Settling in for the long haul

Dakota_Rose

Despite being the end of the holidays, I feel relaxed and happy today. I really enjoy Sundays. In recent years I’ve learned to appreciate them for what they are and take pleasure in a slower pace and little things like a nice meal and a good book. Gone are the days when I let them be ruined by worries of the week ahead (well as far as I can control it).

We’ve enjoyed a lazy morning with bacon rolls and the youngest two have made chocolate crispy cakes.

A marketplace sale has been collected so that is £10 added to the emergency fund. £995/£1000.
The Vinted sale when it clears will help us to top that up to the £1000, and the £100 of premium bonds will be the start of our first ever longer-term savings pot. This feels right but will likely stay low when we still have home renovations to fund and a car loan/mortgage to overpay.

I’m awaiting my P60 to be able to complete my tax self-assessment for the child benefit payments we have received this tax year. They have been kept completely separate from our monthly money and fed into a regular savings account. My thinking being that even if I have to pay the full amount back (and we shouldn’t), we’d still have a chunk of interest to go towards new uniforms for the kids.

Oh and it will be a no spend day!

Dakota_Rose

Checking in for my own accountability tonight. Back to work and I’m shattered as expected due to the change of pace and amount of mental energy required.

Accounts have been checked. Nothing financial to report, but we may order the last of the shower parts tonight as Mr D has finally settled on a tray and enclosure he’s happy with.

Dakota_Rose

I need to offload so if you have been kind enough to pop in to my diary, here is the rant health warning - please feel free to pop back out again to happier, more productive ground!

Another day done, again too busy to think much about anything other than work.

I’ve only been back two days, but the amount of emotionally charged issues I am dealing with (or at least trying to deal with) right now is hard to manage. I feel anxious and stressed and really unhappy which is just not like me. I already know some of my response to this will be PMT which won’t be helping at all. I can almost time my premenstrual migraine being for the next day or two, but I’m too busy to stop for it which is stressing me out even more.

The pressure of the role feels simply unsustainable at times. The bad days are really bad, with impossible problems to try and resolve. But, it has the most heartwarming up-sides. I know I am good at it, and I know I make a difference. It’s not nice being on the receiving end of highly charged outbursts though. Definitely my least favourite part and the thing I find hardest to deal with. I just wish some people could find it in themselves to be kinder, or lacking that, a bit more respectful. I’m always extremely calm on the outside but I can feel the stress signals flaring inside.

I have taken action to support myself today:

-Ranted to Mr D who is my number one supporter. His advice isn’t always fit for others’ ears though unfortunately! (Always makes me smile though.)

-Ranted to trusted colleagues.

-Ranted on here 😂

-Changed to a light supper instead of dinner to help with the IBS response.

-Had a hot bath with a candle and ‘inner strength’ oil.

-Had a little cry. This is not me at all and how I know that hormones are at play.

-Peppermint tea in hand and a new pyjama top on for bedtime. A little luxury and self care to end the day with.

Think a more accurate diary title would’ve been ‘the woes of a perimenopausal professional’ 😂. If you’ve made it this far, please send vibes for a better day tomorrow my way, or failing that, a virtual wine would suffice.

FootyFanDan

Sorry to read that work is shoving all sorts of emotions and stress your way. I can totally appreciate how having a unsustainable workload can impact both your home life, but also the mental capacity it also takes, but glad to see you can recognise those steps you need to take to relax / be kind to yourself. I find that I question myself so much when work is very tough and like you the bad days are bad.

Sending you positive vibes that tomorrow is a better day…..oh and here…🍾🍷

in_need_of_direction

just bear in mind that you made it through and can still crack a joke or two. Tomorrow you will just build on that success. Take care

ArtyJ931

sending vibes and wine!

honeybee1234

You sound quite centred in having support and doing self care to help with that stress which is great. Your job sounds really stressful so lean in to all of the support (DH sounds great!) and keep at it with the self care in the evenings to look after yourself.

Honeysucklelou2

Sorry to read that you have had a tough time at work. Personally I think these things hit harder after time off, if that makes sense. Hold on to that sentence you wrote…” I know I’m good at it and I know I make a difference.”

Hope the rest of the week goes smoothly.

jwil

Hope your week improves

liselle

Feel for you and do hope things improve soon.

I am in a Voluntary role.My colleague and I adhere to the rules but felt very disheartened this week when it became apparent that we weren’t supported by the Line Manager.She’s new, we’ve both been there for years but are now considering leaving.

That’s one plus for being a volunteer- easy enough to just walk away.Though sad.