So burnt out and returning to the office soon

[Anonymous]

The title says it. I am a lawyer mom of two little kids who manages a team and have been absolutely slammed at work due to COVID-19. While we are fortunate that we and our families are healthy and we were not financially impacted by the pandemic, my mental health has not been great and one of my kids is struggling developmentally, so that has been a real challenge.

As things go back to "normal" at work, I need to get back to some of the management tasks that have been put on the back burner during COVID, plus return to the office in person soon (5 days a week...). I really don't know where I am going to find the motivation to resume my commute, keep my family moving forward, and lead a team back to the office.

Any tips, thoughts, or commiseration? Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Same. I'm quitting.

I'm already completely burnt out, but add returning to the office while daycare is still on restricted hours and yes, I'm just done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same. I'm quitting.

I'm already completely burnt out, but add returning to the office while daycare is still on restricted hours and yes, I'm just done.

OP here. I am honestly considering it. We need my income though. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Outsource as much as you can afford - nanny, cleaning lady, laundry service, yard people.

[Anonymous]

You may find that working in your office will help with your burn out. You may find that you can work more efficiently without distraction from family and are able to get back to working normal hours (instead of too easily working into the evening and night).

A suggestion would be to take a nice long vacation this summer as you all transition to working back in the office. I'm sure you've saved up some time, and it'll be a good way to reset and restart. Parents (especially moms) have had to work so hard during this pandemic. You deserve a break

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same. I'm quitting.

I'm already completely burnt out, but add returning to the office while daycare is still on restricted hours and yes, I'm just done.

OP here. I am honestly considering it. We need my income though. Ugh.

Do you now? Or is this one of those “we have two new leases on luxury cars, a $1.5M home, we like to take 3 vacations abroad each year and my kids are in private” situations?

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. I’m in big 4 consulting, two little kids, and just exhausted. Bracing for my career to take a hit because there’s no way I am going to be at my best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same. I'm quitting.

I'm already completely burnt out, but add returning to the office while daycare is still on restricted hours and yes, I'm just done.

OP here. I am honestly considering it. We need my income though. Ugh.

Do you now? Or is this one of those “we have two new leases on luxury cars, a $1.5M home, we like to take 3 vacations abroad each year and my kids are in private” situations?

LOL. No, we actually do. I drive an old car that no one wants and live in a school pyramid frequently ragged on in the Real Estate forum, haha! Definitely not living the DCUM dream. I also make more than DH and carry our health insurance, which pays for my kid's many therapies. I suppose it is POSSIBLE for me to step back for a brief period of time but it's probably not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

My situation similar to yours, OP. Except I don’t manage a team. Just dreading return to the office

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same. I'm quitting.

I'm already completely burnt out, but add returning to the office while daycare is still on restricted hours and yes, I'm just done.

OP here. I am honestly considering it. We need my income though. Ugh.

Do you now? Or is this one of those “we have two new leases on luxury cars, a $1.5M home, we like to take 3 vacations abroad each year and my kids are in private” situations?

LOL. No, we actually do. I drive an old car that no one wants and live in a school pyramid frequently ragged on in the Real Estate forum, haha! Definitely not living the DCUM dream. I also make more than DH and carry our health insurance, which pays for my kid's many therapies. I suppose it is POSSIBLE for me to step back for a brief period of time but it's probably not a good idea.

Have your DH step back. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Just commiseration from another burned out mom here who is also slammed work-wise due to Covid. I actually work very efficiently and effectively at home, and knowing I’ve got to add a soul-sucking commute back this summer (along with in-person politics, managing employees, office chit chat, etc.) it’s all keeping me up at night.

[Anonymous]

Commiseration. People are exhausted, mentally a wreck, some are grieving. I work in a field that was bonkers during the Trump years and we all thought there would be a break after the election but nope, it's been even busier. No one has anything left. That's part of why the "back to normal" talk grates - whatever the new normal is, I need a minute before it starts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Commiseration. People are exhausted, mentally a wreck, some are grieving. I work in a field that was bonkers during the Trump years and we all thought there would be a break after the election but nope, it's been even busier. No one has anything left. That's part of why the "back to normal" talk grates - whatever the new normal is, I need a minute before it starts

Yes!

[Anonymous]

If you have a high income try to spend your way out (at least temporarily) by outsourcing everything. Paying extra for convenience as well. I’ve been there and it helps a lot. You can actually outsource almost everything these days and pay premiums for convenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a high income try to spend your way out (at least temporarily) by outsourcing everything. Paying extra for convenience as well. I’ve been there and it helps a lot. You can actually outsource almost everything these days and pay premiums for convenience.

I don't see OP talking about laundry or dishes. She says she has a busy draining job, a special needs kid, and her mental state is poor.

OP, it's okay to slack at work right now. Really. Do as little as you can safely get away with. I also agree with a PP that if you are the breadwinner your DH needs to step back at work and take over some of the kid issues.

If you can swing a vacation, I hope you take it.