Struggling
Show your support
Any way you can eat lunch outside?
@Andrea there’s no where to sit unfortunately and it’d end up being more uncomfortable than having it in the lunch room 😭 thanks though x
Im struggling with this too to be honest! Sorry for all the questions but just some ideas. Do you have a partner? If you have any support then squeezing in a 20 min walk while you get home would be a great start. Or before work? Can work lunch be something quicker eg sandwich so you can get out for a lap for 10 mins? Can you walk to or from nursery? Can you do a flexible working request for 1-2 days at home per week? Im going to get a walking pad to get my steps in which doesnt help with fresh air but at least it will be a start
@CeeCee I might try and get up a bit earlier to go for a walk! Our baby hasn’t been a good sleeper but we are starting to get more consistent sleeping through so that might be good. I could walk to pick him up from nursery but I’d get there so much later which just cuts into our evening and it’s already a rush with dinner etc. no flexible working, my job is a PRISON 😂 thank you for the ideas though it’s given me something to think about and nice to know it’s not just me struggling!
I dont think you should need to get up any earlier than you already are- in your two hour morning routine what can your partner do to help you get 20 mins of a walk on your own? Can they do the pick up? Do baby dinner and bath a few nights a few so you can get out? Its impossible to do it all yourself!
Ps you have a legal right to submit a formal flexible working request, and they can only say no for specified reasons. Did anyone in that office work from home during covid?
@CeeCee no it’s more spending quality time with my son too! I like to have a little play with him before I leave for the day. My own fault I know 😅 no we weren’t wfh for Covid. Our boss is a nazi. I’m office based but no one is allowed to wfh
Can you go for a walk after dinner if your little one doesn’t go to bed until 8?
I think your window to do anything outside would ideally be after nursery pick up, push dinner back even 30 mins as well as bath/bedtime if you can? Walk to your local park, this could be a good way for your LO to exert energy before bed too?! Even if it's only 1-2 times a week x
It’s so hard isn’t it. I’m lucky that I have a really flexible workplace that encourages us to get outside - I’ve joined meetings whilst on a walk and we’re allowed to eat at our desks. Is there anything you could prep or do smarter to make the morning/evening routine quicker? I have two children 15 months and 5 years old and don’t get home until 6pm (my husband gets back at 7:30pm) and I can fit dinner, play, reading practice, bath and 2 bedtime routines in BUT I have to prep some stuff like quick meals etc and prioritise tasks that can be done whilst they are in bed (tidying, washing up etc). Would you be able to perhaps do pick up on foot some days? I sometimes leave my car at nursery and then walk to work but they have free on street parking so that works for me. (Hard to give tips without knowing distances involved). Even if you can find 10-15 mins to play catch in the garden with little one you might find it helps.