Help with workplace stress
I think I'm stressed. Currently working 50 hours a week over 5.5 days...I'm pretty much managing the family business, which is owned by my mother. I'm also a single mum, with a 9 year old at school. I'm experiencing sleepless nights, lots of aches and pains, forgetfulness, loss of appetite and I constantly feel anxious and sick.
I think its stemming from my inability to get through everything that needs to be done. My mother tells me something is a priority, so I go about getting it done which is fine. But then the next day, she'll come in and be in a foul mood because its messy out the back, or I haven't done any invoicing etc....it doesn't seem to occur to her that I've been doing what she originally asked of me, and that it takes time.
I think she forgets that not only am I her daughter, I'm also her employee - and at the moment she's taking advantage of that. I haven't had more than 4 days off in a row in 18 months, even when I snapped my ankle in half. She gave me work to do at home while I was recovering through the 2 surgeries to fix it.
I don't know how to broach the subject with her. We're coming into our busiest period of the year, and I'm struggling now when its quiet...I don't know that I can keep it together for the next 3 months to get through the busy period. I know I need to talk to her, just need some ideas on how to go about it, and to also have solutions to the problem when I do bring it up with her. I just know I can't continue like this much longer - I'm becoming the bitch from hell to be around.
Any advice?