How do you get out of a really flat and low mood?

[WhyNotMe40]

I'm feeling really hopeless and teary and no energy. But I've got 3 kids and a house to see to today and just can't get motivated.

Anyone got any ideas?

I've just let them have the tablets out and a bit of screen time so I can at least have a cuppa and peace for 5 minutes, but I can't let them on them for long or their behaviour deteriorates, so I've got to get myself going.

You sound exactly like me, except I'm no longer a SAHM having gone back to work when youngest started school. Whilst oil loved being at home it was very isolating at times. I'm off work at the minute due to the children's holiday and I'm struggling as well. I'm also mid 40s 3 kids and have had a bereavement (dbro) 7 months ago. My life has just imploded. I can't shake the sad, down, desperate there's no point in life feeling.
I make sure everyone is clean fed schooled and loved but I'm running on empty. So I offer no solutions OP but some solidarity

I do the house every bloody day. Tidying or cleaning is not going to help. I've already stripped and washed the bedding today, made bread, washed up from breakfast and cleaned the kitchen surfaces, put a nappy wash on. Normally today I would also clean loos and sinks but I've run out of oomph.

How about cut yourself some slack?

The sky won't fall in if the floors aren't vacuumed or the loos aren't cleaned every 24hrs. It'll still be the same effort to do it on Friday as it is today. Ditto the bedding etc.

If you are short on time and sanity, just buy bread/whatever, don't faff about having to make it.

Scoop up the kids, go to the park, let them run round like mad while you feel the sunshine on your face and the birds in the trees for a bit. Nothing else matters for that while.

I've felt the same op, slow to start today and been teary. Blown off fwb and cleaned the house instead and may go climbing for excercise. Will sort out some admin later if I can sum up the energy.

I find it hard to get going but for me a busy mind and the end results work and make me feel better.

So I took the kids to the park. Got home, cooked tea, cleared up from tea, bathed kids, read stories and put them to bed
Then stayed up to midnight just thinking and wondering what worth my life has.
I was browsing careers and jobs but all the well paying ones obviously need different qualifications and experience to mine.
I have chosen a "job" that means I have school holidays with my kids but is pretty thankless and involves huge amounts of unpaid work. And actually I'm not even that good at it. I feel like I've wasted my life but I know I don't respond well to stress - fairly fragile mental health so maybe this return to work plus recent bereavements has just triggered a relapse?
I've got today's washing done so far and the kids are up and fed. I'm going to let them have another easy morning with screen time while I try to get my head together, then we have a craft activity to do this afternoon.
I'm not sure what else I can do to help myself really.