Anyone else feel low and unmotivated once the weekend begins?

[Zippidydoodah]

I look forward to the weekend all week, and am happy the moment I wake up on a Saturday and realise it’s the weekend!

then, I just get more and more miserable and can’t motivate myself to do anything or go anywhere. I start thinking about all the jobs I need to do but can’t bring myself to do them.

all I’ve done all morning is sit around and drink tea. I’ve only just had a shower and am sitting in a towel playing games on my phone 😭

what is wrong with me!!?? Is anyone else like this? Someone kick me up the bum, please.

Ok I’ve had a Diet Coke and managed to get dressed.

You need rest. Don’t force yourself to do stuff - it’s ok to chill!

but… put your phone down :)

Thank you! I have so much to do though.

i love your user name! 😆

I have a tendency to do this - I usually end up with one day being a wipeout - on the sofa, doom scrolling and watching trashy TV and I feel really guilty for it. The next day I’m super productive. Apparently it’s an ADHD thing - although I don’t have a diagnosis. What helps me not lose a day is getting up reasonably early and starting to do something even if I feel too lazy. I set a timer for 1 hour to get some housework done and then once I start I’m up and about and the day is salvaged. Best thing is - dont reach for the phone! Easier said than done though!!

@runningonberocca the timer is a good idea. Maybe I’ll try it!

It’s 1.45pm though; today is already wasted! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Only half the day is wasted. You're seriously planning to waste the other half because you didn't get up early?

For me the day breaks into three rough sessions: morning, afternoon and evening. I try to use at least two of those sessions each day for work, chores and hobbies

Nope, still wasting the day 😭

I’m so fed up with myself.

I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone as I often do this! Usually when I’ve had a tough week so I would cut yourself some slack and tomorrow is another day!!

Yeah I tend to do this too (also ADHD) but I know that I do need to destress after the week so I keep my expectations low.

I can run the risk of this but I book an exercise class on a Saturday morning at 6:45 and a swim slot at my nearby lake for 6:30 on a Sunday - both of those make me feel really good that I’ve started the day on a good note and I’m motivated to get home, showered and then do things.
It’s not for everyone but I don’t sleep in beyond about 5am anyway so I’m already awake, I figure if I don’t I’d rot in bed on my phone until at least 10:30 if we don’t have plans to do anything and then just relocate myself around the house doing absolutely nothing.
i just find it easier to make the most of my weekends when I start with good intentions.
Equally occasionally I do just need to come home after my early starts, have a shower and then do nothing for a couple of hours.
that’s okay too!

Thank you all for making me feel less alone/useless!

I love the idea of booking an early class- at least if (when) I rot for the rest of the day, I won’t feel like I’ve wasted the day so much! 😏

I woke up at about 7am this morning after a bad nights sleep due to the heat. Closed my eyes for 5 minutes and didn’t wake up till 10.30am! Must have needed it but it really makes me feel a bit weird throughout the day. I’m normally up about 8.30 at the weekends.

It’s been so hot again here as well and my motivation is at an all time low. Pretty sure it’s lack of sleep these past few weeks.

Blimey 5am! What time do you go to bed? Do you get up at 5am in the winter too?

I could have written this. I have such great plans for a productive weekend and waste half the day scrolling :(

Trust me OP we all do it! I’m literally the same I’ve been so unmotivated and had little energy the last two weeks, I’ve barely done much either when there are things that I could be doing!!🤣🤣🤣

Sometimes you just need some 'dead' time. We are all so busy

Thank you.

Ive worked out that I’m rubbish at self directing my time. When I have to be at work, I’m much more motivated, but when I just have a house that’s a complete pigsty and a long to-do list, that’s when I can’t get going.

safe to say I’ve had a good rest this weekend🤦🏻‍♀️😆

One thing I heard in a YouTube video that’s stuck with me is “go slow don’t stop” So even if it takes me an hour to have a bit of a tidy up in between cups of tea/ game on phone etc at least I’ve managed it - I try and stick to this when I’m feeling really demotivated and I do actually find however slow the start I tend to get quicker and more motivated.

This is good advice @speakingofart
Thanks!

How's everyone's weekend going? I got home from work early on Friday and had great plans but spent all afternoon and half of Saturday scrolling :( Trying to be more productive today (I'm in Oz so it's Sunday morning now)

I do the same - it's really hard to break. I have tried using flylady - she has loads of tips for getting started.

There's also DrK on YouTube who does a lot on motivation and discipline, he does warn about not just watching multiple videos but taking some ideas and actually actioning them.

Things I have found that work:

1. don't waste the whole day just because it takes a long time to get started - doing some jobs 3-5pm still gets things done

1. Set timers, do 5 mins at a time, so pick up rubbish, clear off a messy table etc for just 5 mins

1. Watch a long programme and do what you can in the ad breaks - Columbo is great for this for me - it's surprising how much you can get the kitchen straight just in thos breaks

1. For the important bigger tasks you can't face a good tactic is to set a time aside to do it (start it). Say 2pm on Sunday for 2 hours (whenever obviously). At that time you either sit doing absolutely nothing (no phone scrolling, no wander off to make a drink etc) or you do the task. Task or nothing means you basically will do the task even if it takes 20 mins or more of "oh shit I don't want to".

Hope some of this helps.

No idea how I managed to put 1 at the start of all those paragraphs!

I find it helps to decide you are doing nothing for a while, so you can do it, as planned, without guilt. E.g. On Saturday, I will do nthing until midday. I can lie in bed, slob around in PJs, read a trashy novel, watch trashy TV, doomscroll etc. But set a timer for midday and then have three easy things to do that take 10 mins each or less: put on a wash load, empty and reload the dishwasher, strip the bed, or empty the bins. Then have half an hour to shower and get dressed, bit of make up on. It's 1pm, you are well-rested, up, dressed, with three jobs done, and have all afternoon and evening to go out and see friends or tackle a few bigger jobs around the house.

I love this advice. I do this sort of thing a lot. Every ad break, take a few things out of the dishwasher. By the end of the programme, it is emptied. Or clear and wipe a surface every ad break. Lay out the prep for dinner. By the end of the programme, the kitchen is clean and you are ready to cook. And by jumping up and going into the kitchen every 10-15 mins, you are less sluggish than if you'd stayed slumped on the sofa.

Just tidy or clean for 5 minutes. Set a timer and in 5 minutes tidy a room: coats and bags hung up, junk mail and snack wrappers/ drinks cans tossed, stray cups and glasses in dishwasher, cushions plumped. It may not be perfect but it looks WAY better than in did, in just 5 mins.

Same with physical jobs. Just 5 mins hoovering a gritty carpet, mopping a grubby floor, or polishing taps and bathroom mirror, giving the loo a quick scrub. It is so inspiring how much can be done in 5 mins.

Edited to add: I find it helps to put on really upbeat music that I love when cleaning and tidying. It gets me feeling active.

It sounds like you’re looking forward to the weekend because you think it will be a bit of a break and then get annoyed when you realise you still have jobs to do even though it’s Saturday