Doing nothing...why so tired?

[Bbq1]

Anybody else feel they're doing less than they were doing pre lockdown but are three times as exhausted? I normally work fulltime in a fairly active role and am always busy. I'm more shattered now .Not sleeping well and having Covid-19 related dreams which doesn't help. I'm off work but we can't wfh much. I exercise, clean the house and have loads of creative stuff I want to do but just can't get started on. Dh is a keyworker who works at night and ds, 14 is very bright but struggling to motivate himself to do the massive amount of work they're set so I'm trying to help him with that.

I think you've answered your own question: Not sleeping well
Remember that tiredness isn't just a physical state, you can just as easily become mentally or emotionally tired too and I suspect that little sleep, bad dreams and an unmotivated teen will be draining you in that way too.

Thanks @Vicious. You have a really good point there.

Same here, im WFH. Dont need to start until 8.30 so lying in until 8.15am. I am shattered now, feel like ive ran a marathon most days but i really don't sleep well though the night. I see every hour on the clock. Everything is mentally draining right now.

The less I do the more tired I feel sometimes. Felt like it today... could have been the weather that started it... as soon as I forced myself into doing a few things I felt more energetic. I also feel overwhelmed if I have lots of things to get done in the day and can’t get motivated to get going.

I’m absolutely exhausted and I get so frustrated with myself that I’ve done nothing all day. It’s awful

My Grannies favourite ‘the less you do the less you want to do’ and I think it’s true.

I’m as flat as a pancake and although WFH I feel generally unmotivated and disinterested in everything. I get up and think ‘here we go again...’ it’s the groundhog thing. I gave myself a stern word this morning and wrote a small list and stuck to it, and it made me feel better. Small enjoyable goals such as finish that book/start a new book/tidy my desk/etc. Big things like ‘clean out the cupboard under the stairs’ seem insurmountable at the moment.

It’s the low level background stress we are all under. Some of us feel it. Others don’t notice, just notice the symptoms!

Your knackeredness has caught up with you. It's the same principle as coming down with a headache or a cold on the first day of your holiday; you finally stop and your body just crumbles.

My experience is to listen to the tiredness, sleep, relax, and ride it out. You will come out the other end, fully recharged, and ready to tackle things.

Rust out - not having enough demands on your resources - is just as detrimental as burn out. It's why people often struggle when they retire. But yes, don't underestimate the energy being used up in emotional stress at the moment. Being in constant fight or flight mode is exhausting for the body.

Same here! Really dragging today, but had a busy day yesterday, didn’t sleep well last night and was out early this morning doing a volunteer role, home by 11.30 and collapsed in a heap the rest of the day! Early night tonight and tomorrow’s another day. The situation is emotionally exhausting, we all need to give ourselves a break.

Same! Even my DP, who normally wakes at 5.30/6am has been sleeping until 9/10, which he’s never done in his life.

However, we find we’re even busier than normal: home schooling, DP doing an online course, I’m still doing a bit of work and setting up a new business, endless Zoom/WhatsApp/FaceTime calls to family and friends, Houseparty, taking groceries to family, planning meals... all adds up.

I agree with Misty9

There's a point where your adrenal glands are just done.

Plus the way I deal with anxiety is to move: outside, inside - doesn't matter. I sit down to eat dinner and when I drive. I just realized I have been in constant motion for about six weeks. I'm exhausted.

I was so exhausted yesterday I crashed out on the sofa at 5.30. Woke up at 8 and took dd to bed where we both slept till 7.30am. It's a sign my mental health is starting to slide a bit and I need some self care