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Original poster

This sounds ridiculous but how do you rest when you're exhausted?

34 replies

situpstraightnow · 27/12/2021 19:23

I actually would go to the doctors if it was Covid times, because I am so, so tired. I can't sleep restfully and I feel so jittery.

I'm a teacher and school finished on the Thursday before Christmas, but I haven't come down yet. It's been an awful term with Covid, behaviour, etc.

I've got a week and a half... how can I pick myself up?

OP posts:
parrotonmyshoulder · 27/12/2021 19:27

Have you got children? Very hard to rest and relax if so.
Yoga, walks, getting everyone to choose one thing they want to do each day and yours can be ‘a two hour bath on my own’ or whatever you enjoy. Time to do your own thing every day.
If you’re ill, then take time off in January.

SantasGotABigOne · 27/12/2021 19:28

Sorry you're feeling exhausted.

Early nights. Good healthy food and mindfulness.
If you're not usually this tired, you should probably go to the Docs and get your thyroid checked/blood sugar levels etc.

Original poster
situpstraightnow · 27/12/2021 19:28

No. My mum helpfully told me at Christmas dinner I would know all about it if I did Hmm

OP posts:

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General health
wheresmymojo · 27/12/2021 19:29

It sounds like your nervous system is probably strung out from high, constant levels of cortisol which we just aren't built to deal with.

I'd really recommend Vit D, Magnesium and Vit B12 supplements

Do a meal plan of lovely, nutritious food. It doesn't have to be any kind of diet, just food that has plenty of nutrients in (I.e. ideally not processed).

Do some yoga - you can find free workouts on YouTube particularly look for Yoga with Adrienne and do ones that aim to calm the nervous system (anything that is calming, relaxing)

Listen to some meditations on Headspace or similar aimed at calming or relaxing

Take some strolls through woods or nature

Basically you're aiming to reduce your cortisol levels so lots of gentle exercise, self-care, naps if you need them, etc.

wheresmymojo · 27/12/2021 19:31

Basically think of the next week or so as time to 'cocoon' and do slow, restful things like reading, gentle walks, yoga, gentle swimming (so not a front crawl race, more like slow breaststroke laps).

Watch comedies or feel good films, nothing that raises your adrenaline.

Original poster
situpstraightnow · 27/12/2021 19:33

I think I need to eat better, definitely.

Swimming actually sounds lovely. I must check if the pool is open.

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 27/12/2021 19:34

Eat well.
Gentle exercise - good long walk.
Music therapy.
Hum drum domestic stuff Amal but meaningful tasks.
Herbal tea. No alcohol.
Long hot baths.
This would be my prescription to self.
Possibly good friend catch up but honestly when I’m ragged like you are describing I personally tend to want to be on my own more.
Good luck op. Be gentle with yourself.

Ohyesiam · 27/12/2021 19:36

Get an app called Insight Timer. It has a thing on it cashed yoga Nidra which is like a guided visualisation abs is phenomenally relaxing.
I also find audio books are great if I’m awake in the night, because it stops my mind racing.

flowerycurtain · 27/12/2021 19:37

I struggled with this and ended up having a course of CBT. As part of my anxiety I found I never really relaxed. I now do mindfulness for 10 mins somewhere in the middle of my day and progressive muscle relaxation from this link:

www.cntw.nhs.uk/content/uploads/2017/06/F_06_Progressive-Muscle-Relaxation.mp3

I do this every night before bed. It's revolutionised my sleep and I do feel able
To relax. You know when you have a really good massage and you can feel your shoulders shiver with relaxation? I can get myself to that point now!

Good luck

Original poster
situpstraightnow · 27/12/2021 19:39

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
HippeePrincess · 27/12/2021 19:40

Get a blood test in case it’s low vit d or anaemia for a start.
Then get some self care sessions set up and do everything you can to lighten your load.

babysleephelp · 27/12/2021 20:02

You should take a vitamin d supplement too op. Especially in winter.

Moonface123 · 27/12/2021 20:31

l think this time of the year is meant for deep rest, look at nature. l would try and go to bed earlier, take vit supplements, eat nourishing food. Listen to your body, turn a blind eye to stuff that isnt urgent.
l have a little bearded dragon and he is currently in brumination, (almost hibernation) he follows his own natural rhythm, we keep everything around him very quiet and calm, and he is a reminder we are not meant to rocket through winter.

