I'm tired. I mean really, really tired. I work hard, and am busy, and have been tired pretty much since I had the children to some degree or another, but in the last few weeks it's got far worse and I've started embarrassingly falling asleep all the time. On the train to work, on the train back from work, during my lunchbreak at work, really any time I stop for a moment, I seem to drop off. It's sleeping through exhaustion, not narcolepsy or similar, I'm just bone tired.
I'm mid 40s and bar a bit of mild asthma, no known health issues.
My life is stupidly busy. I commute into London to work, which is about 1.5 hours each way, as does DH. I get up around 6.15 to leave the house for 7.15. Can't leave any later - DH actually works slightly further across London and has to leave before 7. Children are (younger end) Secondary age, and walk to school, leaving at 7.30, so DH and I between us need to make sure they're up, breakfasted and ready before we leave. Generally all goes OK, kids pretty much self manage, but it's a fairly hectic hour before I even leave the house.
I like my job, it's OK, busy but manageable. My job is not the problem.
I get home about 7pm, from then til the children go to bed at 9ish, its dinner then engaging with the children, homework, music practice, generally chatting and spending the precious small amount of time I have with them.
After they've gone to bed, DH and I clear up from dinner, do any bits of admin, maybe chuck in a load of washing, sort out any school bits that need dealing with, have showers etc. We head up to bed around 10.30ish, having not stopped, and we do tend to chat, cuddle, whatever in bed, meaning that we're probably not actually asleep til close to 11.30.
Weekends - both kids have sports fixtures most Saturdays, so DH and I are both up usually by 7.00 ish to ferry them around to their various matches. Then we have to do the supermarket shop, the housework, change the bedding, washing the uniforms and sports kit etc. Weekends are more relaxed than the week, but we're still busy fitting everything in We try to socialise most Saturday nights - nothing manic, but out to dinner with friends or hosting a dinner, or maybe a cinema trip or bowling, or popping out for drinks. Sundays we get a lay in til around 9.00, and then visit (local) elderly parents on both sides, plus the whole back to school/work routine - ironing, homework, shoe cleaning, plus trying to organise for the week ahead - batch cooking/meal planning etc. It feels a bit like we never really stop.
So I'm tired, and keep falling asleep. Is this a medical thing? Or a lifestyle thing? For sure I don't get enough sleep, but neither does DH, and he seems to cope much better than me (and he definitely does pull his weight and does (possibly more than) his fair share at home).
If it's a lifestyle thing, then I'm pretty snookered, as I can't see how we can cut back on what we do. We keep on top of day to day stuff just about, but we have piles of decorating/gardening etc that we just never get round to doing. We can't afford to buy in help, or to work any less hours.
So should I go see a doctor, or is this just how it is for families with two full time (commuting) workers and family commitments nowadays.
zzzzzzz