To want energy and not feel exhausted

[Dishwashersaurous]

So, it's half term and I've taken some time off work to be with my children, late primary school age. Not going away, just fun days out and spending time together.

But I'm exhausted and don't have any energy to do anything.

I'm Not ill, no temperature etc just achy and exhausted.

Sit down on the sofa and fall asleep exhausted.

And brain ache so that I can't even begin to plan things.

And every bone aches.

Is this just middle age, mid 40s, when you finally stop and have a break from work.

And if so, please tell me tips and ideas to get some energy

No, I am older than you and don't feel this way. That said, primary school Dc are exhausting and there is no shame in having a low key half-term if you feel exhausting.
Check Vitamin D, thyroid, iron.
Are you overweight? Do you exercise? What's your diet like?
I do find I have no tolerance for alcohol.

Not overweight.
Moderate exercise
Healthy diet
Haven't drunk any alcohol for two.weeks.

Trying to work out if I'm actually ill or something

You poor thing. I was feeling like this and threw everything at it, but the things I think helped the most were daily doses of vitamin B12 and the amitryptyline I take for migraines, which has, as a side effect, improved my sleep no end. I also agree with the pp who mentioned alcohol - if you drink, even a little, I would try cutting it out. I definitely feel less sluggish in general. I also take magnesium. And do make sure you're resting when you can, without feeling any guilt. Good luck x

I'd suggest it's time for blood tests - iron, folate, b12, vitamin d, thyroid etc. sounds like you may have a deficiency

Definitely sounds like a vitamin deficiency.

Have you had covid? Could it be long covid? If you have nothing to explain why you feel like this, I agree blood tests sound a good next move . It sounds miserable. I hope you get to the bottom of it 🤞🏼

As a short term solution, I find berocca (mixed in with a bit of fresh orange juice to make it taste better) works pretty well.

Longer term I've found I'm a lot perkier now I take a multivitamin with vitamin B6 and B12 daily. But I probably wouldn't start taking one until I've had a GP appointment in your case because it might confuse the results.

Could be perimenopause.

Do you feel like this the whole year, or just at the end of winter, when the weather is fucking miserable and with school-age children meaning that you are forever fighting off or recovering from a cold?

I'm normally absolutely fine.

It's just this week that I feel exhausted

Do you have any other perimenopause symptoms? Brain fog/tiredness is brutal.

Eek hadn't thought about perimenopause

I feel like this quite often.

It's mainly because I'm knackered from my full-on job and life.

You need to catch up on sleep and have a good couple of days of downtime... keep everything easy, sit down during the day.

I don't think we pay enough attention to the importance of purposeful rest in our lives these days.

Thanks all for the tips and advice.

Latest is I drank best part of a bottle of champagne last night and have woken up feeling full of energy and brilliant.

So I think that I probably had a bug.

But I do agree with everyone that modern life is just very tiring, working full time, children etc