If you’re early/mid 40s, how much energy do you have?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I’m slowly recovering from nearly a year of fatigue after having covid last March. I have completely forgotten now what ‘normal’ feels like. I think I have got an unrealistic expectation that when I’m better I will spring out of bed full of beans. I’m not sure I ever sprang out of bed

So if you’re in your early/mid 40s, particularly if you’re busy (full time work, family etc) with no serious health conditions - how much ‘oomph’ do you have? What does your normal feel like?

I have very little right now! - but know and work with plenty of people that do.

The issue if you have one will be with lifestyle (FT job and young kids) rather than age, so I'd work on how to delegate, get time to rest, exercise, yada. Also get GP to check thyroid etc. 40s is not old enough to be feeling tired just because. 50s isn't either assuming your health is generally OK.

Early 40s, work full time (albeit desk job rather than active), 2 young, primary age kids. I get up early and run 40+ miles a week, fit some cycling in and get the kids out for some form of daily exercise too, so not short on energy, although admittedly I can be a sleep on the sofa some nights within minutes of the kids being in bed!!! Usually get 7-8 solid hours sleep.

I am almost 40 and since I started exercising and losing weight I have so much more energy. I also don't drink in the week unless a special reason/really bad day, which helps me sleep. I don't have children, appreciate that probably helps!

Since I've turned 40, I feel like I do have less energy.

I have three kids under 7, and have put on 2 stone this year tho, so I'm pretty sure that's related.

I'm looking forward to getting more active this summer, and losing some weight and getting back to me a bit more after the fog of babyhood and toddler tears.

Like you though op, I dont really know what that is anymore. May be a slightly different normal than when I was 34...

Mid forties here. I have to drag myself every bed every morning and it takes a couple of hours to feel normal! I'm fairly healthy, exercise, and take multi vitamins and iron and lots of coffee which seems to help.

My energy levels vary throughout the day. I think it also depends on my general mood. Some days I'll be full of beans, some days I'd easily nod of at 4pm given the chance.

I certainly can't stay up really late like I did in my youth and be fine the next day so age is definitely a factor. I'm usually shattered by 11pm.

I'm sorry you've been ill. It does take months to bounce back from covid for some people so don't push yourself to do too much. Look after yourself, get lots of sleep and maybe try some multi vitamins

*I meant "drag myself out of bed." Sorry obviously haven't had enough coffee this morning

mid 40's and feel exactly as I did in my 20's energy is fine

I'm mid 40s and find it really varies. I actually posted on health earlier because I do feel that in the week before my period I'm half dead - exhausted, irritable, sad etc and I don' know if that's from lockdown or perhaps peri-menopause?

The other 3 weeks of the month my energy levels are fine overall but it definitely varies. Work full time (self employed), kids etc. I'm definitely more likely to be impacted by stress/worry etc and my sleep is much less consistent and less good quality in my 40s than it was in my 20s. Having children messed it up forever!!! This definitely impacts things as a couple of nights in a row of bad sleep massively impact energy levels.

Mid 40’s I was fine, but something changed around 48/49.

46 and generally healthy but not much energy! I have a dog so do get out with him but at home I just want to lie in bed and look at my phone, have to drag myself up to do chores and feel tired all the time. My eyes are watery and get headaches

My snoring DH has taken to another bedroom for the last couple of weeks. The difference in my sleep quality and daytime tiredness is noticeable.

41 here. Still a typical night owl so I'm not great with mornings, never have been! Once I've had a coffee I'll perk right up though and crack on with things. We have a 3 year old; having a baby at 38 definitely aged me like nothing else (especially my eyes!) but obviously she's absolutely worth it! I have desk job, so try to stream an exercise class at least 4 times a week to stay active.

I also have arthritis, mainly under control but if I'm in a flare and in pain any get up and go has got up and gone

49. Far too busy to flag tbh!! Still have 5 x dc at home.

I'm 32, no covid or other health condition.

