Fat, exhausted, grey, mess....

[Isawthesignanditopenedupmyeyes]

I need an overhaul. I am a mess because I have literally no time to look after myself. I missed a night out with friends tonight that I would have enjoyed as am looking and feeing yuck and exhausted. I’ve spent it lying on the sofa.
I’m on 80 hours of work so far this week, I don’t have time to breathe. Clearly I need to work less but where do I start to turn this around. I’m craving exercise but am too tired to do it, the thought of going out for a run when I get in at 10pm makes me want to cry. I’m exhausted, I’m a mess. I haven’t shaved my legs for a month. Ive had chest pain all week (definitely due to stress, not cardiac before everyone tells me to see gp)
How do I turn this around, I’m ageing rapidly!!
Has anyone been in this situation and have tips? Have also posted in S and B as not sure where is best to post!

Is the 80 hrs due to a particular crisis that will soon pass? If not, that's the challenge first of all - what are the factors affecting those long hours, and how can you influence them?

You can only push yourself so far, and I suspect nobody will suggest lightening the load on you unless you speak up and make them change. Going for a run at 10pm is only a route to a broken ankle if the potholes vs street lighting round your way is anything like here!

Could you have a look at your weekly schedule and decide where you might be able to most easily carve out some time - early mornings, lunchtimes, evenings, weekends? Half an hour at a time would start to give you chances to look after yourself by getting a walk outside, planning or making nourishing food, or with a bit more time then getting a hair trim or a mini-facial if you enjoy them. Try to think of what would make you feel good and you'd enjoy doing - look after yourself, don't punish yourself.

I am equally a pile of shite. Demanding work schedule plus zero sleep means I look ten years older. When I get spectacularly crap looking, I aim to do a few earlier nights, more water, one of those hydrating face mask things at the lap top and remember to eat food rather than shit. Other than that, thank god for eyelash curlers.

Absolutely nothing useful to add, except that I can totally relate to this. Three DC's, work, running the home, and an elderly (and very demanding) mother, and I just don't seem to have the time or motivation to invest in myself.
I've been on Facebook tonight, and there's some talk of a school reunion . I'm fat, tired and grey, and my profile photo is a rare photo of me looking radiant in 2004 . I'd love to see my old school friends, but it's going to take one monumental effort to make myself halfway presentable, and I don't know if I've got it in me

@jocktamsonsbairns this is exactly how I feel, and isn’t such a shame to miss out on life because of it?
I’m liking the eyelash curlers tip!!

Isn't it just? Crazily, I don't even place any importance on looks/presentation in other people, so I've no idea why I attach such high standards to myself. I don't even have the ridiculous working hours that you do, but I still haven't been able to carve out the time to invest in my own self care. To use your example, I shaved my legs for a family holiday in August, but haven't touched them since . No excuse really, just life getting in the way. I could've done them tonight, granted, but I've sat on my ample arse drinking wine and mumsnetting. I'm a lost cause

Oh, me two, or seven. Last year I was doing really well but it was a tough summer and autumn. Fat, knackered, stressed and so so tired. Try to get to gym x 3 per week but lucky to make 1-2.

Did I mention knackered?

Johnny making it to the gym 1-2 times a week is amazing though?! You're doing brilliantly!
If I'm calling this thread right, we're talking about those of us who do absolutely fuck all in terms of self care or exercise. And, we feel shit about it

Small things that take little time and effort.
5-10 minutes of a yoga stretch. Can be done in normal clothes which cuts out the changing of clothes/ showering for anything sweaty. Yoga with Adriene has loads of little yoga videos, and can be done off your phone anywhere you can find a quiet corner.
Drink lots of water.
Vitamins, especially high strength vitamin D at this time of year. Floradix for iron is also good.
If you get enough time at lunchtime, get a few minutes of light and fresh air. Bonus points for some walking..
Get some fresh fruit or salad in to you.

It's a difficult time of year. You're not going to make drastic lifestyle overhauls around an 80 hr week, but a few little self-care moments here and there can help you manage.

The first thing here OP is to look at why you are working 80 hour weeks. What kind of job do you have? Is this minimum wage pulling extra shifts? A senior company role pulling in a new contract (and so temporary). The reason behind why you are working so much will affect what you can do to pull back as if you are working these hours of course you are exhausted and there is no time for anything else.