How to stop being so exhausted

[SpinningFloppa]

Is it normal to be exhausted all the time when you have young kids? I never have any energy on the weekends I literally feel exhausted have no energy to take my children anywhere so we spend most weekends at home, I barely have the energy to take them to the park I’m just so exhausted on the weekends I want to get out of this rut as I feel stuck and feel guilty for being so tired on the weekends but I think it’s just the rush of the week that by the weekend I feel like I have nothing left to give.

I'm having the same problem - zero energy or motivation for anything. I want to be able to do stuff, but the thought of actually doing it tires me out!

Thinking of starting some kind of small workout that I could maybe involve my toddler in - no more than 15 min a day just to build up some stamina. I did 15 min of cardo every day in my 2nd trimesterof pregnancy. The first week was hideous but after that I started feeling miles better.

It's working full time that kills us. We forced ourself to get up and do junior park run this morning. It was cold and no one wanted to get up.
But, once its done we got home and all got loads done in the garden! It's like energy breeds energy!! It really makes a difference to us. And we all need that bit of exercise.

It's tough when you get stuck in a rut but there's only you that can break the pattern.

Yes, I have been through so many phases where I have no energy for my kids. I think exercise helps the most but that's the hardest thing to do when exhausted. Instead I try to do small things where I can to improve my energy levels and reduce my anxiety, like having a nice shower and coffee in the morning away from the kids (if possible), eating more protein (I boil eggs and keep in the fridge or snack on peanut butter or other nuts), and fewer simple carbs (switched from white to wholemeal bread), going to bed 15 mins earlier, doing 5-10 minutes of exercise or stretching when I remember, taking vitamins, deep breathing in the shower, drinking a bit more water etc. Every little thing really does help and adds up to more energy. I find the easiest things are those which are straight swaps (eggs instead of cereal for breakfast, wholemeal instead of white bread, low sugar yoghurt etc.) because they don't take any more time or energy. Signing the kids up for activities can be a good way to get some external motivation to go out too....

Also, I have taken to drinking another coffee in the afternoon to perk myself up 😅

I do these things in moments where I'm feeling motivated, other times I'm just too shattered. Give yourself grace as this is a tiring time in life!! And there's no harm to the kids in learning that a cozy life at home is just fine, and you don't need to go out all the time.

May not be relevant to you, but by any chance are you prone to anemia? I am and I've literally just had the realization that my iron levels are probably pretty low. Could be worth a check

Are you taking a multivitamin? I agree maybe a blood test as you sound very depleted, being too tired to go to a nearby park on the weekend is a bit extreme.

Take it in turns to have a really decent lie in at weekends.

Normal enough to be exhausted but still get B12, iron and thyroid checked, and if you might be in peri menopause.

@ChildWontStopGrowing mentioned, it might also be your iron levels or your thyroid. I got rid of that "I would really rather be asleep than anything else" feeling when I took Floradix liquid iron, morning and night, for a month. It tastes absolutely foul, but is the only iron supplement I can tolerate. I wouldn't say I am now bouncing with energy (working, plus having a young child, plus living on a different continent from family support) but I am much much better.

I still take the Floradix, but I mean that it took about a month to notice a difference.