Is anyone else just so fucking tired...

[Totallybannanas]

I’m not sure if it’s my job, my age, or both, but this winter feels like it’s dragging on forever. By the time I get home, I’m completely drained—I cook, do the dishes, then spend the rest of the evening in a vegetative state until I finally give in and go to sleep. I have zero motivation to go out or do anything because, first, I’m exhausted, and second, I find a lot of people in society today insufferable. I don’t know if it’s just a seasonal slump or something that comes with age, but I genuinely hate being around strangers in places like pubs or restaurants. People just seem like complete idiots, and honestly, I’d rather just hibernate or escape to an island away from everyone.

I don't even have a job to go to . Just don't want to leave the house or my bedroom at all. Everything is an effort and I feel so low . Few health problems but I know they would be so much improved if I got off my arse and made changes to loose excess weight .

Maybe it's a combination of things, life on general just feels so fucking hard right now. It just seems so bleak.

Yep. Im beyond tired, I feel like I've been running in empty for a while now. Had a flu type virus before Christmas and feel like I haven't recovered properly from that. Just started to take vitamin D today so hoping that'll make some difference soon.

This winter really feels like it’s going on forever. Every morning the sky is grey and it’s gets you really down . I just want to sleep until some blue skies finally appear .

🙋‍♀️. I'm exhausted and actually had a tie with DH about my lack of oomph. I feel ....empty. Tired. Just want a glass of wine and bed. All the time. Not more. A glass. 20 mins evening then I'm done

Same

I'm taking multi vitamins and vitamin d etc
Had a headache for the past 2 weeks and I never get headaches. Fed up, tired and want some sun

The government recommends everyone in the UK takes vit D supplements between October and March. I really notice a difference in my mood when I take them.

Also you can boost your happy hormones through laughter. I love watching funny videos on social media, and if they make me lol I send them to myself on Whatsapp so I can watch them again when I'm feeling down.

Your leg could be falling off and people will say it's perimenopause on here.

If you haven't had blood tests done recently it might be worth it just in case it's something easily treatable. I've been incredibly fatigued, with no motivation for anything and generally really low mood - turned out to be Vit D deficiency plus underactive thyroid so am now being treated for both.

I usually love winter but I feel so bloody awful this year. It’s been so gloomy for so long, it’s like there’s no end in sight. I wonder wth is going on? I take vitamins so it’s not that.

Feel absolutely the same op. I am 44. My sister is the same at 41.

So are a couple of my friends. After an exhausting day at work I often just go home and lie in bed watching my dramas to get out of my own head. I am ao tired. Have popped downstairs to eat but that's it.

The evening goes so fast. I fall asleep at 8.30 sometimes. Invariably someone wakes me up. Shattered when I wake up for work.

Is it modern life? It is just too much. People expect so much from us at work. Then everything costs a fortune. I am sick of being cold.

I'm always tired but young kids are just so draining even when you sleep enough

Unhappiness, statistically peaks at 45/46, it's when most people are at the most stress, lowest.

Usually, but clearly not all apply, career might not be exactly what you hoped, likely to still have dependents at home, aging parents, beginning of declining health if bit for you for friends, ebbing friendships for the time being because they are being pulled in all directions as well, most still have a mortgage and other huge financial commitments (uni fees, driving lessons,), the list is endless.

We reach a peak low

But it does slowly start to improve.

I found finding something, anything small that helps recharge you or even just claws back a bit of joy made enough of a difference.

I found reading novels in the bath a good kick start, increased my concentration, let me escape into stories for half hours, hour at a time, I liked the stuff I was reading so clawed out more and more pockets if time, herbal tea or wine on the go, it helped. I seemed to be drawn to female writers more, I used to be quite 50/50 male/female authors. Starter with I guess less challenging texts, and then wanted longer, more complicated, in depth (?), not really sure how to explain it, stories.

It semed to relax and envigour my brain at the same time. Which helped.

