I have a 17 week old baby who still gets up once a night as well as other children who get up and down all night long to go potty. I just recently went back to work after being a stay at home mom for years. I am working any where from 56-66 hours a week. I know I am stretching myself pretty thin. I am in bed by 11:00 and up at 5:30 or 6:00 with the baby up about 2 for 30-40 min every night. My problem is though it is now noon and I have been struggling to stay awake for the last hour. Once 2:30 hits I'll be fine for the rest of the day, it is just those late of the morning hours. How do you stay awake at your desk?
Yes, I have a husband and he helps me out a lot. He gets up every time the baby does. I never get out of bed, he does the changing, the putting the binky back in the mouth when it falls out and then burps and puts our son back to bed. When I'm up at night I just do the nursing. We have teamed up to get the housework done such as the laundry and dishes. We seem to have a 50/50 role on things around the house. He also has the kids while I work some late nights.
My boss is pretty easy going so I do try to step outside when possible or go for short walks. I do however feel bad being gone from my desk since I take a morning break and afternoon break to pump. I also, don't have any windows in my office :(
I do try to nap in my car when the weather allows this but due to car seats I can't recline my seat making me uncomfy. I wish I could just put my head down on my desk, but the guys in my office just won't allow me to do that.
I really appreciate all of your suggestions.
Vodka.....lots of vodka! Just kidding.
Just do the best you can and know that this will end eventually.
Hang tough!
Are you a single parent or do you have a Husband???
If you have a Husband... HE should be HELPING YOU.
TELL him.
It is HIS KIDS TOO. HE is a parent too. NO one is 'exempt' from these roles....
Drink coffee.... or tea.
all the best,
Susan
rofl denise! i work in an office, and they are pretty leiniant, as long as your getting your work done. so i'll get up and walk around the floor, go fill up my 3/4 full cup or refill and get fresh ice, or what ever. i have several responsibilites at work, so when i'm bored with one thing, I'll do another and switch back and forth as long as it's all done by the end of the day.
Oh my, can you get a reduction in hours at work? Those work hours are exhausting for single people without children, and you have many along with a newborn!
I agree, healthy snacks that mix carbs and protein help (like mixed nuts and raisins, cheese on crakers, apple with peanut butter spread on it, rolled meat, string cheese and pretzles, hard boiled egg, drink lots of water...) For breakfast, eat something healthy, but hearty, like scrambled eggs on toast.
Taking a break to stretch your legs, roll your neck and stretch your back.
Really though, I hate to say it, but stretching yourself thin with no break can be done for a while but it will eventually be hard to keep up, as it can make your body sick, emotionally drained, agitated, exhausted, overly frustrated at things that wouldn't typically bother you before. I really hope you can get some reduced hours soon. :)
I used this trick when the kids were very young, and I was exhausted from being up at night with them, since I couldn't very well nap when they weren't during the day lol. I read it in a magazine somewhere, and it was actually advice for someone like you who worked in an office.
Sit in a quiet room, in a chair. Hold your keys in one hand and place your hand in your lap or on the armrest. Lean back and/or drop your head, close your eyes and allow yourself to drift off to sleep, the moment you do, you will drop the keys and wake up. This "restarts" you somehow, and you will actually feel rested and ready to do something.
I hope things calm down for you soon, or you will burn out. Make sure you are getting at least a little time to yourself every day, make it a priority.
Have you tried any essential oils? I think peppermint helps with energy - whenever I'm in Whole Foods Market, I always pass by those oils and the peppermint one always seems to give me a boost!
This may or may not help you... I'm in a similar position. What works for me is to find food that sticks to my teeth. I get very particular, then, to get the food off my teeth, and it keeps me awake until my next round of "awake" kicks in. Some things that I've tried are cinnamon gummy bears, tootsie rolls, popcorn (I need to make sure I have floss with that one), or peppermint hard candies. Otherwise, I'll flex my toes in my shoes, wiggle my tongue in my mouth, or start doing Kegels or ab "crunches" at my desk. These all work, to greater or lesser degrees.
Good luck!
A high protein snack will pick you up. My fav. snack is a string cheese and a hand full of peanuts.
You need to REST honey. You're body will shut down when it can't take any more. Are you taking your vitamins? I have pictures of my kids on my desk to remind me why I'm working.
Hang in there!
If you can, get up every 30 minutes and take a quick walk, even if just for a few minutes.
Not sure about your work environment but make sure the window shades are open so lots of bright light floods your work space (and telling your brain and circadian rhythms that it is 'awake' time, holding the melatonin at bay). If you don't have the luxury of a work space with a window, use bright lights or get a desk lamp.
Drink water and stay hydrated. At best it will help your energy levels - while it won't actually give you energy it will insure that you are hydrated so that chemical functioning on the cellular level will occur the way it is supposed to and not be sluggish. At worst, all the water will make you pee so you'll have to get up and walk to the bathroom!
If you use caffeine to help stay awake (I know, somewhat controversial) try to think of your caffeine intake as a 'slow drip' as opposed to a 'tidal wave'. Drink small amounts (like 1-2 ounces of diet coke or coffee) over an extended period of time. That big cup of coffee in the AM isn't going to sustain you through the entire day; Drink a little on the way to work in the car, a little when you get there, a little after 60 minutes. (I usually don't advocate the use of caffeine products but hey, even I've turned to these sorts of measures when I'm absolutely exhausted - sometimes we need to do what we need to do to get through).
Get up a take a short walk or just stretch your legs. Also eat an apple it will give you some energy and is better for you then coffee or soda.
If you have a desk job, take full advantage of your mandated breaks and get away from the desk. Walk around the office, and if possible, step out into the brisk winter air. That always helped me. Before I went outside I'd set up the coffee pot in the break room so that by the time I came back in there was a freshly brewed pot.
I never drank coffee (except during 1 all-nighter in college) until I went back to work after having my first child.
Some days I took power naps in my car, other days I drove to a nearby park preserve and walked around during my lunch break. Both were helpful.
Mountain Dew...I'm serious - it works better than 3 cups of coffee for me - and I really need it about 9:30.
you don't say exactly how many children, but honestly with one 17 week old and however many others, working 56-66 hours per week may just be unreasonable. there are literally only so many hours in the day. there are a lot of details left out, so obviously maybe you don't have a choice right now. but any job that requires these kind of hours can't really be ALL that mom friendly.
I would start night weening. My boys both slept through the night at about 8 weeks.
Do you drive to work? At lunchtime, go down to your car and take a power nap. Set the alarm on your cell to wake you up and toss a warm blanket in the car if need be (or turn it on if it's outside parking). Who says that you have to eat at lunch?