The fatigue is bone aching. There is, apparently, nothing wrong with me. Except a snoring husband

@Bubbinsmakesthree thank you for the question - I’m in the same position trying to work out what’s lingering long covid fatigue, lockdown malaise or the fact I’ve just turned 40. I’m also 8 weeks pregnant so all bets are off energy-wise!!

Hope you’re doing OK long covid is rubbish

Generally capable of a couple of hrs walk a day. Wouldn't want to do an aerobics class, but could do, if that makes sense. I'm overweight but healthy. Can do 6 hrs sleep and a short nap, or 7/8 hrs with no nap. No aches or pains to speak of, but I think that's cos I take a lot of vit d.

Ah yes snoring dh and I have separate rooms and both of us benefit hugely from it energy-wise

Mid 40s, work FT, 1 DD. I exercise 6-7 days a week (sometimes just a long walk though), get plenty of sleep and have loads of energy. I am a morning person though, so often asleep by 9pm, awake before 6.

Currently drinking a bit too much but resetting to weekends only now.

@Aozora13 - congratulations on your pregnancy! That’s a tough combination though with long covid too!

The long covid stuff is weird because it’s not ‘normal’ fatigue but I do have to remind myself that in ‘before times’ I still used to get tired!

I’m 40 and don’t have loads of energy

I am hypothyroid (medicated, but perhaps I need to be checked)

I go to bed far too late so I’m sure that doesn’t help

Exercise does seem to help but I don’t know which is chicken and egg - as in, do I feel better when I do more exercise, or do I do more exercise when I feel better?

Couldn't work out if early or mid 40s - I'm 43. Get up fine, tired in the evenings - this has always been my body clock but more pronounced as I get older. I often don't sleep well and this affects how tired I feel. If I've slept properly (6-7 hours), I feel fine.
Exercise and spend time outside almost every day, healthy weight, reasonably healthy diet. 3 young teens and part time self-employed project based job which varies considerably in how time consuming/stressful it is.
I'd like to have more energy. For me it's clearly linked with sleep, but I do lots of the right things around sleep and it doesn't seem to help. I think that's partly an age thing too.

Early 40s here, work full time, two kids. Until 4 weeks ago I had quite a lot of energy, certainly as much as I did in my 20s and 30s. Then I got Covid. I'm hoping I'll get my old energy back, but it seems to be taking forever.

46 and I think I have the same energy levels I always had. This considering I also have a demanding full time job and a toddler. I still exercise almost every day (would like to do more) and sleep min 7 hours per night (with exception of when LO is ill).
Take your time, you will recover eventually. One thing I notice when I come out of a difficult time/illness is that I need to force myself into a physical activity to regain the same energy levels. The less I do the less my body reacts.

@SmileyClare

Mid forties here. I have to drag myself every bed every morning and it takes a couple of hours to feel normal! I'm fairly healthy, exercise, and take multi vitamins and iron and lots of coffee which seems to help.

My energy levels vary throughout the day. I think it also depends on my general mood. Some days I'll be full of beans, some days I'd easily nod of at 4pm given the chance.

I certainly can't stay up really late like I did in my youth and be fine the next day so age is definitely a factor. I'm usually shattered by 11pm.

I'm sorry you've been ill. It does take months to bounce back from covid for some people so don't push yourself to do too much. Look after yourself, get lots of sleep and maybe try some multi vitamins

I'm the same as you. I find it so hard to get up. I don't sleep great and wake several times in the night. A few years ago I started suffering with exhaustion and was diagnosed with a severe but D deficiency and while the treatment did help have never been fully right. Admittedly I am unfit and could do with losing some weight but I'm convinced I have CFS/ME. My arms will ache even just pegging washing out or brushing my teeth and even slight exertion can leave me feeling exhausted.

Take your time, you will recover eventually. One thing I notice when I come out of a difficult time/illness is that I need to force myself into a physical activity to regain the same energy levels. The less I do the less my body reacts.

This is one of the frustrating things with this illness - doing too much triggers a set back. So it’s a bit of a catch-22 - I’m sure part of the reason I feel sluggish is inactivity, but activity can make me worse (i felt utterly dreadful for a week after attempting a very gentle jog last year, I’ve not risked it again since).