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AIBU?

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Original poster

It happens around 3 pm every day

119 replies

Nobrainpowertothinkofaname · 18/08/2023 10:47

I start to get tired.

Does anyone else?

I’m mid forties with a 5 year old. I work part time but currently off with her for a few weeks during school holidays.
Yesterday, we took the dog for a short 20 minute walk, we then went to the beach (short drive round the corner)
We stayed until 12ish, sat down, playedwith Dd for over an hour (tiring in itself!)
The plan was to make a picnic and head back to the beach at 6 ish, started to get tired at 3 ish and after making dinner and going in the paddling pool with Dd, had decided there was no way I had the energy to go out again
Does this sound normal?

OP posts:
Original poster
Nobrainpowertothinkofaname · 18/08/2023 10:54

Anyone else?

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 18/08/2023 10:58

The 3pm tiredness is me and has been since the children were small, so late 20s.

I used to get to about 2:30 and just want to fall asleep-unfortunately school pick up was at 3pm. So regularly I'd think that if only I'd been sensible and had a doze at 12, then I'd have been feeling all great to pick them up. Only thing was I didn't need a doze then.
I normally felt better by 4 or 5 though.

Cloudsandrainnotsunandsand · 18/08/2023 11:02

Not normal ime. I am 52 with an 8 yo . Work full time and walk 4 ddogs! 2 stone overweight so no gym bunny!

KizboBaggins · 18/08/2023 11:03

Every. Single. Day. I have a 13 month old and he takes his second nap around that time and as soon as I put him down I am exhausted. He doesn't sleep long enough for me to nap myself, so I just sit and vegetate whilst dreading having to entertain him again once he's up! It normally passes after a while, especially if I force myself to get out of the house.

And when I'm at work there's always the 3pm lull which is normally fixed by coffee and chocolate

SprinkleRainbow · 18/08/2023 11:03

I experience this far too much. I'm mid 20s and I don't know the answer.
First port of call is your GP for blood work, to include B12, Folate, Iron, Diabetes, Thyroid as a minimum. Ask for B12 as its not a standard one with the others.

And don't drive long distances at the time you tend to get tired if you can help it.

Kweeky · 18/08/2023 11:04

I used to get low blood sugar at 4pm if I didn't eat mid morning.
Felt a bit shaky, no concentration, not nice. I need to eat eg some toast not just a biscuit. My DM was the same.

Godwindar · 18/08/2023 11:06

I've always had this. I think it when my blood sugar drops. It is much less noticeable when I have stuck to protein rather than carbs for lunch (so eggs for breakfast and yoghurt and fruit for lunch). I don't get the same crash. Exercising with weights every other day has helped as well.

Piranhaha · 18/08/2023 11:06

Boredom makes you tired. Small children are boring. I get really tired if I have to look after my DD, but don’t get tired when she’s not there and I’m doing something interesting.

Silvers11 · 18/08/2023 11:13

SprinkleRainbow · 18/08/2023 11:03

I experience this far too much. I'm mid 20s and I don't know the answer.
First port of call is your GP for blood work, to include B12, Folate, Iron, Diabetes, Thyroid as a minimum. Ask for B12 as its not a standard one with the others.

And don't drive long distances at the time you tend to get tired if you can help it.

I agree with seeing your GP and getting blood tests as a starting point. Is it possible you have a sleep disorder?

1983Louise · 18/08/2023 11:15

I had this and was diagnosed with under active thyroid, a couple of days after starting tablets I felt like I'd been recharged with energy. Get you bloods tested 😊

thaisweetchill · 18/08/2023 11:16

I used to be like this but I've started having the vitamin c tablets that you put in water and it's made a hell of a difference!

OverTheCountryClub · 18/08/2023 11:16

It is normal! Apparently it's to do with thr daily hormone cycle women have. Around 3pm is a natural dip when most women would benefit from a nap/rest. Women overall need more sleep than men due to hormonal differences. It's a whole thing and quite fascinating- have a Google!

birdsofafeatherr · 18/08/2023 11:17

Yes I get this every day, it's a lot worse if my morning has been sugar and caffeine heavy, or I've had a bad nights sleep. But I always have it and always have done, at about 4pm for me and I just suddenly have no energy need to grab something to eat and a caffeinated drink to push through until bed time. When I used to eat my dinner really early when kids were very small it did help a bit, I would have dinner at 4.30pm and then a snack at about 7pm

spitefulandbadgrammar · 18/08/2023 11:19

Piranhaha · 18/08/2023 11:06

Boredom makes you tired. Small children are boring. I get really tired if I have to look after my DD, but don’t get tired when she’s not there and I’m doing something interesting.

My energy dip from boring small children starts at around 6am…

Squit · 18/08/2023 11:28

We call it The Low Ebb.

Never make plans for during The Ebb.

Best cure is a brisk walk (although I often succumb to a nap)

OhComeOnFFS · 18/08/2023 11:28

Avoid carbs at lunchtime and see how you feel then.

swimminginthesun · 18/08/2023 11:30

Agree with getting bloods done but also look at your diet. Energy slumps have a lot to do with glucose. Eating savoury, protein rich breakfasts could help. See The Glucose Goddess and her recommendations. I feel so much more energetic after following some of her (very simple) tips. (The name didn’t fill me with confidence but she is a biochemist and knows her stuff!)

CandyLeBonBon · 18/08/2023 11:30

Yep. Have done for years. It's a natural part of our circadian rhythm

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/08/2023 11:32

It’s partly having your brain sucked out by small children too.

I can fall asleep anywhere at 2:30 pm. Wide awake in bed at night😭

Sukiiii · 18/08/2023 11:32

Same happens to me, mid twenties

Puppypower83 · 18/08/2023 11:38

Late 30s with two under 7 and 2pm is when I majorly slump regardless of what lunch I’ve eaten. But it’s worse at home with kids. At work I can keep going, probably because of being distracted.

Although I feel like I could fall asleep now!

JoanOfLark · 18/08/2023 11:40

At mid-40s, it could be peri-menopause too. Go to your GP and get blood tests.

zingally · 18/08/2023 11:40

Pretty normal, yeah.

For me, between 3-5pm is my danger zone. If I'm going to fall asleep during the day, that's when it's most likely to happen. It certainly doesn't happen every day though, and only tends to be on weekends or school holidays when I'm not so busy. During term time, 3-5pm is one of my busiest times of the day.

Thatbloomindog · 18/08/2023 11:41

I call it the 3pm carb slump. Happened to me since age about 27 (mid forties now)
I find if I avoid sugars before this time I don’t get it. However that’s really tricky and I rarely manage it. Once I did it for 6 weeks and was bouncing around and not affected at all.

its worse in an office job at at desk I find.