Full time work too much

gemz10
gemz10 Member Posts: 46
edited 15. May 2025, 13:34 in Work and financial support

Good afternoon,

I wonder what experiences people have had with reducing the working day/days worked?

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years and am mid forties now. Finding it hard to work full time, care for husband, the house, dog, and parents. I am tired all the time so have been thinking about reducing a day. However I wonder if this would help in the right way. I would still be out of the house by 7.45 and not home untill 6.30. This is a long day for 9-5.30 work but necessary to allow for travel/traffic. What makes it difficult is there isn't any time for fitting everything in, especially when realistically to feel even a little rested I need 9hrs sleep. Any thoughts on if the extra day off would help despite the long days?

With thanks,

Exhausted Gem

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Comments

  • Trees
    Trees Member Posts: 12

    Hello Gem

    Reading your post was like reading my story a few years ago, sorry to hear you are struggling with full time work and the work/life balance and your condition, it's very hard I know.

    I used to work full time like yourself, then had to go part time to four days a week and reduced hours on these days too from eight to five hours a day to try and manage everything and have some sort of weekend where not tired all the time. This helped greatly and you will find that you have a whole day where you can just rest, hard to do I know but it really helps with the rest of the week, I promise you. I used to have Wednesdays off, so two days at work, day off rest, two days back at work then the weekend. Hope this helps as it is hard to juggle everything and have a more restful life when at home.

    Best wishes to you.

  • claudsl
    claudsl Moderator Posts: 195

    Hello @gemz10

    Sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment, it definitely sounds like reducing your hours would help. Is there even a possibility for you to work from home a day or two a week? At least you wouldn't be losing out financially then.

    Here's a link for you to have a read through;

    Work and Arthritis

    All the best, Claudia x

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

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