MushMonster · 27/12/2021 20:37

You sound estreesed!
Hot baths, hot chocolate just before bed.
Swimming is the best indeed!
You need to make your body as exhausted as your brain is, so even if your brain keeps going, you will fall asleep due to physical tiredness. If that fails, you will need to talk to a doctor.
Long walks, exercising, swimming, then livht dinner, bath, should be followed by a good rest.

Bergamotte · 27/12/2021 20:54

When I'm exhausted but feel too jittery to sleep, I like to lie down and listen to a gentle radio programme. It gives your brain something to focus on so it doesn't race. Often it does help me drift off, but if not at least you're relaxing, getting a good rest and not worrying that you can't sleep.
I listen on the BBC Sounds app, which is free. Apparently the programme "In Our Time" is popular for people trying to sleep! They also have lots of Sherlock Holmes stories with soothing actors.

And as people have said-
-Exercise (best in the first half of the day)
-Gentle walks in nature, really noticing and appreciating what you see
-Cutting down caffeine, not drinking too much alcohol
-Winding down in the evenings with things like doing a jigsaw puzzle, colouring, reading a not-too-challenging book
-Trying to get more sleep (early nights and ideally going to bed and getting up at around the same times each day)

Whattodo121 · 27/12/2021 20:55

I am also a teacher and am just completely ruined by the last term. Last term I had a chest infection, COVID, the mega nasty cold that was horrendous and now am back on steroids for my asthma and possibly have tonsillitis. My nails are flaking and peeling, I keep getting palpitations and my anxiety is through the roof. Christmas has been stressful (covid worries, arrangements etc) and I have honestly never been so run down in my life. I’ve got a regimen of vitamin supplements that I’ve started taking and I haven’t left the house today! Am determined to rest up and to actually get better, rather than just keep masking the doom. In some ways id quite welcome a mini school closure - just for a week or two in January to recuperate. I’m worried I’m going to go back and catch omicron in the first week and be back to square one!

LostForIdeas · 27/12/2021 20:57
  • Doing as little as possible - no spring cleaning!
  • Going out for GENTLE walks outside
  • Laugh
  • Eat as well as possible.
  • Epsom salt Bath before bed
  • Keep warm
ShinyHappyPoster · 27/12/2021 20:58

Vitamins. Fresh air - even just opening a window if you're too tired to go outside.
Then something that energises you eg reading a good book; singing; dancing.
Also, just let yourself rest and try a visualisation to get to sleep.

LostForIdeas · 27/12/2021 20:58

@HippeePrincess

Get a blood test in case it’s low vit d or anaemia for a start. Then get some self care sessions set up and do everything you can to lighten your load.
You can do them privately quite cheaply if you don’t want to go and see your GP (or can’t)
Yika · 27/12/2021 20:59

Watching the birds in your garden can be another very restful activity.

Fresh air and not too much exertion.

I wonder though if you can't properly relax knowing you only have a week and a half ahead of you. Sounds to me that you could be heading towards a burnout and that you should go to the doctor and possibly get signed off for a while.

Original poster
situpstraightnow · 27/12/2021 21:04

Whattodo, you are definitely not well at all. Get yourself signed off if you can.

It's like someone said, my brain and body are at different speeds.

I'm definitely going to try eating better and taking a supplement.

OP posts:
Gormless · 27/12/2021 21:22

Just to echo the good advice others have given here, and to add that even a week of being kind to yourself really can make a big difference. Good luck OP; I’ve been where you are and it’s difficult.

Thickasmincepie · 27/12/2021 21:22

I get this, although I used to be worse in my earlier years.

I'm currently trying to ignore the little voice that told me I didn't get enough done last week (3 days of work before I decided to do Xmas) and that I need to get cracking again. But then, I spend the whole of term time justifying my shit parenting by saying I'll make it up to them at Xmas.

SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree · 27/12/2021 21:27

@Moonface123

l think this time of the year is meant for deep rest, look at nature. l would try and go to bed earlier, take vit supplements, eat nourishing food. Listen to your body, turn a blind eye to stuff that isnt urgent. l have a little bearded dragon and he is currently in brumination, (almost hibernation) he follows his own natural rhythm, we keep everything around him very quiet and calm, and he is a reminder we are not meant to rocket through winter.
I agree with you. Whilst spending time in nature - hours and hours on the beach for example is rejuvenating in summer, you shouldn't push yourself through trying to keep doing things like that in winter. A half hour walk in the morning is plenty.

A couple of days resting at home OP, and a couple of glasses of wine in the evening. Read a good book to get yourself out of the work zone and into another world.