Balancing a Full-Time Job and Elder Care: Is It Ever Really Possible?

#1 · May 3, 2025, 12:24 am

Quote from Sydney on May 3, 2025, 12:24 am
Hello everyone,

I hope you're all doing okay today. I’ve been reading through some of the posts on this forum, and it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in what sometimes feels like a never-ending balancing act. I wanted to open up about something that’s been weighing on me lately, in hopes that maybe some of you can relate or even offer a little advice.

I’m currently juggling a full-time job and the care of my aging mother. I love her deeply, and I’m grateful for the time we have together. But truthfully? It’s hard. I wake up early, get her breakfast, help with medications or appointments when needed, then dive straight into work often remotely, though not always and try to focus despite feeling stretched thin. Evenings are more of the same: helping her get ready for bed, handling dinner, cleaning, organizing prescriptions, and just trying to keep up with everything life throws at me.

Some days I feel like I’m doing two full-time jobs, and neither one of them is getting my full energy or attention. I’ve noticed my own health slipping a bit more headaches, less sleep, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. I don’t want to complain because I know many people have it even harder, but I can’t help but wonder: Is this sustainable?

I’ve tried setting boundaries, using calendars, hiring part-time help when I can afford it, and even asking siblings to pitch in. But often, it still comes back to me. There’s a quiet guilt that creeps in too like if I focus too much on work, I’m neglecting my mom. And if I devote all my attention to caregiving, then I worry about falling behind professionally and losing that part of myself.

So, I wanted to ask all of you here:

Are you also working full-time while caring for a loved one?

How do you manage the daily demands without burning out?

Are there routines, resources, or mindset shifts that helped you strike a healthier balance?

And maybe most importantly how do you deal with the guilt?

Sometimes I just need to hear that it’s okay to not be perfect. That it’s okay to be tired. And that there are others out there who understand this mix of love, responsibility, and exhaustion.

Thank you so much for reading this far. I’d really appreciate hearing any advice, experiences, or even just a shared moment of empathy. We’re all in this together, and even just writing this post already feels like a small breath of relief.

Warmly,
Sydeney

Hello everyone,

I hope you're all doing okay today. I’ve been reading through some of the posts on this forum, and it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in what sometimes feels like a never-ending balancing act. I wanted to open up about something that’s been weighing on me lately, in hopes that maybe some of you can relate or even offer a little advice.

I’m currently juggling a full-time job and the care of my aging mother. I love her deeply, and I’m grateful for the time we have together. But truthfully? It’s hard. I wake up early, get her breakfast, help with medications or appointments when needed, then dive straight into work often remotely, though not always and try to focus despite feeling stretched thin. Evenings are more of the same: helping her get ready for bed, handling dinner, cleaning, organizing prescriptions, and just trying to keep up with everything life throws at me.

Some days I feel like I’m doing two full-time jobs, and neither one of them is getting my full energy or attention. I’ve noticed my own health slipping a bit more headaches, less sleep, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. I don’t want to complain because I know many people have it even harder, but I can’t help but wonder: Is this sustainable?

I’ve tried setting boundaries, using calendars, hiring part-time help when I can afford it, and even asking siblings to pitch in. But often, it still comes back to me. There’s a quiet guilt that creeps in too like if I focus too much on work, I’m neglecting my mom. And if I devote all my attention to caregiving, then I worry about falling behind professionally and losing that part of myself.

So, I wanted to ask all of you here:

Are you also working full-time while caring for a loved one?
How do you manage the daily demands without burning out?
Are there routines, resources, or mindset shifts that helped you strike a healthier balance?
And maybe most importantly how do you deal with the guilt?

Sometimes I just need to hear that it’s okay to not be perfect. That it’s okay to be tired. And that there are others out there who understand this mix of love, responsibility, and exhaustion.

Thank you so much for reading this far. I’d really appreciate hearing any advice, experiences, or even just a shared moment of empathy. We’re all in this together, and even just writing this post already feels like a small breath of relief.

Warmly,
Sydeney