!

Grateful for staff wanting to honour DS1, the order of service looking good, preparations being well under way

dizzyblnd

I will be thinking of you for the funeral @Thrifty_Taylor

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you @dizzyblnd.

Got an email last night to say something I'd sold & posted on eboy last month hasn't been received. Good timing, eh?! Only threw the proof of posting away last week! Stopped off at the PO in the village & the lady in there is going to investigate. She said I may have to refund the customer, but can make a claim through RM for compensation.

Picked up the cousins, my brother & co followed in their car & we went to the small town where I work. Walked through the main Street to the playpark. The kids had fun despite the rain. Then they skimmed stones on the beach before getting some local ice cream, we all had different flavours. Mine was rhubarb & custard 😋

After dropping them back, I walked up the hill & picked 5 roses off the bush I'd smelt with DS1 on one of our last walks, whilst listening to his playlist for tomorrow.

Took DS3 & the younger pall bearers to see the coffin, before tomorrow. It still doesn't seem real! Guess I've been so busy with family & arrangements, that I've not had time to sit still & just be. Lots of lovely flowers, surprised to see a bouquet from my dad.

Painted my nails after tea & dusted off my shoes. Now we just need dry weather, not too windy & it'll all go fine.

Grateful for people giving lifts to family, a sunny afternoon & finding 5 roses to put with my boy tomorrow.

Once again, thank all of you for your thoughts, messages & support x

Suffolksue

Delurking to say I will be thinking of you tomorrow Thrifty_Taylor ,

You will be doing the Hardest Thing  a parent ever has to do and I, and every other parent who has done it will be walking with you tomorrow 
xxx

KajiKita

Thinking of you today @Thrifty_Taylor x

KK

f0xh0les

With you in spirit holding your hand. 

DawnW

Much love @Thrifty_Taylor

firsview

Delurking to say I will be thinking of you today Thrifty. As Suffolksue so beautifully put it, as a parent who has also been there I will be walking with you too xx

Rowan9

Sending much love thrifty.