Do you have the energy to go out/do things in the evenings?

[Whenwillthebuildingnoisestop]

I don’t.

I’m 45 with a 5 year old dc

Pre child and pre 40, I used to work full time all day, come home and often go to the beach until 10 pm ish or happily walk the dog or workout.
Now I just feel too tired and watch tv on the sofa.
The will is there in wanting to go out, I’m not depressed etc, I just get to the point where I can’t be bothered/just want to stay in.
I often feel too tired to walk the dog after 6, it’s becoming ridiculous as I love to do these things or used to at least.
Is this normal?
Is it age? having a 5 year old? Or something else?
Anyone else like this?
I just want to live my life!

I do kind of agree with you. Im a little bit younger than you but I do think it’s more of a mental thing I know my 4 year old needs an early night if she’s not in bed for 7 we all suffer the day after, so I think in my mind I know I’m stuck in after 7pm, it’s like my cut off from day to night and if anyone asks me to go out after I’m a bit meh about the whole thing

I'm 49 with a nine year old but I don't work ( well I'm a 24/7 carer for a disabled young person) .
I love nothing better than getting into my pjs after tea 😂
I do socialise occasionally on an evening but not often.

Always been tired, never bothered to do anything after work. I have no DC and I'm only mid-30s. I've felt this way since late 20s. Maybe because there isn't much interesting that inspires you to make the effort to go out? Does it feel energising or exhausting?

I also agree with PP about self-fulfilling prophecy: if you "force" yourself to do the outside chores (e.g. dog walking) it might not feel so hard next time.

Yeah, I go out most nights. I'm older now but even when the kids were young I would go to my friends every Wednesday for tea whilst dh sorter the children out. Other times I would go to the theater, gym, gigs and cinema. Same as I do now.

I'm a similar age and work full time, but my kids are a lot older and are self-sufficient so I don't have that drain on my energy. I'm going to the gym tonight & Wednesday, pub quiz tomorrow, comedy night on Friday.

I like lounging in front of the TV as much as anyone, but I don't want to do it every day.

I'm 50, no DCs, WFH. Left to my own devices I wouldn't do much in the evenings other than potter about and make dinner, but DH gets bored so one night we might go for a drive / take the dog for an evening walk, another we might pop into town for a pint and a bite to eat. I go to the gym occasionally rather than regularly. I wouldn't say I get tired as such, just don't really feel the drive to do much after a day at work.

That doesn’t sound normal to me. I’m late 40’s. I go swimming & exercise classes 3 or 4 evenings a week & we go out socially every weekend. I’d find staying in every night really depressing.

I’m mid 40s with a 50hr a week job that I have to commute to, a lot of kids and pets, and I often go to the gym at 8pm just for something to do. I am knackered, but I’m also a night owl and I would never be in bed before 11pm anyway, so may as well do something productive. I do feel like I am starting to slow down a bit now, so it could well be our age?

Could be partly a health/food thing, or you’re just tired after a long day! I always feel better if I force myself to do something or even just read instead of tv (unless I have something on tv I’m properly excited about) I’m in awe and jealous of people who do classes, did a few for a while but it’s minimum 40 minutes drive from here and with the kids I hated missing their whole evening/night

With a child of that ages it's very normal.

It will get better as they get older.

No I can’t say I can relate to this, 37 y o, 2 kids, school and pre-school and work 4
days. Yes its a juggle and yes I get tired and have those can’t be arsed days but generally go to gym about 2 evenings a week plus slimming world evening group. id be more then happy for a social evening once a week on top of that, on fact Id Jump at the chance to go out more tbh but this is the life stage Im at

I don’t think it’s unusual but I don’t think it’s normal either - as in, it shouldn’t be a normal way to live your life.

As a PP says, the less you do the less you want to do, so build back up slowly.

It's probably having a 5 year old. I'm a similar age, with teens and go out BUT I've got to go out early before I bring one with the sofa. If I relax into lounging around mode it's incredibly difficult to get going again.

I think energy level is a very personal thing - I've known people in their 20's who have no energy by 5pm, and people in their 60's who still socialise every night of the week.

It's about what feels right for you, and if you feel like you don't have enough energy to live the life you want, then you need to see a doctor/ nutritionist/ personal trainer/ therapist or whatever you feel might help your situation to try and get to where you want to be.

I'm 48 with teenage kids but am working full time for the first time in 15 years (part time for many years to be around for kids and due to demanding nature of that particular job role). I've found the switch to full time exhausting despite the job being far less draining. I go to the gym about 3 times a week on the way home and sometimes a walk/bike ride in summer but no desire to do anything social after work (I have to interact and engage people a lot at work). I may occasionally go to the theatre/a gig but once I'm in for the evening, I'm in.

I do go out once a week though, tea with a friend, gig, concert, theatre...but always at the weekend and often in the afternoon.

Mid-40s, demanding FT job with travel. Infant school age child.

I prefer being in my PJs by 8pm and bed by 10pm and I haven't had an evening out (other than when away with work) in about three years. I have increased the exercise I do though but I can't be bothered with dealing with the noise and interaction of being out after a day at work.

I'm 35 with 3 dcs, 15, 13 and 9. I'm a single parent. I don't have the energy but I do have to do football runs, walk the dog (which I often do with a friend so not too bad), pick up from friends etc. most of the time I am exhausted.

39 and no DC and no way. I do have autoimmune conditions and hashimotos though
On a good day I can exercise, cook, shower, watch TV and do a bit of cleaning
On a bad day I sleep for 2hrs to be able to then get up and eat

No, I'm not interested either

The kids are tucked up by 8. I then watch TV until around 9 then go to bed

I'm 51, a secondary school teacher and get home at 6pm. I have a 15yo and a 17yo. I wouldn't say I'm that tired, I just can't cba and would rather chill out at home with my family. Until going back to working ft in September I did a yoga class and went to a choir in the evenings, but I ditched both before starting my new job as I knew I wouldn't be able to drag myself out!

I also ache all over sometimes 🤷🏻‍♀️

Would weight gain cause this? I need to lose a few stone after piling it on during fertility treatments & pregnancy etc, feel too tired to work out though

Same here. I go out a couple of times a month with friends but DH and I more often end up taking turns to go and sit quietly in the cinema at 9pm with a bag of sweets, because we know the bedtime rigmarole and dinner will be done by then. And we don't have to make small talk with anyone 😁

I think it’s the parenting.

i’m 44 with grown kids and my energy levels have increased more and more ever since they became teenagers. Now I’m also single and I go on dates 1-2 evenings a week, exercise most days and see friends 2-3 times a week. I am back to my old self basically since the kids got older. Hang in there!

Even in my late thirties before my daughter I would be tired in the evenings. On Fridays we would have few drinks and maybe food after work with some colleagues and I would be happily sleeping by 9pm.

I’m 29 with a 4yo, 3yo and 2yo and I’m currently trying to work up the energy to make myself some dinner because honestly I’d rather just not eat and stay snuggled up on the sofa 😂