I'm feeling a lot like the picture above at the moment.
You may have seen me prattle on about my busy life on my #mealplanningmonday posts - which I completely failed at this week. In fact I'm failing at pretty much everything at the moment.
I have no time for Twitter, no time to keep blog updated and I am letting people down left, right and centre and it's stressing me out big time.
As you may know I faced a bit of a rubbish work situation at the start of February. Well nothing has improved. It's changed, but not improved. I now work double the hours, for half the money or thereabouts. It turns out that working from home, flexible hours means pretty much being at the beck and call of everyone else. I'm working more than I ever done and get paid less than I ever have. Doesn't seem right or fair.
Of course I have tried addressing it but I am getting nowhere and the sad thing is I am actually quite enjoying my work at the moment but have no time or energy for anything else in my life at the moment. Once I have dealt with the children and their activities, there's little left for me.
I've never felt so over-worked and under-valued and it's taking a big toll.
Next week I start a very difficult 12 month professional diploma. I'm scared about how much pressure this will put me under.
Something has to give.
I don't know what that is yet.
Please bear with me, I am trying to keep my head above the water and catch up and I realise I have committed various things to various people.
I'm doing my best.
I work from home too and don't get paid what I would if I went out to work (I'm sure) but what I do get is just enough to keep going and enjoy the time away from an office. I know how you feel though. I drop Twitter and the blog quite often, but nobody forces you to do those things. Family and friends are first, then work (to fund fun stuff to do with friends and family) and then social media stuff comes below everything else. If you're trying to juggle too many plates, it doesn't work. Yo're not letting them drop, or break, or fall; you're setting them down for a while. Don't ever think that you're letting anyone or yourself down. Keep doing what you're doing. xxx
ReplyDeleteIf you are employed to work half the hours, then do so. I know it is really hard because I am in a similar situation but once you have worked your allotted hours, put your out of office on and if someone rings you, say no you can't do x, y and z until next week. If they want you to do it there and then, say OK I will but that will mean working fewer hours next week. It's really really hard to say no but it sounds like they are trying to take advantage of you and pay you half what you were paid before for half the money. Explain to work that you are doing some study for your own personal benefit and that you will need to devote time to that to do it the justice to match what it has cost you to enrol.
ReplyDeleteAnd blogwise, do what you can. Other people can host MPM if you need a bit of pressure taking off - either for a period of time or on a rota basis. I'm happy to host on my blog if you want me to.
not much advice I can give as always been clueless with work stuff but just want to send some hugs and I hope things become smoother for you soon! x
ReplyDeleteClueless here too -apart from making lists all the time!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kate about other bloggers hosting MPM for you - and I'm happy to do so!
BNM
I haven't any advice for you just wanted to send some hugs and support...Hope things work out for you soon x
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Kate C - work projects usually have a time frame so you must try to say no and keep HR in the mix so that you're working hours are logged - easier said than done though i'm sure x we your social media companions are glad to hear from you when you can x
ReplyDeleteBig hugs and tonnes of sympathy. The others have given good advice. It will get better at some point. Until then, there's always wine and Ryan Gosling x
ReplyDeleteGood advice from Kate C. Flexi-time means you can get your work done at any time that suits you. It doesn't mean you are on call 24/7. Even if you are working at home, around the family and your studies and even if you do some of your work in your pajamas at 11pm... you could have some set 'office hours' during which you are available and when you answer emails and phone calls. Have an auto-reply, as kate says, and include your office hours.
ReplyDeleteCan we also give you a big hug. We've encountered the same dilemma coming from WAHM's who accomplish microjobs from our site. There is just really a time when things go too overwhelming. We suggest you take a break for a while and just enjoy a day. Soon, you will feel the vibe again and love the idea again of how good it is working from home.
ReplyDelete