Hands up, who else has holiday slump?

[MrsEvadneCake]

First week of the holidays nearly at an end and I'm feeling lethargic, low and have a huge dose of can't be arsed!

Every big holiday I get like this. My DH very kindly says it's because I'm tired and a bit burnt out. However I can't seem to get motivated and am not spending another holiday like this.

Anyone else?

[HarrietSchulenberg]

That was me last year, and the one before that. This year I have so far held it a bay (only one week in) by doing at least one activity and at least one household job per day, in addition to the everyday stuff.

I am having a minislump today as kids are all out and I'm supposed to be turfing out their bedrooms (but am clearly on here instead ).

Set at least on activity each day, eg taking children swimming, shopping, walking, whatever. And one household job, for me it's been the niggly stuff like patching up the fence or filling the hole ds3 made by the front door. That way you feel as if you've achieved something, however minor, and I find it motivates me to do more.

If that fails, remember you've only got 5 weeks left.

[MrsEvadneCake]

I think that's the problem isn't it Harriet. It's from busy to stop! I like the idea of a mix of activities and house things. Thank you.

[FabulousFudge]

Me big time! We'll come through it.

[Iwantacampervan]

I like the idea of attacking house jobs that usually get put off - not the day to day things but painting a fence, decorating a room etc. It's more 'exciting' than the usual tasks and maybe the rest of the family could get enthused and involved. I decided to paint the metal posts outside the house and may use the rest of the paint for the garage door - the neighbours will think I'm moving !
We are also starting to clear the back garden and remove a shed in order to have a summer house built.

[DoreenLethal]

I always like to leave a week or two between ending the year [OMG] and the start of an actual holiday. It means I can recharge.

This year, it ended on Friday and I got sick last weekend, so I had two days in bed and I was back to it on Wednesday. By Friday I had to take two co-codamol and flake out to get enough sleep to get myself to a course yesterday and have slept again and am back on the mend.

Driving to South of France on Friday/Sat...Ferry at 4pm and I cannot wait. Got packing mode now. Still got three days of commissioned [ie very well paid] work to get done by Thursday though so it never really ends for me.

[Hassled]

I'm not a teacher but I am term-time only and do know what you mean. I think it's the loss of routine as much as anything - it throws me. I'm doing all the jobs I just never get round to - the cupboard under the sink one day, the cupboard under the stairs the next. I'll be creosoting a fence next week - so nothing too arduous but enough to make me feel productive.

[Orangeanddemons]

I had loads of stuff to do. Now I've got shingles. So I've got an enforced slump and is so unfair

[toomuchicecream]

I wrote my to do list on Saturday. When I got to 4 sides of my A5 notebook I gave up! I find it really helps me to list everything I'd like to get done then each morning/evening pick a mixture of things from the list to make a new list of jobs for today. That way I can see today's list going down and I'm not daunted by the size of the master list!

[MrsEvadneCake]

Thank you all!
we will FabulousFudge I feel less slumpy today.
Iwantacampervan having a summer house sounds worth learning the garden for.
DoreenLethal enjoy your break when you get there.
Hassled and toomuchicecream I'm making my list and starting tomorrow. Lots of jobs but enjoyable like making curtains.
orangeanddemons I hope you feel better soon.

[petalpower]

End of term was Wednesday and since then there's only been one nice sunny day - that doesn't help with motivation, I just want to sit on the sofa with a cup of tea!
I can never decide whether to get school things done at the beginning of the holiday or have a break and think about work in a week or two.

[MrsEvadneCake]

I've put my papers away for now Petal but will do a bit next week maybe. I'm still in my pjs today but will get moving in a bit!!

[petalpower]

I've made a bit of a start on getting the house back in order and getting ready for our holiday - as soon as I tidy up the DC just make a mess again though! They're teenagers so obviously haven't made it out of bed yet today. I might sort out my school bags today and have a therapeutic chuck out of bits of paper!

[MrsEvadneCake]

Sounds a good plan. Sort out what you don't need and go from there. My DC are preteen so up and about early

[Rosieposy4]

Me big time, i'm knackered, stressed about my horse and still having to get up at stupid o clock to run ds2 to his holiday job. The rubbish weather does not help, i was less slumpy on friday when the weather was good.

[petalpower]

The weather is a bit better here today so I'm feeling slightly more motivated. Still didn't clear the school bags yesterday though! Has anyone else found their motivation yet?

[bigTillyMint]

This is why DH likes to go away as soon as we break up. Less slumping and more relaxing

[petalpower]

We've got a week between finishing term and going away this year - any less and I think I would be even more stressed at the end of term making sure everything was ready to go on holiday straight away. My DH does nothing to help get ready (I know I know!!) as he works right up the last minute before we go and usually for the first couple of days when we're there so I definitely fell I need a bit of breathing space before we set off.

[MrsEvadneCake]

rosie hope today is a bit better. Is your horse ill?

Tilly I hope you are enjoying it

petal I am the same re going away. I need to get it all ready (DH works away) so need a gap. Today I am shopping for cleaning supplies and taking my DS to physio.

[TheGonnagle]

Yup. Me too.
It's raining and we're skint. This time last week I was leading 22 teens on a tour of China running on adrenaline having an amazing time. Today I'm mainlining carbs and I can't be arsed to get off the sofa.
Bah.

[petalpower]

My DH works away too MrsEvadne! This week he is away right up until we drive away for the holiday as he has a meeting on the morning we travel - argh! He was so busy this weekend that he hasn't done any holiday packing either.

[MrsEvadneCake]

Wow TheGonnagle sounds like it was fantastic and exhausting!

petal that sounds difficult. Mine is away Monday to Friday. This weekend he has to pack because he won't be back until about 10pm Friday before we go as I'm not having the "I wanted to take this top and it's dirty" conversation.

[Rosieposy4]

I am a bit chirpier today thank you MrsCake, about to go on a day trip with some of my brood. horse isn't ill as such but totally off form and has been referred to vet hospital for bone scans!, so instead of spending the summer pootling around on her i am waiting for the hospital to ring me.

[MrsEvadneCake]

Oh that's worrying then. Enjoy your day out.

[TheGonnagle]

It was amazing, utterly brilliant and with the best, most wonderful, hilarious bunch of students you could possibly wish for. There were lots of tears when we got home because a few of them are moving on to university now so it's the end of an era. I still have a bloody brilliant selection of awesomeness when we go back in September though, so all is not lost.
Feeling a lot better now though, almost (not quite) feeling the deep clean in the kitchen that's beckoning to me.

[MrsEvadneCake]

That makes everything worth doing then.

I'm about to tackle the windows