What's happening?

[TotalllyTireddd]

So I've always been a bit of a workaholic, and have never had a problem working into the night.

In the last 3 years or so, I've had two jobs. One in school hours, and another which is work from home, that I squeeze in where I can, but has normally involved staying up all night once or twice a week.

This has worked for me as it means I can spend time with my children at school.pick up, in evenings and at weekends, but work when they r at school and when they r asleep.

Problem is, this last week I just have not been able to stay up at night. I've got reports to write that I'd normally knock out over night - start about 9:30pm and finish at 5am. But I can't make myself do it. Just too knackered.

AIBU to think this is the beginning of the end? Am I just getting too old? (45)? I need this WFH job as my other job doesn't pay enough, but I just can't seem to muster the energy to work into the night anymore. I'm really worried my energy won't come back :( anyone has an energy blip that's resolved? Or am I just getting old??

Welcome to peri-menopause.

I would see GP and ask for a blood test, you might have a deficiency

Oh you r right! Maybe that's it! (Does it get better?)

Yeah, might try that if I can ever get an appointment!

That's definitely it. Not saying you don't have another type of deficiency, of course it's possible, but at 45 you are definitely peri-menopausal. HRT is a lifesaver.

I agree that it could be peri menopause. Once you are through the menopause, things get better. Get tested and try the diet advice, low carb, no sugar and very little dairy, it does work for many women.

Thank you

Might c if I can try it!

If I understand correctly you’ve been working this way for the last 3 years. So it’s not something you’ve been accustomed to doing for much of your working life.

I wonder if it’s more likely you’ve reached a point of burnout as working like that doesn’t really seem sustainable to me.

Peri menopause - but really 2 jobs! look after yourself and give something up. We all deserve downtime you shouldn't struggle on like this. Sorry if this brings you down but it might get far worse - I work 1 full time 8-6 job and I'm knackered by Friday night- spend the weekend recovering and despairing about my house that needs deep cleaning while making sure we have groceries/clean clothes/clean bathroom and kitchen. Can you give anything up? Appreciate most people need the money in the current climate.

There's no reason to assume it's "peri". That's just the new sliced bread and some people like to insist it's the root of all troubles (usually in a slightly malicious tone imo).

Plenty of women barely notice menopause and in any case yours could still be a decade off.

Overnighters catch up with you eventually. You need sleep.

Problem is, this last week I just have not been able to stay up at night. I've got reports to write that I'd normally knock out over night - start about 9:30pm and finish at 5am. But I can't make myself do it. Just too knackered.

Of course you are! This was always unsustainable in the long run.

Yes, your age is contributing to it, no doubt - I too could work late & feel fine until my 40s.

Now I am tired earlier, my body clock is entirely different & even with HRT, late night working is an impossibility.

However - it should be. I recognise you need both jobs. Not sure if you have a partner. If you do, he needs to manage childcare / house to facilitate the report-writing. Or you use paid childcare. Like most people have to.

Sounds more like stress, exhaustion and potentially burnout to me. It's really not a healthy way to live. Do you have any time to rest, relax and to have to yourself? I'm younger than you and there's no way I could keep up with that schedule.

You would likely have other symptoms too if you’re really in peri menopause -
but yes as pp - menopause could be another 10 years off yet.
I’m early 40s and there is no way in hell I could pull 2 all nighters every week without absolutely collapsing with exhaustion.
this is no way to live and a clear way to burnout. Working a full time job and then staying up all night plus kids? I’m amazed you’ve come this far with it.

I suspect you are destroying your health by working like this on a regular basis and your body is trying to get you to desist.

I'm 31 and no way could I stay up until 5am working and then do another full work day... I don't think it's your age, you're just working too hard!

I used to pull regular all-nighters in my 20s and 30s. Still managed it, but less often, in my 40s. In the last 12 months (aged 53) I’ve done it twice, and it fucked me up for several days each time.

I don’t think perimenopause or menopause has made much difference to me in this respect. I remember that my dad was much the same. I think it’s just age.

I speak from both personal experience and basic common sense here when I say that this isn’t perimenopause or a vitamin deficiency. It’s common or garden exhaustion.

You’ve been going without sleep for two whole nights a week for the past three years. That is unsustainable and really bloody bad for you. It has made you ill and burned you out. That is why you’re now starting to struggle.

Just because you did it for three years without collapsing, that doesn’t mean your body will stand it forever with no ill-effects. Sleep deprivation is really, really bad for you long-term.

Part of getting old is my guess, unless I'm focused around 23:00 onwards I'm zzzzzz

Honestly you are burnt out.

Full menopause may be a decade away, but every woman at 45 is in peri-menopause, minor symptoms or major, and no one is being "malicious" about it, FFS. There's nothing "new sliced bread" about experiencing peri-menopause. It's just that now women and society are finally being educated about it.

I agree with others saying you’re burnt out from exhaustion.

Try some Ferroglobin from Vitabiotics, it does wonders for me when I’m knackered.