Married (30F) and lately I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed trying to juggle everything. I suspect I might have fibromyalgia (not diagnosed), but I deal with a lot physically — recurring stiff neck (about once a month), painful ovulation and periods, and occasional sciatica flare-ups. Some days my body just feels completely worn down.
I recently qualified to sit for the CPA exam, and I really want to focus on studying. The problem is our financial situation isn’t super stable — my husband’s income is commission-based, so it fluctuates a lot. Because of that, I work two part-time jobs to help fill in the gaps. Both are physically demanding (a lot of walking and driving).
My schedule varies — some days I work 4 hours, other days I do two 4-hour shifts back-to-back. Even on the shorter days, I come home exhausted and don’t have the energy to study. On top of that, I have household responsibilities and a 2-year-old (who is in [subsidized] daycare during the day, thankfully, but still needs my time in the evenings).
I’ve also been applying for accounting positions, but the job market feels really competitive right now. I think it’s been harder for me because I took a couple of years off after getting pregnant, so I have that gap in my work history.
I feel stuck between two options:
•Cut back work significantly (maybe just 2 days a week) so I can focus on studying and hopefully pass the CPA faster, leading to a more stable, less physically demanding full-time job (but credit card debts might pile up since I'm earning less)
•Keep working as I am and study slowly (maybe one section every 6 months), which could take a couple of years to finish the CPA exam (there are 4 sections/exams)
Has anyone been in a similar situation? What would you do in my position?