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Original poster

Would this routine tire you?

102 replies

peachygood · 08/12/2022 06:22

And if so, how many days a week could you manage it?

5.45am-7.15am - up, feed dog, get showered and ready for work
7.15-8.15/8.30 drive 50 miles to work
8.30-5pm - work
5-6pm either keep working or go to gym
6-7pm drive 50 miles home
7-7.30pm walk dog
7.30-8.30 cook and eat dinner, put a load of washing on, general housework
8.30-9pm relax, watch TV, play on phone
9pm bed and generally fall asleep by 10/10.30pm

I’m exhausted! But it doesn’t seem like a particularly busy schedule. Any tips for helping me feel less tired?

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 08/12/2022 06:25

How old are you? At 30 I could do it. At 45 I couldn't.

Obviously a lot depends on your other circumstances - I guess there is a partner at home looking after the dog. But is moving closer to work an option? Or working from home a few days a week?

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 08/12/2022 06:27

I could maybe do it once. If I had extra amphetamine.

flowerycurtain · 08/12/2022 06:28

2 days a week. And I'd be knackered the other days. There's not a lot of downtime in that.

PorridgewithQuark · 08/12/2022 06:29

The commute is the main problem. Other than that it depends whether for you the dog walking and gym are relaxing or depressing chores.

The obvious long term solution is to move closer to work or get a job nearer home and claw back at least half of the two hours driving. Then you'd have an hour and a half to yourself instead of half an hour.

Batch cooking could also help you recover another half hour a few days per week, and be strict with yourself about stopping work at 5pm.

As you walk twice per day you could obviously cut the gym out of you wanted to - unless its a hobby.

Essentially the gym could be cut out if you need more down time, and long term start thinking about cutting your commute.

user159 · 08/12/2022 06:30

Sounds like quite a normal day to me! Some weeks it is tiring if I've been sleeping badly or had a busy weekend too but most of the time it's fine. I'm mid 30's one pre school DC

TabithaTittlemouse · 08/12/2022 06:33

Sounds similar to my day apart from I don’t eat at home, don’t get to go to the gym during working hours and I get in at 9:30, bed by 10. I do it five days a week so apart from gym, dogs and housework I don’t do much on my days off.
It works for us.

Flapjackquack · 08/12/2022 06:33

It’s the commute, it’s not just the time it’s the mental energy of driving. I’ve had jobs where I commute for that long but it’s been on trains/buses so I could at least switch off with a book. The rest I would say is a normal day, although 5.45 is a bit early to get up but I don’t have a dog. Do you have a dog walker for during the day? Could you cut the morning walk down if so?

Godsavetheking2022 · 08/12/2022 06:33

The commute alone would tire me out.

Willmafrockfit · 08/12/2022 06:34

the drive takes ages
it must be worse now with the dark and the lights from other cars.
1 day i think

MoominPants · 08/12/2022 06:39

I did this for 3 months. No dog but had a 5 month old in nursery. It was awful.

I cut back on the commute by 46 miles. This meant a little over 8 hours a day was “work”
and getting to work. I think unless you are qualifying as a junior doctor that is enough for anyone.

no regrets.
also, the dog sitter is a good idea!

lljkk · 08/12/2022 06:39

think you should be tired at end of that day

As long as you have energy to be cheerful & still do it all over again next day, it's not too much.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/12/2022 06:39

It's similar to mine for time you get up, and bed time. I work a full time job, then get home and go and teach at a club I run with barely a 1 hour turn around and it is exhausting.

However, my commute is minutes when I'm in the office and I can wfh most of the week. I think your commute is the issue..

CaramelizedNuts · 08/12/2022 06:40

It's busy but I the early bed time should fix that. If you can go to bed that early and you get down time before hand your winning as far as I can see!

isthisamistakeornot · 08/12/2022 06:42

I could do it 2-3 days a week but I’d struggle to do it for a full week. I don’t have a dog but do have kids!

lovenotwar149 · 08/12/2022 06:51

Agree with others....the commute would be the biggest stress for me. The rest is fine

bumpytrumpy · 08/12/2022 06:59

I'd cut out the early morning dog walk and let the person at home deal with it everyone is assuming there is a SAHP or WFH person involved and you're not leaving the dog alone for 12 hours!!! That person should also be doing washing & general house work & cooking, particularly during the time you're commuting (so 2 hours a day - should be plenty)

If the above was happening you'd probably feel more supported. How does it compare to reality?

Nandocushion · 08/12/2022 07:00

Yes, the commute sounds awful. But if you can't change that, I'd see if I could give up the gym and work exercise into your dog walking time, maybe loading up with a weighted bag etc to make it more strenuous for you or something.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 08/12/2022 07:04

Where is the early morning dog walk that people are referring to? I can only see one dog walk in the schedule.

Surely whoever is at home with the dog during the day can prepare dinner and put the washing on?

Zonder · 08/12/2022 07:06

1 day. No way would I do a 100 mile round trip commute more than that. I did it at 40 for a day release extra work qualification but wouldn't do it more than that. That alone is exhausting.

Travellingraspberry · 08/12/2022 07:06

On the days you've said 5-6pm keep working (rather than going to the gym) is there any reason you have to do that? I'd be heading home at 5pm at least 2 nights a week to give me an extra hour

Original poster
peachygood · 08/12/2022 07:10

It’s just me and teen DS at home. Dog goes out with a walker for 1.5-2 hours middle of the day before anyone gets up in arms, and DS is home from 3.30.

The morning walk has been invented by people on the thread, I don’t walk the dog in the morning.

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 08/12/2022 07:10

Its the driving 100miles on top of everyday life. Any option for public transport

AriettyHomily · 08/12/2022 07:12

My day is pretty much the same but my commute is by train. I get up a bit later though as shower and wash hair before I go to bed.

Lkydfju · 08/12/2022 07:13

What’s your job? I did this with a stressful and busy job where I didn’t often get a lunch break and was exhausted. If it’s driving in traffic I find that quite tiring too when it’s very stop start.

Thefailinghousewife · 08/12/2022 07:14

We do this 5 days a week, and we are knackered. I feel like I pause life during the week and then the weekends and holidays we have an actual life as such. Our commute is the school run as I work from home though, and I do think this helps - can you work remotely for part of the time?