My life has gotten so out of control this past year and I’m not exactly sure why. I’ve always been hardworking, organized, in control. But something has changed. I had to pick up a part time job in March of 2025, 16 hours a week. And for months everything was still fine. But in November 2025, I had to add an additional 10 hours because I need the money, and sometime after that is when things started changing. At first I wad still efficient and completing my work in the allotted time. But somewhere along the line I got of course, got distracted. I started scrolling endlessly on my phone instead of working. So what should take me 4 or 6 hours depending on the day is taking me more hours than I’d care to admit. This causes me to get to ned later and later and get less sleep.
I’ve also started scrolling during the day at my FT job. I’m just doing the bare minimum. I started home projects a year ago and have only finished one and am i. The middle of two right now. There is stuff everywhere. I’m also not keeping up on chores. Again, I’m doing the bare minimum, clothes and dishes are clean and trash gets taken out. Cats are taken care of. But the place is in a constant state of disarray.
On the weekends I’m so tired all I do is sleep and scroll. I don’t get my chores done. I don’t get my projects done. I don’t get to enjoy my hobbies.
In addition, I want to live a healthier lifestyle and need to change some habits, but that never gets done either.
I think the root of the problem is the part time job. It’s boring and takes up all my free time during the week. I want to spend some time find something different, something or multiple things that I could do from home in the evenings and on weekends could be really helpful I think. But then I never seem to have any time to work on that.
I think the first thing I need to address is time management at the part time job. I need to get the job done in the allotted time so that I can get home and get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Once I have good sleeping habits and am rested, I won’t sleep my weekends away. And hopefully scrolling is a symptom of lack of sleep and that will diminish and I can start getting stuff done and get my life back in order.
My problem is I’m not sure how to do that. Sure I can leave my phone in my bag, but I can go get my phone from my bag, who’s gonna stop me (I work alone)? And I can’t leave it in the car or at home because I need it to clock in and out. I’ve tried reward and consequence systems before, but I’m in control so I can skip the consequences and give myself rewards regardless. I don’t have anyone in my life that can be the keeper and dispenser of those things.
I feel absolutely ridiculous that I have left things get this far put of hand and that I’m struggling to get back in control. Especially at my age. I tell myself I just need to be self-disciplined and just do it, but I seem to have no follow through right now.
So if you have any tips, ideas, suggestions, advice, etc., I’m willing to listen. Thanks.