To think this year has taken a toll

[Hellin301]

Anyone else feel like this year has drained them?

I have a fair few more wrinkles this year that definitely weren’t there last year. I think the stress of this year has affected me!

Has this only just occurred to you?!

How rude. I just thought I would put it out there for discussion, there isn’t many threads of people struggling.

Also keeping it relatively light hearted

So you only want lighthearted responses as to how stressful this year has been for some people?

Am struggling to understand how the hell this can be answered?

This year has been draining and stressful which means I haven't kept on top of bleaching my moustache.

That sort of thing?

Some people on here take pleasure in putting others down. It says more about them than you, OP.

Yes, this year has been exhausting. We are fortunate not to have been too badly affected financially and we haven't had COVID. But I'm constantly losing sleep over the possibilities and it is getting me down.

I've worked non stop since last Christmas and only taken time off for surgery. I'm exhausted and really fed up, with little to look forward to but I try to tell myself that I have things to be grateful for every day.

Maybe the vaccine is a little light at the end of the tunnel.

I get you OP. I think this year has been a bit of a slog and I think the uncertainty begins to take its toll. Be kind to yourself

yes OP i agree

I feel stiff, older and exhausted! every photo of me my eyes look dull like my spark has gone- I can barely manage my normal routine anymore and am sleeping so much more- I agree!

This year is killing me mentally and emotionally, financially. All of them. I am just done with all of it.
The only things keeping me here are my kids and thank goodness for that.
The thing is I don't think people realise how shit it is for so many of us - in a big way, because we joke about it or put on a smile. For some of us it feels unbearable at times. I think it is bad for most of us, but some are really suffering.

What I meant is I didn’t want to come on and whinge about how tough my life is.

My mother had a stroke, my father has cancer and my brother has also been diagnosed with cancer. My sister has just lost her job & im struggling to keep it all together.

I just thought some solidarity would be nice. This year has been tough.

as someone whose commute has nearly disappeared, I can't say it has.

The lack of holiday is not great for my physical and mental health, but this year hasn't been that bad, or not specially stressful. Each year brings its own stress and problems frankly.

Utterly exhausted, finding it very hard to find the joy and keep cheerful and upbeat for the dc. Want to just dive into a duvet and give up, eat chips and binge watch netflix - oh and sleep for eternity (or until this is over) Bone tired on every level. Worked all the way through, no holidays, no breaks, no rest, no sleep and have to keep going.

Responses are bizarre, yes it's been a terrible year. Fed up of having nothing to look forward to or anywhere to go

How old are OP, I think ageing comes in spurts anyway once your past your early 30s. But no doubt this year has been grim.

I’m 26. Definitely not where I thought my life would be this year

That is very tough op.

This helped:

Lighting candles, warm evenings
Light and funny TV shows
Comfort foods
Wine
Music - I play much more classical music than I ever did before, it brings a sense of calm to the house
Long walks, but I find these depressing now, but they can still be nice in the sunshine
Hot baths in candlelight - lavender oils to lower stress
Making things with the dc in a low level/low effort kind of way
Planning things for the future
Researching holidays we will book one day

be kind, self care is so important now

I completely nose dived earlier in the year, feeling and looking much better now. I know I am definitely feeling much better, and several people have commented on how "well" I'm looking recently (must have looked awful around the spring/summer! 🙈). Still have moments where I could just cry at the current state of things though, trying to look on the bright side but it is bloody hard work at times. Solidarity OP

@Hellin301 I totally get you regarding your family struggles I’ve been were you are with everyone in my family seriously and me trying to hold it together, it’s vet bad lunch for it all to happen at the same time and unless it happens to you you don’t know what it’s like.

Yes, even without Covid this has been a tough year for me, emotionally and physically. Actually, as a family we were lucky that the virus was actually the least of our issues but since its (understandably) all anyone can think of, other regular shitty life issues tend to get ignored or put aside. Feels like I'm wading through mud to get to the end of the year!

I'm so sorry you're having a tough time, @Hellin301. Just remembered, you don't always have to keep it together for others, be supportive and caring but there are some things that's out of everyone's control unfortunately.

@Hellin301 I was about your age when I went through this, very difficult but you can bounce back from it. Lots of kindness to yourself and self care. I hope you have people around you who can offer support as it’s tough to do it alone. I gave up a lot in my 20s to look after my parents and brother and at the same time really beat myself up for not achieving more in my career or life, my self esteem and health took a nosedive. Please don’t let that happen to you, seek help and support.

Responses are bizarre, yes it's been a terrible year.

It's a very personal thing. Every year is a horrendous year for someone, people lose loved ones, get terrible news, have accident or life-changing illness.

This year is no different, awful for some, average for other, happy for the rest. it's not like the black plague or WW3 destroyed half the country. Everyone has a different experience.

I had lots of hair fall out a month or two into lockdown and the new growth is greyer than before. I definitely feel older but the my body seems to have decided this year is the ideal time to enter menopause so, yes I'm feeling older and more worn out.

It’s definitely taken it’s toll on us as a family. We lost FIL in February on my DH birthday. We just got the funeral in before the first lockdown. With us at home along with our 2 adult DS we did lots of things together as well as sorting out FIL’s house. Then in April my DH had a heart attack and had to have a triple heart bypass.

We have a dog who gives us great joy and going out for exercise with him has helped us a lot. I don’t want to wish this year away and we now have lots to look forward to, which is keeping us upbeat.

The constant feeling of dread is really beginning to take its toll now.

It's usually my favourite time of year but I'm struggling to feel any joy.

Very much so @Hellin301 I feel weird in a way I am unable to explain, I think it is fair to say none of us would of expected any of this, this time last year, but more than anything I do think it's been a massive learning curve full of life experiences that all of us can learn from. I have spent months shielding with my kids, it's been wonderful but lonely at the same time. It also highlighted to my DC about how sacred life is, how family is important, about saving for a rainy day, and helping others around them.