To ask what your biggest energy boosters are?! Some mums get so much shit done!

[upsidedown2017]

I'm knackered. All the time. If you have plenty of energy please tell me what you're eating/drinking/sleeping/doing!

I shouldn't feel like this in my 30s should I?

Any suggestions for what I can do to improve things?

I have a young baby so know tired! However, a good walk each day (~10k), no meat, dairy or soya and all food organic (saved loads of money too) no caffeine, sugar or alcohol - all of these things make me feel good. Then being efficient with cleaning - ie batch cook on bin day, chop all onions & freeze once every few months, dust & polish whilst making phone calls, get fruit & veg box delivery, clean the shower a little bit every day, rather than big scrub-downs - oh and switch to environment friendly cleaning products. having less harsh chemicals makes me feel better too. Each day take anything out of a room if it doesn't belong there, I agree with PP that a pre-bedtime sweep round the house means I can go to sleep with a clean mind (omg sound like aunt aggy!) but I do it while DH does bathtime.

Taking vitamins & minerals,
Exercise as well as yoga,
Early night when I need it,
Washing up before bed,
Cutting out dairy,
No screen time before bed.

I try to do as much of those as possible, baby still feeds at night though.

Spatone
B12 Boost spray.

IToldYou
If you’re getting mid afternoon slumps, that’s a sign of adrenal fatigue. There’s plenty of info online about supporting them.

I have ME, which means my body runs dangerously low on energy. Lots of high quality supplements. Especially d3 in the winter months.

What age are your dc and what are their bedtimes thanks?
I like to go to bed early myself without sleeping straight away. It's nice for the dc to have this calm 'me' time too but how early is too early?

Mine are 3 and 5. A 3 year old needs 10.5-12.5 hours of sleep a night. A 5 year old needs 10-12. My 3 year old is 8pm and my 5yo is 8:30. But that’s the time I leave their room. It’s bathtime with both at 7:15, pjs and storytime with 3yo until 8, and storytime with 5yo 8-8:30. They both have nightlights but not bright enough to read by. I let them pick out one small toy to take to bed in addition to their teddy/blankie. After story time, I leave and they can play with their toy if their not already asleep, but they have to stay in bed. 9/10 they’re asleep in 10 minutes anyway because it’s the same time sleep/awake every day (even on weekends).

I think a lot of children are chronically overtired and that plays a lot into behaviours. Also, a lot of people forget just how much sleep children need. Also, weekends letting them stay up/lie in, is not a great habit. Yes, sometimes it ruins plans, or we have to get a babysitter instead of bringing them places, but it’s so worth it, because they are such good sleepers. It wasn’t always this way, but with routines and practice that we never change.

How do people go to bed by 9pm.

We are usually not back from ECA until 10pm on certain days, usually 8.30-9 on others.. Then there is homework and food and showers and getting stuff ready for the next day and work stuff to do.

I rarely am in bed before 1am and wake up usually between 4 and 5 although I don't need to be up till 6-30.

I have had bouts of insomnia before but this time I seem to have got into a routine and I am left feeling knackered all day.

I am watching with interest what tips anyone can give me.

B12 shots and iron
Routine
Bed by 10
Very little alcohol
A husband who does probably more than 50% with the kids when he is home

How do people go to bed by 9pm.

We are usually not back from ECA until 10pm on certain days, usually 8.30-9 on others..

What's ECA? I suspect other people don't go to it/do it which is how they manage earlier nights

Extra Curricular Activities?

Am very impressed I worked that out! Normally they go over my head

Ah right. That's your answer then Oliversmumsarmy those who go to bed at 9.30 don't have extra curricular activities that end at 10pm. Presumably your DC are older teenagers though anyway if they have activities finishing at 10pm?

Latest finish we have is 8pm but they eat before that activity and so its bed pretty much as soon as we get in.

Should say the Extra Curricula activities are what dd does as a career so she can't just give them up as some of them she works at and some are ongoing training.

Exercise, enough calories, a metric shitton of veg/fruit, caffeine, only having one dc.

Much like others,

Excersise
Caffiene
Lists - Must do, Might do, Really not important
Shared housework with DH, would love a cleaner but can't afford to pay one
Eating well
Early night at least twice a week
For me particularly, a few minutes or an hour outside. Daylight straight to the eyes helps me more than the other things on my list.

Tbh if my teenager was doing ECAs or working till 9/10pm at night they'd be getting a taxi home.

Nice idea but hardly practical given where she works and where we live.

well ok but then you can't really ask how people manage to go to bed for 9pm. Your situation is clearly unusual

Not that I think its usual to be able to go to bed at 9pm either!

I think bed at 9pm is reasonable when your children are small and in bed by 7 (and necessary, if they still wake in the night). Presumably your older teen doesn't still wake you at 3am!

I would not sign up for an activity that led me to be out of the house until 10pm

(unless it was the pub)

Especially on a school night

FWIW my DC'S are 1 and 4 so no ECA's except on weekends.

I'm rarely very tired. I work part time, have 2 pre-teens and do pretty much all the house stuff. I don't drink alcohol during the week, rarely drink non-decaf coffee, try to avoid sugary stuff, go to bed by 10.30 at the latest and get up at 7. Oh and I get fresh air and exercise walking the dog once or twice every day.

The only thing that makes a quick difference for me is Coke Zero.

Longer term I find a good B vitamin helps, getting sunlight and doing a bit of exercise plus having a lie in at the weekends.

I also have low expectations for many things which helps!

I have an afternoon nap sometimes too.

Some good tips on here!! I need to try harder with lists/calendar/exercise!

Like others have said, quitting gluten and dairy made a big difference to me personally.
Whilst coffee gives me an initial boost it makes me feel worse overall so I just drink lots of water.
Good meals are top priority and a walk in the fresh air (even if brolly is needed) helps me and baby both sleep better at night.
I also go to bed with baby (4 months) at 8pm as 8-1 is his deepest sleep and if I missed out on that things would be much harder!!
I'm still really tired 10% of the time but that's much better than the 90% it used to be (even pre baby).