Who works full time?

Just wondering who works full time? I juggle a demanding job ... aging parents and their associated care ... a husband who has ongoing mental struggles.

I would love to hear how other folks manage all that plus keep house, get groceries, wash laundry, cook an occasional meal. I am finding that my life feels so very out of balance ... and I know that I need to find ways to manage it all more effectively.

Thanks in advance.

I work fulltime and have my whole life but the past 3 years have been bad and I don't know how much longer Ill be able to hold on..

I do, but things have settled down a lot for me since my kids are grown. I wish I had some good advice for you, it sounds like you have a lot to deal with one thing I can say is that you absolutely need a break once in a while and you need to have some fun. I totally forgot how-due to some serious stressors I had going on but now I can tell you it really helps and will give you more energy. I wish you all the best

I do. My house is not "kept" though due to time. I can't juggle it all. The sink is full of dishes, laundry needs to be done, the floor is a mess, etc. Oh well. Each day I can get dressed and make it to work is an accomplishment.

I work 9 hours a day Monday through Friday and then 3.5 hours on Saturday. My usual schedule is:

04:30 - Wake up time. I shower and brush my teeth, make coffee for work and get dressed. Takes about 45 minutes.
05:30 - Leave the house
05:50 - Clock in at work
15:30 - Clock out at work
15:48 - Meet youngest son at the corner of our street.
15:50 - Help youngest son with homework
16:30 - Break Time
17:00 - Go to Middle School to pick up oldest son from soccer practice
17:30 - Return home with oldest son and start his homework
18:00 - Youngest son goes to soccer practice on Monday and Friday. I walk the track those days. On non-soccer days I work out for about 30 minutes.
19:00 - Get home (again) and start supper. Usually something like baked chicken or tacos or something.
19:30 - Eat dinner (give or take 30 minutes)
20:00 - Take a break for an hour
21:00 - Bed time for everyone

Then I start it back up the next day. Saturday falls like this:
04:30 - Wake up time. I shower and brush my teeth, make coffee for work and get dressed. Takes about 45 minutes.
05:30 - Leave the house
05:50 - Clock in at work
09:30 - Clock out at work.
10:00 - Getting groceries, rabbit supplies, bug for lizards, etc
12:00 - Get home and unload
12:15 - Everyone in the truck
12:30 - Youngest son has soccer game
13:30 - Get home and die for about an hour
14:30 - Random chores around the house or honeydo list.
17:00 - Start dinner
17:30 - Eat dinner
18:00 - Break time
19:00 - Usually watch a family movie
Random bed time

Sunday is reserved for doing laundry which takes literally all day. My life is a schedule. There's no "me" time, just one thing after another.

Goldenguru, your life sounds like mine the last year and a half my mother was alive. I worked 60-70 hours a week and made sure Mom was cared for. There was no way I could physically care for her and work. She and I picked an assisted living facility for her. I regretted having to do it, but it was the only way I could continue to work and for her to be cared for. That might not be a solution for you. I only tell the story to let you know I understand your situation.

Something I struggled to accept was that I could not do it all. I had to recognize that some things were not going to get done. The house was a disaster area. I din't cook very often. Healthy Choice stock probably rose from my purchasing their dinners. Can you take a hard, realistic look at the demands on your time and eliminate some of them?

I could tell you to take some "me" time, but for me that was a struggle. I found I had to grab a few minutes at a time when I could. That took me learning to rethink things. I learned to try and accept that if all I had the mental and physical energy for was to veg in front of the babble box for an hour, that what I needed to do instead of forcing myself to do something.

I work full time. Divorced. Parents gone. I have ADHD and on regular days, I cannot keep everything clean and tidy. Only on rare occasions do I feel motivated enough to deal with all the stuff of life while being depressed. Though our circumstances differ, we are both stressed. I am not organized on an average day. I make time for a bit of fun twice a month. PC provides a place to vent and share. And I am still working on finding balance in my life.

That is kind of how I feel on a daily basis. Seems like it is harder and harder to drag myself out of bed and into work clothes every day.

All I can say is wow! Just looking at your schedule made me exhausted. LOL

I can so relate to this struggle. Liz's idea helped me as well when it got to the point I could no longer take care of both my parents and grandparents; as hard as it was, assisted living certainly helped and my grandparents were happier there.

I am currently taking care of ailing parents, their home, appointments, and affairs, and working full time besides dealing with my own MH issues and affairs. I have learned to call in for help. I don't have family that lives close but I get help with aides or CNAs to come in sometimes during the week to relieve me and to watch over them so it frees me up so I can do things or to get some rest. Perhaps this might be an alternative. Also, a friend has found other services such as to do to their grocery shopping and errands for them, and advocates to take them to appointments, which buys back some of his time and to relieve him. There might be things like this in your area as well. Meals on wheels and organizations like this can help too, which are really fantastic.

I hope you find some solutions that can help you. I admire what you are doing. Sending you peace, strength, and courage meanwhile. All my best to you and your family. ((((Goldenguru)))))

I work full time in a job that has WAY too much stress.. but oh well not like I have a choice in the mater.

I work full time 45 hours a week have two small children I used to obsess about order and cleanliness now like the others getting to work home kids homework done and not freaking out dinner bathes and then bed I'm a happy camper if a little or a lot extra is done fine. In a mania stage I will have complete order on a depressed stage nope cloths still in the baskets be greatful their washed!

I work about 60 hours a week.