Anyone else feel like life is a relentless slog?

[pjsgalore]

Ugh I'm feeling so utterly defeated by domesticity and everything at the moment. I feel so demotivated. I have so much shit to do ALL THE TIME but can hardly summon the energy to do anything - both kids are at school, 7 and 4, so I have plenty of time! I only work one day a week. But It's so weird - it's like the more time I have the less I do!! I thought as soon as my DD started school I'd whip the house into shape, be on top of everything, redo my CV etc etc - but I haven't at all!!

Aside from the piles of washing, and toy organising and grocery shopping and cooking etc etc etce, I feel like there are constant requests from the school, from nativity clothes to teachers leaving to money for christmas presents - then there's christmas looming. I just feel so overwhelmed with stuff - at exactly a time where I feel I have no energy to do anything. It's the mental load!!

I also have a million social engagements, 99% of which I don't want to do...which sounds awful and ungrateful...and they're usually fun when I get there. But I just feel I'm being pulled in every single direction. And I feel even worse if I've been to bed late after drinking.

I'm just not finding life much fun at the moment. I'm not finding my kids fun at the moment. My husband is annoying me. the DOG is annoying me. I'm just MEH!!!!

Can anyone give some advice to shake me from my lethargy?? Tips to get my mojo back! Or just tell me they feel the same way??

Cut back on the things you don't want to do socially. Only attend things you really want to.

Sounds a bit much really. I go out about once a month and that sometimes feels too much!

Sit down with a calender and a blank sheet of paper. Write a list of all of your social engagements and chose maybe one a week(or whatever you feel you can manage) that you really want to go to- they go on the calendar, cancel everything else. Make a list of all of the kids stuff (I'm sure they have nativity etc). Put them in the calendar.

Write a list of everyone you need to buy for and what you want to get them. 'Book' an evening this week and sit with your dh and buy it all on line.

Write a list of the jobs you need to get done around the house. Organise your non work days into morning and afternoon slots and allocate jobs to them.

Write these lists today! Stop procrastinating! Say no to the things you can't manage. Having everything planned on a calender will help you to see what you genuinely can't do and this will help you enjoy the things you can.

Yes! I could have written your post. Also had high hopes of sorting house out and generally being a perfectly organised person once youngest started school.

The house has improved a bit but not hugely. I have taken on more work which uses up time. In December I have 4 Christmas nights out.

I find it takes much longer to do everything than I thought. Going to try to copy some of these tips.

You sound bored tbh. I think that if you wanted to do all the domestic stuff and organizing and social commitments then you would find you had plenty of time to do it. 4 school days really should be plenty. But you are feeling lethargic and unmotivated because you are bored.

Counterintuitively, I were you I would find something else to take up your time that excites and motivates you. paid work. hobby. voluntary work. And at the same time take a look if there is stuff you could cut out - maybe you are only doing some things because you feel you should. And because you are not working much, you don't feel like you have a good excuse to say no.

I wouldn't be surprised if with a bit more to interest you in your life, the other stuff will actually weigh on you less heavily and you will fit more it. Plus if you get paid work you can buy in a bit more help too.

Learn how to say 'no' and not feel guilty about it! Really difficult but it helped me.

Also doesn't hurt to get your iron levels checked if you are feeling lethargic

Thank you so much everyone - yes to everything. And in fact I AM bored. Fricking bored. I like working from home (I'm a writer ) but maybe I actually need to have a day or two away from the house at an office. Something to think about in teh new year. Thanks for the great tips Indubious.

I am feeling much better today - and (sorry if this is TMI) but I did just have my period. I seem to be more and more affected by it as I get older. Maybe that was something to do with the lethargy - low iron levels?

ANyway, thank you all!!