https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:47:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1095701 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:55:10 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1095701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @Mrs. Jacks, is there a way to get to the root of the problem with the last minute ASAP requests? Maybe have a sit down with whoever is making those requests and say you want to be able to help them but they have to give you more lead time and notice with the requests and the deadlines need to be reasonable. I'm Terrible at saying no too, but this has helped a lot in my job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1095685 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:35:42 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1095685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs mama! I don't know how you do it. I can barely manage myself, DH and dog with my job. I really admire you and all you ladies who do this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085795 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:39:33 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1085795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lizzywiz: Good luck! I am considering a similar change. </p> <p>I am hoping to set some boundries at work (no phone calls between 5pm-8pm or on Sundays). </p> <p>For appointments, maybe see if you can scheduled them way in advance and just take a planned sick day and fit in as many appointments as you can.</p> <p>I agree with meal planning to help. We've gotten much better about having a set menu and working through it. If we don't have a plan we have some cheaper eating out options but eating out usually takes more time and more stress then just staying home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085618 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:48:35 +0000 lizzywiz 1085618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: I love the idea of having a consistent crock pot night, leftover night, etc.<br /> Can y'all tell I have never had to work that hard at work/ home time management? :wink: I used to work in the public schools, which in my case were uber family friendly, and I don't think I learned the basics of balance because I didn't have to, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085393 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:26:35 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1085393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do "life care maintenance" on the weekends. This means that we plan a big meal on Sunday nights that gives us lunches and dinners for a couple of days. Every few weekends, I make a freezer meal that we can whip out in a pinch. We also go to costco and make sure to get something that approximates an easy meal (frozen tortellini or ravioli, tamales).</p> <p>We have the luxury (and I know everyone can't swing this) of having an afternoon/evening nanny and that has exponentially improved our lifestyle.</p> <p>I plan ahead for the girls the best that I can... so Halloween costumes are done already.</p> <p>As for saying no... well, I'm horrible at this. I don't believe in saying no. I do however believe in saying "What are the priorities? How can we avoid this in the future? What can we put off until later?" Having said that, I reviewed a grant last night after the girls went to bed. I also have my staff do the maximum amount that they can do to help me. If I can delegate it, I will.</p> <p>That's about the best I can do on tips. I'm way over stretched, but I'm starting to delay speaking engagements, because there just isn't enough time for them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085302 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:59:13 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1085302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds really tough. I also think you should start saying "no, but I can...." to last minute requests. I think, as you settle in to a new job, prioritizing and finding ways to maximize time become easier.<br /> For doctor appointments, I'm assuming you have sick/vacation time. I'm pretty sure they can't put too many restrictions on how you use those. Check the employee handbook or whatever details those policies so you can be informed if anyone questions you when you need to take time off.<br /> We meal plan every Friday for the following week's dinners. One night is usually crock pot casserole (easy to make ahead), one night is leftovers, and one night is frozen something or other. We also try to make one large batch of chicken or meat to use in several meals. I agree with buying a lunch if you can &amp; eating healthy to keep up your energy.<br /> Adjusting to returning to work or a new job is tough! I think it'll shake out for you and you've at least got a good timeline in place if it stays hard (a year and then you can get out.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085132 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:03:13 +0000 Freckles 1085132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry that you're having to deal with such an unfriendly work environment. :(</p> <p>Do you have a work laptop that you can bring home with you? I never leave the office later than 4:45 and anything that needs to be done comes home with me. Have you thought about being proactive and going to your boss at 3 or 4pm to see if there are any reports that need to be done before the end of the day...that you want to make sure any loose ends are wrapped up before the weekend.</p> <p>There are a lot of posts here on HB regarding meal planning. I try to make a few things a week that can be frozen and pulled out when i need to eat something quickly. </p> <p>Balancing work/family is tough, i know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1085071 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:48:07 +0000 lizzywiz 1085071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @LuLu Mom: @oscarthegoon: I needed to hear I should say 'no' and offer solutions to better project management. Thanks! I wasn't buying lunch because I just never have, but with the money I am making it is a reasonable solution. Thanks for that idea, too!