Nearly 50 and feel totally exhausted and overwhelmed with life, is this all there is?

I give up then. Can’t reason with stupid.

Your subsequent comments in no way excuse the crass insensitivity of your first ones. There was no reason to suppose the OP was anything but a caring and conscientious dog owner from her posts so no need for you to rush in with your boot at the ready.

You have to plan your own "enjoyment" meet new people: local church groups, walking clubs, I love travelling: I pack my bags and off I go!

I think you are doing fantastic. My mum was always on her own and put her animals first. Still does and she's nearly 80. Rarely has anything for herself except her pets. Low wages are a thing that many of us have been trapped with. Sometimes I can't believe the salaries people are on now.
At least you have your house it gives you more choices. So many people are living pay cheque to pay cheque but all we seem to gear about is inheritances landing in people's accounts 😄.
When your dogs get to the end of their lucky happy lives maybe you could do short term dog fostering rather than the expensive long term commitment. It is hard when the kids grow up to establish your new life. I became a gran when my youngest was 12 so haven't experienced the empty nest.
But I really admire how you are managing and your discipline. As I said earlier my life has been one chaotic whirl after another.
Keep saving and keep going. Finances are loads harder on your own. Your dogs will be quite an expense too.

It is frustrating to see spiteful comments from posters who haven’t even read the whole thread

Not nasty or insensitive to ask about the dogs welfare. If you read the OPs response you would have seeen that she is looking after her dogs well so no need for your snarky comment.

You are delightful.

I would get your thyroid checked too OP.

We've a Labrador. I've given up. Everywhere gets hoovered twice a week. The hairs get in the bathroom on the white porcelain. Dust balls in corners. It's relentless.

I'm a widow and also a dog owner.I find it really helpful to walk my dog in parks etc where I'll meet with other dog walkers.When I repeatedly do solitary walks at early morning or nighttime I find it really dismal, especially in poor weather.
It's amazing how a quick chat with another dog walker can change my day.
I'm trying hard to keep a minimum level of tidiness in the house so I'm not ashamed if I've unexpected visitors but you shouldn't get too hung up on housework.
Changing your routine in the smallest of ways really helps but remember January is dismal anyway and Spring's coming.

I think you need to think about your work. A job you enjoyed more that paid better sounds like it would make a big difference to your life. I appreciate it's not that easy to make a change, but think about it. Would you like to retrain in something? What work would interest you? Is there any capacity for a side hustle/starting a business?

And so you are in a completely different stage of life! Which is why you feel different!

The RSPCA have enough to do without sticking their noses into well fed and looked after dogs. Some people are frankly ridiculous.

I wish I could hibernate like a bear in January, February and wake up in March. I have a son like this. It's dark again this morning

Just a question. How is it cruel if the dogs have company with each other and have the run of a downstairs. Have food and water, and are walked daily?

Thank you @3LemonsAndLime - lovely post which I think I needed to read today

Get a cleaner if you can afford one - life is too short to spend your evenings cleaning!
turn your walks into a run - podcast / music on!
get to a yoga / fitness class in the evening.

I feel like this, the daily drudge of life (I'm also perimenopausal). When you're on your own I think it can be quite tough, a bath isn't going to solve it, not doing the housework won't either (you have to do it eventually). You can't put off life admin as it is just you. You cook the same things because it's quick and easy and cooking for one isn't much fun.

I've started tennis lessons again, I love tennis and had lessons just before covid. I forgot how happy being on a court makes me feel, the sound of the ball being hit by a racket, being happy when I hit it, then being twice as happy when it goes over the net!

I've started putting the radio on when I'm working , and it helps make it not quite so boring (I like my job too).

I'm also looking forward to the 6 Nations rugby starting this weekend.

But January have been a real drudge and living pay day to pay day is tough.

Good idea. Agree ferritin and vitamin D are frequent culprits for tiredness. And our winters are brutal for vit D.

Start adding joy in small, easy free or cheap ways. Put on calming or uplifting music you really love while doing jobs around the house. Brew fresh coffee or a favourite tea in z favourite mug.

Listen to fascinating podcasts ( not depressing crime ones) when you walk the dogs. Contact all friends from the old whatsapp groups and ask to catch up over a dog walk some time, or for coffee or a drink at weekends.

Make sure you have healthy, easy to cook food you love at least once a day. Have a couple of different scents of shower gel snd bath oils on the go, so you can choose and take pleasure from a relaxing bath.

Have a goal of doing new things at weekends to meet new people or catching up with an old friend. Money may be tight but you deserve to spend £15-20 minimum a week on yourself. That covers a dance or yoga class, or a cinema trip, a bottle of wine at home with s friend etc.

BTW a friend who spent a fortune on dog medication at the vet found the same medication online and asked the vet for the prescription instead of the meds. Suddenly the vet found they could get it cheaper... Don't be fleeced.

You're only in your 40s! Let your house and go abroad for a year, train to be an English teacher or a yoga teacher. Train to be a school teacher if you have a degree and go work in a nice international school for a bit. If you don't have a degree go to uni as a mature student. Or do an access, then go.

Maybe none of that works for you but it's worth thinking about why not. (Aside from dogs, which I get, believe me. But there might be ways around it.) Don't let life pass you by.

I must admit, whenever I see a post on Mumsnet where the OP is saying that they feel tired, stressed or overwhelmed by tasks and ‘walk the dogs’ is listed, I do wonder if there’s something that is being overlooked.

I do understand that people love them but they are a huge tie these days (the increased expectations around ‘good’ dog care have only added to the stress) and come with their own long list of chores.

One family I know is partly from the US and manage their dog in quite an old-style way. He gets a good walk in the morning and at other times, spends a lot of time out in the big ‘yard’, knows exactly where he is in the hierarchy and doesn’t go on the furniture. Despite being a large breed he is now a really sensible adult dog.

The OP would probably feel far better, freer and more relaxed in this key stage of life if she could leave the house when she wanted, for as long as she wanted, pop away for a weekend and had more money to spend.

Perhaps ‘Borrow my Doggy’ could be the answer in the meantime?

Just to add its not normal to be excessively 'exhausted' everyday due to work so I'm glad you're getting checked out at the GP. Definitely take lots of supplements regardless of the results - they help prop us up day to day! Particularly probiotics and iron.