Single mums, how do you exercise? Is anyone else absolutely exhausted?

[TwoAndMe]

Im a single parent (have been for 12 years). I work 4 days a week. It's a very intense day. I have one day off to clean, do the washing, food shop, catch up on what needs fixing/organising/booking as well as the school run and walking the dog. Weekends are washing, stripping bed ironing, picking up, dropping off, cleaning the car, gardening etc and everything else that needs doing. I try to have a day of doing something with my dcs, park, cinema, pamper, visiting family, whatever we decide. Week days, I set off at 7.30 and home at 6.30, then cook tea, eat tea, catch up with dcs, make snacks bath, pj's = absolutely exhausted. Eyes feel like sand paper. Brain fog.
Oh and bins, hate bin day.
I feel guilty as I have all good intentions (as I'm quite stiff and have an aching back) to do something but I just don't! My dcs are 14 and 16 so no excuse. My only excuse is I'm just so tired.
How do people do it?
Or don't you?
I'm almost mid 40's and my Instagram is covered in middle aged women talking about health benefits of exercise throughout peri menopause/menopause (health in general). I envy their stamina. I want to cry into my phone sometimes.
Sorry, I'm feeling sorry for myself today.

Solo parent here of a special needs child, living in a foreign country without family and the X disappeared.

I don’t exercise :-)

that said I’ve always loved biking… And we just now officially got divorced after nearly 10 years of being in the court system… And I am treating myself to an electric bike.

Because I don’t have time to use a normal bike and we have too many hills, and that’s what’s keeping me from going out.

And honestly I’m too tired to do activities with my little guy… I’m completely wiped out with work and doing the care 365.

I think it’s great that you’re doing activities with the kids… Yet you also need exercise time or an activity on your own if you can swing it.

Perhaps like an exercise class one or two times a week like Pilates or yoga.

I get it’s hard to do as a solo parent

PS I am 50 years old and now entering menopause… Still don’t exercise :-)

My recommendation is to get off the social media, it makes you feel bad about yourself

I think my neighbours would report me to social services if i left my child alone in the flat! honestly i would love to exercise i have so much pent up energy but i feel like a prisoner - sit down at work all day. i constantly move around in the evenings cleaning but its not enough

Agree with pp, if you're walking the dog, that is exercise. Go further and look online for styles of walking for maximum impact. I saw something in the Guardian I think over the hols about pushing off more from the back leg - it's not a silly walk so all fine on that count - and wow, I could really feel it the next day.

I do park run on Saturday mornings, it's a 5k run and all over by 9.30 and good start to the day!

I think maybe you could cut down on some of the household tasks - cleaning car - actually can't remember last time I did this, probably a couple of years ago. I don't bother ironing unless absolutely necessary. Garden could do with a lot more work done to it (would also say that gardening counts as exercise too though!). If you want to do it you'll make time for it, just need to get started (couch to 5k app is great) and make it a habit.

Also if you WFH lunchtime can be good time to go to a class or do a run

I do what is manageable. HIT work out on Saturday and Sunday mornings (just at home). Then aim for at least 2 other sessions on other days. Pilates from YouTube in the lounge (can do this for 20 mins) while tea cooks.
Go out for bike rides with DD.
It’s hard but I aim low (3-4 times a week) rather than everyday as then I’ll do it. I also have a treadmill that I walk or jog on for 20 - 30 mins.
I agree that getting your kids to do some of the household jobs will help you.