So tired...can anyone provide energy boosting ideas?

[llareggub]

I have a 16 month old toddler and a demanding full time job outside the home. Lately I have really struggled to keep my eyes open in the evening. I have no energy at all, and am struggling to motivate myself at work.

Last night I fell asleep on the sofa waiting for my DH to come home from work and was in bed by 8.30pm Saturday night!

I'm looking for energy boosting ideas. I don't feel ill or run down, just exhausted! I am still breastfeeding so wonder if that could be an issue?

are you eating well? eating breakfast? drinking water? sometimes to have energy you have to use a bit of energy (sounds daft I know....)

I always eat breakfast and probably eat a lot better now that I have a child. Maybe I don't drink enough water though. I definitely don't get enough exercise and am looking for ways to find time for it!

Feel most of mumsnet will gravitate to this thread .

I know I'm not the only one Mog! But there must be something I can do?! I really am exhausted. I've been back in work since last September but I've only felt like this for the last few weeks. Crikey, is this what it will always be like?

anyone?

If it's come on a bit suddenly perhaps you ought to check you are not anaemic or hypothyroid?

Can sympathise though. Things that help me are...drinking water...making sure my blood sugar stays stable (no coffee, no bread, etc), eating plenty of fruit & veg, taking multivits, going to bed really early every so often, and going to bed earlyish most of the time (about 10pm usually), and if really bad, having a sleep in the afternoon at the weekend.

Exercise does help, if you can get motivated. I have to get out of the house to do it - I can never be bothered to just do an exercise DVD or something at home.

Also, the other thing I often find is when I am just ticking over and then get a huge bout of tiredness, it is often when DS, DH or loads of people at work have a cold or bug and I wonder if it's just my body fighting something off.

Are you definitely not pregnant? I would second making absolutely sure you're drinking enough water - it makes a HUGE difference to me, both mood and energy. Can you build in exercise to your commute somehow?

I work ft and have 4 children, and am permanently knackered.

do you have every possible labour saving device? I just got a dishwasher recently and my life is transformed, I have the precious extra half an hour in the evening (usefully spent, as you can see

can you be firm with yourself to go to bed earler?
if all else fails, eating a big breakfast with lots of black coffee usually gets me through the day.

btw, a colleague once said to me,
you know there are 3 states when you are at work:
working, pretending to work, and too knackered even to pretend to work.

No idea if I'm pregnant! I am not avoiding it, but not going all out to get pregnant. I had fertility treatment first time around so unlikely I think.

Exercise is a tricky one. I try to get out for walks etc when I am not working but my husband works evenings every other week so doing anything after work isn't possible.

Will definitely up the water intake. I suspect I don't drink enough. I don't drink alcohol at all, so it isn't that.

So more exercise (don't know when and how) and more water. Hmm. Exercise. Now how on earth do I find the time?!

I would say,as long as you are eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids, just make sure that you get plenty of rest. If you are tired and go to bed early - so what? Don't fight sleep,you obviously need it. A full time job and a toddler is a lot to deal with. I find one early night doesn't make any difference to me at all when I'm feeling exhausted. You need to have a run of them.
If you are still concerned then go get a check with your GP - no harm in getting a check.

could you do a workout in the evening on nights when your husband is working, like a dvd workout. I have a 16 month DS, and am saved by a 30 min run every weekend day and a couple of goes of "cindy crawford next challenge' workout which is the best of a massive number I have tried.. it's 1993 but really good. I would agree with others that exercise helps. Best of luck!