<br /> @oscarthegoon: we are committed to this job for a year. After that, my DH and I are going to reassess are situation, and then I might leave if I can't make it work for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1084727 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:50:10 +0000 oscarthegoon 1084727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! that sounds really tough. working moms are such a large part of the workforce now, it is such a bad idea for a company to be so unsupportive! not feeling like you are able to take time off work to take your LO to the doctor is so unreasonable and unfair. i think that would be a dealbreaker for me. i'm dedicated to my job, but if my kid is sick, sorry, that's my priority. your employer should value their working moms and understand that, or else they may lose them! almost all of my paid time off gets used for taking my son to the doctor and staying home with him when he is very sick. do you have family or friends nearby that could help you with meals once a week? i also eat breakfast and lunch at the cafeteria in my building and don't worry much about my dinner (i just try to get something reasonably healthy in my son). would there really be serious repurcussions if you said "No, i can't" to last minute/weekend projects on occasion? sometimes I think if we are always saying "yes" then we just get taken advantage of. are you the only one that can do those types of emergency assignments? maybe you could talk to your employer and tell them how much you value your job but that you need to set a limit on OT each month for the sake of your family and see how that goes? i know job searching takes time you don't have right now, but if all else fails, maybe you could look for something else a little more family friendly. it seems like unless something changes, your situation will not work long term. hope it gets better for you soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1084705 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:41:51 +0000 LuLu Mom 1084705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think taking care of yourself and family is most important in this kind of situation. I think the best thing I started to do was Sunday dinner planning. I prep/cook/make as much as I can on Sunday for an hour or two so that way my family has healthy meals for the entire week that are done within 30 minutes of being home. Make the meals large enough that you have leftovers you can eat at your desk for lunch. You will have more energy if you eat clean. Brings apples or carrots with you to work so you have something to quickly munch on if you feel you need a boost. </p> <p>Keep a water bottle at work so you have plenty to drink, this will also give you a quick 30 seconds of brain free time to fill up when needed and a small mental break without taking a lot of time away from your work. </p> <p>I agree with being able to say "no" and give another solution. Some employers push to see how much their employees are wiling to do, if you push back (to an extend) and give a solution it may be in your favor. Your fmaily is your number one, so if LO has a doctor's appointment you want to be at, send an email and say "i'll be in early tomorrow to catch up" and leave it at that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1084680 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:32:37 +0000 looch 1084680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I outsource as much as possible. I also don't do much cooking during the week, I eat my big meals of breakfast and lunch at the office cafeteria, as does my husband.<br /> I get all if our clothes organized on Sunday for the week and I shower at night.<br /> As for last minute project requests, I have learned to say no or not possible, but with alternative solutions.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/career-bees-advice-please-struggling-with-workhome-balance#post-1084663 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:26:49 +0000 lizzywiz 1084663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently left a family friendly job for a NOT family friendly job because we needed the money. Although we live pretty frugally (15 year old cars, small house, etc), once we started paying for daycare we began falling a little bit more behind each month.<br /> I am more marketable than my husband, so I found a better job (go, me :wink: ) but it includes longer hours and higher stress.</p> <p>I KNOW that this is the right decision for my family, but now I am having a hard time managing it all. I know there are bees who have intense careers (or multiple jobs) and still manage to maximize their home life- teach me, oh wise ones!</p> <p>Here are my dilemmas:</p> <p>- I keep getting asked to do things last minute, and ASAP, of course. Like being asked/told at 5 on Friday to have a report done by 7 am on Monday. I never know when to set a limit or when to suck it up (and it has been very hard on our little family for DH to be solo parenting a full day every weekend while I get caught up).</p> <p>- I am completely shot at the end of the day, so by the time I put LO down at 7:30 I have a hard time organizing and maximizing my productivity for a couple more hours.</p> <p>- I feel like I don't see LO enough, so it is hard to ask for more childcare, even when I REALLY need to get work done.</p> <p>-OMG- how the heck do you schedule Dr.'s appts and whatnot?! I have never had a job that cared if I took off for that kind of stuff but now I better be in the ICU if I am not going to work.</p> <p>-My health and diet are completely in the crapper. Last night's dinner was chips and salsa. I was so tired I didn't even dip the chips- I just mushed it all together in a bowl and shoveled it in!</p> <p>Any and all advice would be extremely helpful to this struggling mama. :heart: </p>