51 and so very tired from working - but I have another 15 years to go yet

[chinesestirfry]

certainly not wishing my life away BUT ...

I am just so worn out, tired, lethargic from working. Like the rest of the world, I have been working for 30 years plus. It's not the job, the job is not pressured at all. I work hybrid. It's very family friendly. It's the constant need to deliver/manage and keep going. Keep pushing at work, keep turning up, keep up the façade that I'm interested. keep up the enthusiasm, keep playing the game (so to speak). I (we) have another 15 years before the mortgage is paid off. I don't know how I will last that long. Technology at work is moving so very fast. It's all now beyond me and I don't care to keep up with the moving pace.

I have to carry on but I have nothing left in me to give

Are you looking after yourself, physically and mentally?

I think you're at an age where that REALLY starts to matter - our bodies aren't so forgiving of the neglect we often show them. But you are young enough to turn things around before the decline becomes irreversible.

I'm just a little older than you and really prioritise my own wellbeing these days. A really healthy diet, healthy weight, exercise, relaxation, good sleep, barely any alcohol, time for pampering and self care.

The improvement has been life changing and I feel normal again, not 'old and tired'. I can certainly relate to you being bored/sick of getting up and going to work every day after so many decades of it, but I don't relate to being physically tired or unable to cope mentally and intellectually.

Oh wow, totally get all this 🙄
Been office bound in present office job for 12 years now….just feel like treading water! The company started out very small, less than 6 people, but now has grown to over 50. That’s all good, in one respect that it’s growing, but it’s going through a “corporate” identify crisis…staff have to be engaged, look interested and all that shite. I’m due to retire in the next 4-5 years….just can’t do this crap no more! It all seems so ground-hog day.
oh god…and the social events that are now all part of the scene, god help me…..my work colleagues are a lovely bunch and we get on well, but trying to look like I enjoy the 9-5d is exhausting….let alone trying to do evenings as well….argh!
well……”you ain’t seen me….right”. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

solidarity to everyone who feels the same 💐
Every day feels like getting up to do a jigsaw puzzle . The puzzle may be different each day but you finished the puzzle last night and the next morning it's been compete destroyed and you have to stat over again ..and again ..and again .. every.single.day.

@Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice I need to be kinder to myself. I had been exercising in the past but it got extreme - 10 mile walk, 50 ,lengths in the pool. I am trying to be kinder and do less of each, not worry about that drawer of junk and put my phone down more.

@chinesestirfry sounds like a dreadful way to be feeling lots of good advice in terms of manging health conditions, diet and exercise from various posters. Can I add a different perspective?

Does it have to be another 15 years? Take a look at money saving expert debt free wannabee forum posts. Do a break down of your ins and outs. Anyway to shave a couple of years of clearing that mortgage, when can you claim any workplace pensions, any savings that could tide you over for a short while until state pension is available.There used to be a mortgage overpayment calculator on there too.

Try and see if you can bring things forward by even a couple of years. UKpersonalfinance on reddit is also a good place to browse for some of these things. Meaningfulmoney on you tube also has a podcast series and a book on planning for retirement might be some useful stufff in there.

Apologies if you have already done this sort of thing and 15 years really is it.
One final thing bone health is really important try weight lifting at the gym as a new fitness activity!

@Twizzletoe thank you, I will def have a look at what you suggest.

So far today I have just sat staring at the screen, unable to get going. I spent most of last week doing that too. Bleary eyed, coasting, tired, aching, fed up, struggling to do anything

I suggest you hit all the frugal forums you can save every penny that is not going to bills- pay down all of it to your mortgage and get free quicker.