Thursday, February 28
Back to Work Jitters
This post is probably a little premature, but I wanted to get some advice from you ladies, so I thought I'd post it today. I'm headed back to work on Tuesday and I'm feeling a little nervous about the transition. In the last few days, I've felt extremely overwhelmed with the thought of balancing work responsibilities, my child's needs, my husband's needs, my own needs, cleaning the house, doing the laundry - the list goes on. I think part of my concern is that I'm going to be doing what was a 40 hour a week job, in 25 hours mostly from home. I know several of you that read this blog have gone back to work since having your baby. How do you do it? Any tips on how I can maintain my sanity (if there is any left) and do a good job at all of this? My fear is that I will be stretched so thin, I won't be good at anything. If you know me, I hate to let people down and I'm afraid my quality of work will suffer, having to tend to a child each day - although she does have to be my first priority. I welcome any and all advice!
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I don't know about you, but I'm an obsessive list maker. It keeps me (mostly?) sane. Days or weeks when I have a lot to do I make two lists: an overall To Do list and then one broken down in time slots with all of the things from my To Do list included. That way I know everything is there and I can see for myself that I'm not neglecting anything. I schedule everything I can think of, down to small things: showers, play-time with Elly, doing household chores, work-time, nursing, meals, etc. Another thing I've found helpful is to create a cleaning schedule in which I just lightly hit every room each day and do laundry and dishes every day, but I only CLEAN one room per day (maybe two if it's a small room). That way the whole house gets clean every week, but I don't feel like I'm constantly scrubbing. Although, I will say that the older Elly gets, the more there is to pick up. I save picking up the whole “toddler tornado” for right before Ben gets home and have Elly help me.
For the last several months I've been the Nursery Director for our church and these lists have kept me from losing it!
There are my two cents.
So, I am not juggleing 25 hours a week, but I am doing some scheduling and paperwork stuff from home for the high school kids that come to work in the summer. I have found that this is an endless job, and that I could let it take over my days. I have had to learn to devote a chunk of time, say an hour, to it and then let the phone go to voicemail, don't check email, and if there is snail mail that comes in, it can sit on my desk until the next day.
I also try to plan out what my week will look like...for example, yesterday I did laundry and cleaned the bathrooms (that was on my list), today I knew I needed to cook for the weekend and vacuum.
Don't know if that helps at all...it is a balancing act for sure! I'll be praying that God will give you the wisdom you need for this new "normal"
I don't really think I'm the best one to give advice, because I always feel like I'm trying to keep up. Mostly, just pray. Ask the Lord for wisdom. Ask Him to help you organize your day. The first week or two will probably be hard, but you will get into a routine just like you did when you had Annelise and you'll do great!
i was working when i had olivia and the first week or 2 is the hardest atleast it was for me. but lists and a personal calendar for my purse where life savers ! i did it for 1 1/2 years 40 hours a week and it became too much thats when we made the decision for me to stay home. say no to things, extra things like church events or helping out with other things. it feels good saying no and keeping the family time first. it all balances out oh and the biggest thing was olivia was on a schedule which we kept up really well. we have put her to bed between 7-7:30 each night since she was a baby. that gave us time together as husband and wife and also gave me some me time along with household chores. i still to this day do not answer the phone from6:45-almost 8 because that is preparing for bedtime, books baths etc. stricktly the kids time :) you will be amazed and will find what works for you and God will give you peace about all. be patient with yourself and all, everything will fall into place :)
thanks for the advice ladies! it sounds like i need to take time today to make out a pretty detailed scheduled for my week. i'm pretty good about tasking a to do list as well. hopefully these two things, along with a LOT of prayer, will help me balance life.
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