Not saying it's the answer to all life's struggles but thought I would say what contributed to riding the mid 40s depressing treadmill for me. (Not that far past mid 40s now and it did improve, external factors seem just a bit more manageable)

I'm in my 60s and feel the same, get up, work, cook, sleep.

I'm taking a daily vitamin which has helped a lot. I now have more energy and can enjoy the weekends, go for a run, see friends, but during the week my idea of a nice evening is me, the logburner, a glass of wine and a book.

Only 7 weeks until April. 🌷🌷

I'm the same. I am so bored of feeling tired all the time.

Yep , I have no excuse because I'm now retired , a few months in , but this year I have been struck by total lethargy. Everything is too much effort and this Jan has been the worst of all months , the endless gloom is so depressing and I long for spring .

Here in the southwest we had a long, wet, grey summer . Now we are having the same but with the added joy of cold and dark. I don't mind the cold but the grey is really getting to me.

What is wrong with us all?
Why are so many of us so bloody tired and exhausted?
People of all ages have replied here, we can't all be menopausal!

Personally, I find watching comedies hugely invigorating.

I think it's very normal to feel low at this time of year (I personally have found that January is exceptionally difficult to get through without a break away booked for February.. we're away right now)

But some of this sounds really extreme and I would definitely be considering a doctors visit to check everything is where it should be, iron levels etc. I don't think it should be considered normal to be struggling quite so much with every day activities and it could well be that iron, thyroid or depression is involved

My people. My exhausted, depressed people. I’d embrace you all but haven’t got the energy to lift my arms.

I do feel a bit better knowing it’s not just me. I’m 43 and have a 5yo and a 2yo which explains some of the exhaustion; the 2yo in particular hasn’t not been ill since November, on and off. When he’s well, it’s the 5yo. Right now it’s all of us with Covid.

But even without that I have no pep. No motivation. I had more energy post CS with a newborn and a 3yo. I’m job hunting after redundancy and struggling to see how I’ll cope with work when I’m this fucking tired. I just doomscroll all the time every night until sleep claims me. I know I need to read books instead, watch shows, get some more exercise (I do feel wonderful when we get out into the downs on a weekend but the weather has been awful forever), make something – I’m trying to resew some curtains for DS’s room but meh. But it all feels too much.

Everything costs so much. The world is shit. The sun hasn’t put in an appearance since summer 2023. All feels a bit treadmill and joyless.

Yes, it’s the viruses that have got me. I feel I’ve never fully recovered from one, drag myself on - then get another one. I’ve had Covid last Autumn, a couple of colds, influenza A at the end of December, which really wiped me out, then have had that awful cold-like virus which is really vicious and has given me the worst sinus problems I’ve ever had, and has been going on 3 wks.

I’m so tired that I literally think about bed all day. I get home from work and can’t do anything except sit down to gather enough strength to make some food. It’s relentless and depressing. I dream about being on a desert island, dozing in the warmth and sunlight.

Apart from the viruses, I truly believe our enforced lifestyles contribute. For example, my DCs’ schools seem to be starting earlier and earlier, my work starts early too, which necessitates getting up very early when it’s pitch black. I don’t think our bodies were made to do that, and having to do so day after day depletes our immune systems and affects our longterm health.

The gov will never change anything, but they should. Reduced hours and days are looked upon as skiving, as some kind of moral failing or lazy trickery - but, in reality, they’d not only benefit the individual, they’d benefit society. There’d be less ill health and more energy and productivity in the workforce.

So, we need a 4 day week, and/or a later start to the working day in the Winter months if not all year. Imagine the difference that would make - in so many ways.

People really do love to moan, but hate doing anything to try and improve their situation. I get that it is so much easier to complain and blame everything around you, but you're the only person who can actively take responsibility and change the situation.

There are no magic wands - if you want to actively improve your physical and mental health, then eat better, sleep better and exercise more.

Read the room.

I am retired and can do what the fuck I like, when I like, and all I want to do atm is stay home and do..... nothing.

I think some of us have a natural instinct to conserve energy and sort of hibernate in the winter months, but mostly we can't until retirement.