Burn out
 

I think I am quickly approaching a burn out!
I am working two jobs, maintaining a house alone, taking care of a very hyper/untrained puppy, taking a summer course for school, and trying to go to the gym in my so-called "spare time". I am wondering how other people deal with these situations when you just feel overwhelmed, like things are just getting to be a bit much.
I find that I never get to just sit around for more than 10 minutes before I am thinking of what I should be doing, or what needs to be done around here. Today for example, is my one day off. I work 8 days, then 1 day off then 9 days, then 2 days off. It goes in a cycle like that. Although all I want to do is just relax and read a magazine, I know that I still have to clean the bathroom, work through 2 modules of my course, walk the dog, go to the gym, prepare lunches, etc. Its NEVER ending. Is this just a fact of life or am I doing something wrong???

Well, I'm naturally lazy and the complete opposite. But then again I eat when I get bored, and because I have nothing to distract me. So perhaps your busy lifestyle is something to be treasured! Although if you feel overwhelmed and it's too much why not try reducing time at the gym.

When you do have spare time, instead of sitting worrying or thinking, try deep breathing or meditation. It will help de clutter your mind and make you feel more energized.

i've been there - full time job, full time student, young child, training for a 1/2 marathon - there were days i just wanted to crumple up into a ball and stay there. it did get better, though! school eventually ended, and the kid's getting older. is there an end in sight or is this just the way your life is? if it won't be changing anytime soon, you might want to see if you can collapse things together. instead of going to the gym, make walking the dog more aerobic. i used to make my own frozen meals (a la lean cuisine) for like a month at a time, so i didn't have as much cooking to do.

don't know if it helps - but if you're able, sometimes you just need to take a 'sick' day and spend it on you. every two or three months i still do that.

hope things get better! it sucks, doesn't it?

I can relate to your situation. I don't think you're doing anything "wrong." I think you need to make priorities by making lists. Every day or every evening, write down a list of things to do the next day. Consider yourself successful if you get to do half those things. Be sure that one of the things on the list is YOU. The bathrooms can wait and there are things that don't HAVE to get done. I also have a puppy that drives me INSANE sometimes. Do you have any friends or neighbors that would want to babysit him? As far as lunches, maybe you can prepare food once a week, stash it into tupperware and freeze. That way, you can just take it out the night before and, viola, you have lunch ready. I, personally, wouldn't cut down on gym time, if at all possible, since that's when you really get your time now. How about grabbing a cup of coffee after the gym? It only will take about 20 minutes, but you will have time to sit and relax and maybe look through a magazine. Just like taking 10 minutes at a time to workout is just as good as 30 minutes staright, same thing goes with relaxing! I've heard of it like this: If you hold a glass of water for a few seconds, no big deal, a few minutes, not so bad, a few hours...very bad. You need to put that glass of water down from time to time and forget about it or else you will be too stressed. Same goes with the things on your mind. If you have a list, you won't have to obsess over what needs to get done. Keep the list wherever you go and you can check things off and add things to the next day and so on.

Take care! :)

It seems you are pumped up on adrenaline right now, and running 100 km per hour (110 on the #2 highway) You do not say you are dragging through your day; in fact you have a problem relaxing! Sometimes, when I get like that, I'm just happy to not be tired all the time. All the exercising you are doing must be ramping up your metabolism, however, I agree, you do NEED to relax. The only ways I can think to do it are take yoga (that way you can be exercising at the same time) and babysit for someone for a few hours, and only take 'relaxy' things with you, like a book. That way, you won't be able to keep jumping up to do a chore.

time for a change
 

I too am on the perpetual treadmill of life... What works for me is to try and enjoy what I do. It's all in your perspective...

Whether it's working, packing lunches, cleaning house, going to the gym, driving kids from one activity to the next - If I try to enjoy it.. I don't feel as though it's a labor. I try to see it as a journey or activity.

yes, I agree, marathon mom, enjoying what you are doing is the way to go - adventure or as I call it a possible chapter in our book.

linda

Money is a great help too. I am now able to afford housecleaners and that's amazing! I can also get some "almost prepared" healthy food which cuts the time spent making dinner from over an hour to 10 minutes.

I'm lucky too that I have a partner. I have to nag, plead and cajole a bit but he does stuff around the house. Or at least half does it and then I finish it.

I also go away on house/dog sits and it's amazing how often I can sit down and read a bit on these. Never happens at my house as there's always somethingsomeone calling for my time.

I spent many years getting to this point. Organizing your time/family/job etc. is damn hard for all of us.

Does your puppy have a crate? Can your kids make their own lunches and do simple chores like putting stuff away and help with the puppy? Can you hire someone to clean your house maybe once a month or even every two months? Try to take an hour to sit down and see where you can get a bit of help with everything you have to do. Sometimes it's amazing how much time you can free up with just some small changes.

And there's always caffeine ;)

Dagmar