To be too tired to do anything most evenings ?

[Sugarcainx]

I honestly have no idea how people can go out for drinks a few nights a week or to different hobbies etc. Most nights after work.
I'm a teacher and the fact that I can't drive doesn't help. I wake up at 6am every day, leave at 6:30 and get to work just before 8. It takes me about 1h15 on public transport, it would be 25 minutes in a car. Sometimes I get a taxi in so I can sleep longer, but can't afford this every day.
I refuse to get up earlier than 6 so I leave with wet hair every morning, as I don't have time to blow dry it.
I usually get home at 6:15pm,sometimes 5:30 if I leave earlier. However I tutor 2 evenings a week which means I get home at about 7:15 ish.
Honestly i'm just shattered. Live on my own and don't really cook anything complicated, and I just want to crash in front of the TV.
I manage a 2k run one night im back early, but otherwise my exercise is done Friday-Sunday mainly, as well as my cleaning and anything else.
I catch up on sleep on the weekends and I just couldn't imagine having a relationship as i'm too tired and busy.
I know I don't have kids, and l'm only 28 so not sure it's normal to be so tired.
I need to pass my test as the quality of life would improve significantly if I had a car.
I live in a big city, yet buses tend to take longer routes and stop constantly. What takes 20 minutes in a car takes an hour on a bus here, it's just ridiculous.

How do other people get on ? Is this a normal feeling ?

Job is intense too, I get 30 minutes lunch and 15 minutes break but as a lot of teachers know, that time is usually spent prepping for the next classes, tidying the room, logging behaviour points etc. Then a bit of time to eat.

Teaching is an intense job and you work extra doing tutoring and have a commute. However I'd need to get out a couple of weeknights as I'd be bored staying in. Can you go out straight from work?

Passing your driving test will help massively. Could you wash your hair in the evenings? Could you afford a fortnightly cleaner for a couple of hours at c£25? Batch cook at the weekend and fill your freezer with chillis, curries, soups etc so you can just heat something up when you get in? When the weather gets better and it’s lighter for longer it will help. I hibernate in the winter.

When I was teaching full-time in my twenties I was the same, way too exhausted (especially on a Friday) even move from the sofa let alone go out. I would be both physically and mentally drained. And teaching is more demanding now than it was then.
The fact you tutor after school and manage a run occasionally is impressive in my book!

My sister is a teacher and is out every weekend so depends on the person! Definitely get driving is you can as that will make life so much easier, public transport is a pain!

Yanbu. I have two kids with a lot of activities, dogs, a full on job and I manage to exercise every day and keep the house presentable ish most of the time. That’s my limit, I dread people asking me out after work etc. Weekends I can just about cope with.

When I was 28, I was a solicitor in the City. I was out drinking every night and loved every minute of it. Quite often didn’t even leave my flat until 10pm to meet my friends (Tuesday was 10pm Wine Club Night). Now I’m 42 and am in bed by 8.30 most nights. If you’re happy with your lifestyle now then great, but there’s a long time ahead of you to have early nights. At your age and with no kids, I’d try and have a bit more fun while you can!

Teaching is enormously draining.

• wash your hair the night before.
• check your diet, you'll need not too much sugar and a good balance of nutrients to keep you going
• get your iron and vitamin D levels checked. Consider supplements.
• Make sure you stay hydrated
• exercise helps but I get that it's difficult to fit in
• stress is exhausting. Find your relaxation techniques - meditation, deep breathing, journalling?

-dont beat yourself up about it but recognise that there are some things you need to adjust if you don't want to burn out.

I hear you sister! I would like to have a glass of wine of an evening, God knows I could do with unwinding, but I'm too bloody tired and if I did, I wouldn't be able to do even the basic million things I need to do each day just to tread water.

I rarely go out in the evenings Mon-Thurs and if I do it’s just for a low key dinner or drink to catch up with a friend. I literally can’t manage anything more than that and that probably happens about once every 3 weeks. Friday nights and Saturday nights though I’m all up for going out!

I tend to exercise 3 x during the working week after work but then I am home from work by 4.30 most days.

I’d say really try and pass your test and plan/ dedicate an evening every weekend and once a fortnight during the week to socialising. Agree with the making the most of your free time now.

Normal I'd say I'm your job. I'd get out of teaching though while you're young.

What @honeypickle says - that's how I remember being 28! And I've never in my life had a job that let me get home as early as 7.15.
Are you eating properly? It sounds like you're doing too little rather than too much; boredom does make for lethargy.
Good idea to get a cleaner, though, even if only once a fortnight. It's lovely to come home to a clean house.

I’m not a teacher but have a stressful job, commute 3 hours a day, am a single parent and look forward to getting home every evening, putting my pyjamas on and doing nothing. Well if nothing includes cooking dinner, making lunches for the next day, putting washing on etc. But you know what I mean! The thought of going out in the evenings is not on my radar!

Sounds normal
I have to be up at 6.30 and am usually in bed by 10. Was out tonight hence being up later and I don’t work Fridays.
I only go out on non-work evenings unless it’s a special thing like a bday or someone has tickets to a show etc. Then am knackered the next day.
Re driving - takes me 25 mins to drive to work, an hour by public transport. Def try and pass your test, it’ll make a big difference.
I’m 20 years older than you though w a family 😆 at your age was working f/t but my start time was 9.30am so def went out!! Didn’t get up til 8, now am at work by 8.

I’m a lecturer, and also an introvert. I need to sit quietly in the evenings! I occasionally meet a friend straight after work for tea, but if I am home, I am in, and won’t go back out. I find it easier in the spring/summer, but just now it’s dark before 4pm and I just want to get home and get cosy once work is done. I live with my DP, and quite often really want a weekend at home, pottering with him and the cat rather than do anything. (This weekend I am planning long baths, reading, and some batch cooking for the freezer. Pyjamas all the way!)

That commute is killer. I did 1.5 hrs each way on public transport for a year and all I could do was go home and crawl into bed.

Def prioritise getting your license. Can you carpool with anyone until then? Wash your hair the night before so you can just have a quick wash in the morning?

Bloody teaching is awful. Most tiring job there is imo. Those who think otherwise should try it.
You and me should both get out of it.

10000s of teachers leave profession every year for a reason

At 28 you’re a bit too young to be feeling burnt out by your job. If you can’t have a social life now then when can you have one? Go see your GP about tiredness or make a change that lets you start living.

Being able to drive will make the biggest difference and give you time both ends of the day.
Also with the car fan on your hair will be almost dry by the time you get to work.You can do a quick shop on the way home.
Accept/initiate some nights out,especially at weekends,you can have as many early nights as you like when you're older.

Are you happy with your lifestyle?
I would ask dr to have bloods checked for anaemia/thyroid issues. At your age I worked long hours but was out a lot too - your tiredness seems excessive.

Are you eating well? What do you have for brekkie and lunch?

I've spent my life permanently tired. It's my normal

How far is it from home to work? Could you run part or all of the way? That would probably be quicker than the bus and would get you some exercise. I walk to work in London, three miles. In London even walking is quicker than taking the bus (although I do walk fast).

Thank you for the replies. The only problem is that driving lessons are so expensive, gonna be an extra couple of hundred a month, don't know how people afford it. But so be it I guess.
My hair is very annoying so unless it's bone dry before I go to bed, it'll be sticking out when I wake up and probably greasy by the next afternoon, but I will give that a try.
I admit my diet is not great, Im slim but far too much sugar and not enough veg.
I work in a challenging school where kids will sit quietly and do their work in about 15% of lessons. You really need that energy and to have enough sleep.
I do take supplements but maybe having my thyroid etc. Checked is a good idea.