To be feeling like I've no real quality of life but not sure what to do!

[kidsrannoying]

For a variety of reasons, both DH and I have to be out of the house by 6 and wake at 5 to do this. MIL then takes the kids to nursery.

Short term, OK. Long term, it is killing us.

I am EXHAUSTED. Nothing - newborns and teeth and breastfeeding - comes close. My eyes sting at work, are red and watery. I fall asleep between 8 and 9 in the evening. Home between 5 and 7.

It is hard to explain. Perhaps I am being soft. But I really am so tired and I feel like I've no life, no evening to speak of ... Is it always going to be like this or is my body adjusting?

Sorry meant wake at 5, leave 5.15 so I can go to the gym before starting work at 7.

I’d be looking for a move closer to work if you can’t bare to change jobs.

I'm not sure it's lack of sleep (If you're getting a reasonable number of hours, which it sounds like you are) but lack of downtime? A few years ago we made an ill thought out house move. It basically meant up at 5.30, out house 6.30, 2 hour commute, eventually back home 7.45pm. Dinner, bed, repeat. We had literally no life other than the weekends which we then had to use to do all the chores that we hadn't done in the week. It was an absolute killer. We were getting enough sleep but life just felt totally relentless. I still get up at 5.30 now, but my commute is only 1/2 hour and I'm home by 6 most nights and it makes such a difference. One thing I found did help was trying to do something, anything, with the little time we had in the evenings, so go for a walk, pop to the pub, board game or film rather than slump in front of the telly. It did help us to feel a bit like there was more to life than the hamster wheel!

I get up at 6.10, alarm goes off at 6am, I used to get up earlier when I lived abroad. School stayed at 7.30! I never got used to it. So 6.10 is a lot better for me. My body clock cannot deal with anything before 6am!

Early mornings are relentless. I have to leave by 6am and DC often wake at 4am ready and raring for the day which is a killer. On top of that I'm still breastfeeding and woken several times in the night.

I'm not as disciplined at going to bed as you, sometimes I will stay awake until midnight and regret it the next day. My job is frontline healthcare and I fear making mistakes or forgetting something.

My house is a bombsite as I'm exhausted and find it hard to put it straight before bed each night. I'm have also not shifted the baby weight as I'm too tired to exercise and comfort eat out of tirednesss. I feel for you x

OP I feel your pain, I know PPs are saying go to bed earlier but the fact is she gets home between 5 and 7, then no doubt has to prepare food and do bedtime routine for DCs as well as any housework/chores all in a potential 2 hr window if they're to get to bed for 9pm.
I think the OP would quite like to maybe enjoy a glass of wine and chill watching some telly with DH before bed and this sounds impossible. I know I've made out like her DH doesn't help out here and I'm sure he does but even so a 2 hr window isn't enough.
I get that you feel cheated. I work hard too but my hours aren't that crazy but I know what it's like to want to stay up past 10pm but you know you can't because a)your body won't let you and b)you'll regret the next day.
I don't know the solution, sadly.

its temporary (2 months) and OP gets help from MIL, so not sure why she's asking "will it always be like this?" Hopefully not. The first impression was that this was possibly permanent, which was worrying. But its not, if you read originating post closely. Soon you can go back to normal sleep/wake hours, have some relax time, and hopefully your children will see more of you.

Sounds hard. I'm fine at 6am but before that I find hard.
I agree about going to bed earlier to accommodate it, and sadly missing out on these lovely evenings.
I'd keep to the same hours at the weekend to be honest. My body finds it easier that way. But maybe you and your DH could make sure you each have an afternoon nap each day at the weekend?
Are you managing to eat properly?

I did 5am for years, you get used to it. It’s easier in the summer when it’s lighter. Is it a manual job because honestly you shouldn’t be falling asleep at 7.

it isn't forever but for a couple of months

This makes a difference. You can bear with it, even though you don't like it, for a couple of months. That still leaves you some light evenings to enjoy.

If you both have to be out of the house by 6am are you too far from work? Is it a long commute or long hours at work?

what kind of job and commute do you do that you have to leave home by 6 and are back quite late and that it is impossible to take a week sick leave, nor go part time nor change jobs.

If you want to change something, you have to make that change. Saying I cannot reduce hours, cannot change jobs, cannot do this cannot do that won't facilitate change.

what do you work, how far from home, how many DC? what is the financial situation.

nobody can give constructive advice if you come back with a 'impossible' without letting any specifics out .

Up at 5 and bed at 9 has been our routine for the last 10 yrs, it's fine.

BUT (and i think this is the key here), because we start early we finish early and are home at 4 - so we still get a proper evening. It just starts earlier. and no kids and a cleaner

I teach but am reliant on public transport

Do the children sleep through? Could you get a cleaner?

If you can afford it then going part tine in teaching should be possible.

You mention public transport is a problem - is there anyone at school who goes your way who would give a lift for fuel money? Ask around - you never know.

It sounds hard and unsustainable so I would look at part time or lift options.

How long is your commute? Surely there must be another job nearer to you? Or is that what’s changing in a few months?

If it’s just for a couple of months could you not get a taxi there?

Do you drive? Or is work unreachable via car?

We get up at 6am, leave house at 7am, drop kids off, go to work, home by 5pm. Then dinner, bath etc etc. I'm asleep most nights by 9.30pm.

I don't feel utterly exhausted though, maybe get a health check?

Get a blood test. Vit d, thyroid, iron, sugar. Gp will also test cholesterol, bp, calcium.
Take vit d3, coenzyme q10 if you can afford it or rhodiola if not.
Vit b complex, magnesium, zinc and vit c, or a multi vit.
Cut down/out caffeine, sugar, alcohol, fried food. Do regular exercise swim, walk. Eat plenty fruit and veg, enough protein, less carbs but need some. Plenty of water.
Meditation, mindfulness may help or yoga. A nap is a good thing if you can get it. Acupuncture is fab but expensive.

Sounds very hard I’m not surprised you feel exhausted

All you can do for the short term is buffer the pain. So ensure you are organised with everything possible and that everything is as simple and easy as is humanly possible. Easy meals, pay for cleaning and ironing if you can remotely afford it, lay out clothes for the dc for the whole week ahead and yourself every evening.

You get the idea. And tick off every single day as you nail it. Hopefully if you teach you get a long break in the summer and maybe an easier commute next term?

Also can you use any of the two hour commute to relax? Listen to music, books or podcasts? Online shopping? Kindle?

We get up at 6am, leave house at 7am, drop kids off, go to work, home by 5pm...I don't feel utterly exhausted though, maybe get a health check?
That’s getting up an hour later and home up to two hours earlier than the op.