how to have more energy as a single parent

[flaofno]

Hello everyone! Posting for traffic. Just wondered if any LPs out there have tips for making life easier and having more energy?

Life seems like a daily grind some days. Never enough time to do everything. Always falling behind.

I know the obvious ones - get more sleep, exercise, eat better. I do try to do all those things, and manage some days... inevitably some days I fail though. After school run, dinner, work, etc etc usually by the time DS is in bed I just want to flop and too tired to enjoy my me-time!

If anyone has any tips for increasing energy levels or streamlining things and keeping on top to give more time and energy would welcome! I can't get out of an evening as LP doing all the care :(

Many thanks

Go to bed at the same time as the kids. This way you get 10/12 hours sleep a night. If I’m feeling particularly daring I might watch Netflix on my phone for an hour or read MN (like tonight).

Thanks Fattory! I'm going to go to bed soon! Great idea!

Plus I do minimal housework after school whilst making tea, kids playing etc. I don’t work due to a chronic illness but I do sleep the entire time they are at school so I don’t have many hours available to do stuff.
I have me time when they go to their dads or grandmas. Admittedly, me time is mostly catch up on housework/shopping or extra rest/sleep time xx

I found I had more energy as a single mum! No more having to consider another adult in the house, sole control over what to have for dinner and when, one less person to clear up after, no one to criticise any decisions you make, no one arguing over the tv remote...

I’m happily settled again now, but I loved those years on my own with my children!

Vitamins, grab literally any down time you can, fit excercise in wherever you can (walk as much as possible, hoola hooping in front of TV, squats while brushing teeth) and as PP says, go to bed when the children go.

I kip in the day when the toddler sleeps. I avoid socialising as it takes too much energy. Not great i know.

I also was bursting with energy as a single mum. The only time I've been really knackered was when my periods got super heavy and I needed iron tablets.

How's your health overall?

My health isn't bad now my kid is older. I don't have any support and do 100% of the childcare. Before he went to school I was trying to juggle too much (kid, home, work which is stressful) and was quite ill through stress but have that under control now.

I think my issue is I need more me-time to do gym and exercise and stuff which will really help, also a better routine around sleeping and eating would help. Just often when I get free time I'm pretty exhausted from trying to work and juggle life / kid etc and the last thing I want to do is work out or whatever.

Doing it in the morning would be good but i'm not fantastic at early rising! My kid is only 5 so it's a bit stressful some days still and just wish someone occasionally would take the reins for a few days so I can chill out and have the much needed break.

Presently trying to get what feels like 100 work projects done (freelance) and am always behind. So inevitably exercise and health suffer as I prioritise my workload often.

Ok, that sounds full-on. Don't listen to my annoying "I was so energetic!" post from before, because I had every other weekend and every Weds night to myself.

1. So - can you set up regular play dates? Maybe have 3 friends of your DC over one day, so you'll get 3 separate return invites.

1. Take all the vitamins and supplements.

1. Set a bedtime and stick to it. I know the freelancer temptation to work all night but you need to sleep to be able to work the next day! So set a bedtime in STONE.

1. No booze. (Sorry.) Alcohol really messes up your sleep and you'll feel much more energetic without it.

1. Do you get tax credits that repay you most of your childcare costs? If so, can you use that more? Even just after-school club once a week? Having a longer work day might help you reclaim your evenings for sleep.