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Struggling with full time work
I started working full time a couple of months ago, and I’m really struggling.
The job itself is alright, and the work culture is really good which I’ve discovered can be a bit of a rarity. It also took me so long to get a job in the first place that I am honestly grateful to have one.
It’s not the hours at work I’m struggling with, it’s the lack of time for myself. I’m falling behind in every other aspect of my life. I’m always behind on my cleaning and washing, I don’t have time for my hobbies and I’m definitely not getting enough sleep trying to keep on top of it all.
I’m struggling with working a desk job as well. I’ve been going to the gym to keep active but it really does add to the time pressure.
I’ve started finding that the weekends aren’t helping to reset. I think I might be burnt out.
I’ve heard that it takes 6 months to adjust to full time, so maybe I just need to give it more time. With that said, I’m feeling so run down and stressed at the moment (the other night I started crying because I haven’t been taking enough care of my plants).
And now I’m wondering if I’m just lazy or weak. Other people work full time and manage, why can’t I?
I’m not sure what to do. Going part-time isn’t an option. I’ve been looking for other part-time jobs but, again, job hunting adds to the time problem. And the job market was so rough last time I’m very nervous to leave without having something else lined up.
Also, I don’t have much annual leave accrued yet.
Any advice?
Comments
Hi@Dapper_Alpacca I know Hannah has already said this but I also wanted to say congrats on getting your full time job, and it's awesome that the company culture is good! I think many people can relate to not having enough time to do other things on top of their full time schedule. And to add to that if you have to commute to work it adds more time as well. I also started working more recently and haven't cleaned the house myself for a while, and many of my colleagues complain about not having time to do chores or take care of themselves as well. A bit of a rampant but I guess what I'm trying to say is you're definitely not alone or lazy or weak, and many people really don't manage, they just do fewer things (and oftentimes feel guilty that they don't get as many things done as they want). Is there anyone who can help you do things around the house, or is it an option to reduce how often you do things (like cook your meals in bulk and freeze them so you don't have to cook as much, or clean less often)?
Hey @Dapper_Alpacca, firstly I would just like to say a huge congratulations on getting the job! Job hunts can be extremely draining, so I'm really glad to hear you’ve landed yourself a job with a good work culture. I can understand why you’d be feeling run down and stressed having such a full week of work! I think most people would find that adjustment super tricky to manage. It’s such a horrible feeling to not have any time for yourself, is there anything you’d be able to reduce at all to make sure you’ve got some time to rest and do the things you enjoy? Settling into a new lifestyle and finding that work-life balance can definitely take time and practice. This article has some tips on finding a work-life balance, I wonder if any of these would be helpful?
It’s really important to take care of yourself during this tough period of adjustment, especially when you’re feeling really burnt out. Is there anything you have found that helps to relieve some of your stress when things feel overwhelming? I thought this article might be useful, it has some helpful tips on what you can do to manage your stress when you are feeling burnt out.
I wanted to mention one more read that might be helpful, especially if you’re into Q&A’s! This Ask Me Almost Anything thread on ‘work stress’ goes through a bunch of questions and resources related to stress to do with work. I wonder if there’s anything in there that might be of help to you?
I just wanted to remind you that you are not alone in this experience, adjusting to full-time work isn’t easy! We are here for you.