Average schedule

[cmscms]

Like many people, I feel there are not a lot of hours in the day and lately, I have been feeling VERY tired and worn out. The funny thing is, my schedule is the same it has been for years

Week days: Wake up, shower have breakfasy (usually no time for makeup), only time for a quick prayer, drive 35 minutes to work. Work 8.5 hours, drive home. Once a week go to the gym. Have supper, talk to my mom on the phone 30 minutes, avoid housework for 1 hour by dilly dallying around the house, and 1-2 nights a week, actually doing some house work

Friday night, go out paly cards, go to bed at 2 am due to all the coffee I drank.

Saturday: sleep in, go to the 12:15pm aerobics class, some shopping or a nap before 5pm mass. Come home and watch TV

Sunday, sleep in go to the 11am aerobics class, grocery shop, then come home and cook breakfast, lunch and supper for the week. Freeze food in individual portions, to tired to look at the messy kitchen and hope it will get cleaned during the week

Then it starts all over again. It is getting humiliating living in such a messy dwelling. no one come over but it still humiliates me every time I look at it.

I rarely go for coffe anymore, something I remember doing often.

I am wondering if just the routine in itself has burned me out and if I need to shake it up somehow? Or is it age? I am 42. I heard people slow down as they get older. The funny thing is, when most of my peers turned 30 and started to ‘slow down’, I had no idea what they were talking about. I had been living that pace my whole life. In my 20s I did not have the energy to keep up with my peers.

How do others feel? what are others’ routines? Is it possible my low energy is a sign of the grief of loosing my dad? My dad died 13 months ago but the lack of energy only hit 2 months ago?

CM

 

[Seira]

How do others feel? what are others’ routines? Is it possible my low energy is a sign of the grief of loosing my dad? My dad died 13 months ago but the lack of energy only hit 2 months ago?

I would say it’s most likely the grief of loosing your dad. Perhaps you didn’t fully grieve. It’s easy for us to think that you grieve for a few months & move on, but it doesn’t work like that. People most bury the full extent of the grief in order to function at work/family/etc… It’ll come out eventually & sometimes unexpectedly in various ways. You may want to discuss this w/ your priest or a counselor. I’m sorry for your loss.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please pray for cmscms.

 

[austenbosten]

I would say it’s most likely the grief of loosing your dad. Perhaps you didn’t fully grieve. It’s easy for us to think that you grieve for a few months & move on, but it doesn’t work like that. People most bury the full extent of the grief in order to function at work/family/etc… It’ll come out eventually & sometimes unexpectedly in various ways. You may want to discuss this w/ your priest or a counselor. I’m sorry for your loss.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please pray for cmscms.

Yeah losing someone saps your energy and sometimes it buries itself. Of course you can’t force the grieving process, but if you feel the need to cry, just let it out and accept it.

 

[familyof4]

When was the last time you had a full check up? I’m hypothyroid, and you sounds like someone who has some symptoms. There are a lot of reasons, physical, emotional and spiritual that can lead to fatigue and feeling worn out. Getting any physical reasons checked out would probably be a good place to start.

God bless, and I very sorry to hear about the loss you’ve endured, you’re in my prayers.

 

[twk001]

you should definitely talk with your family doctor- could even be depression that you’re not aware you have.

your schedule sounds pretty good! i’m up at 5:15, get ready, get hubs and kids up, breakfast, drive kids 30 min to school, drive additional 25 min to work, work 9 hrs, drive 25 min to get kids, 30 min to home, then dinner, homework, baths, family walk, kids to bed, last minute stuff and to bed myself.

i consider my life completely messy too! my house is NEVER clean anymore. we can barely keep it tidy. BUT, know that in a couple of years things will slow down again. sounds like you may need a change up. you are likely in a rut, and may have some depression or other physiological reason for fatigue. get checked out, and then try to make some changes. they’re good for you!

 

[midori]

(tried posting last night, but got dragged off to bed…)

What do you want to adjust in your routine? What do you want to add that you feel you have no time for? What do you do that no longer makes you happy?

You mention being depressed about the tidiness of your house. As an organized-but-not-neat person married to an organized-and-tidy person, I found out about Flylady, which has been very useful in giving me direction in pulling the house together in bite-sized bits. I get her emails on my smartphone, and have little posty-notes with routine things like “1 load of laundry” or “declutter hotspot for 2 min” on my bedroom mirror. When I accomplish a task, I move the posty note to the other side of the mirror, with the goal being to end the day with all of my posty-notes having been moved. It’s sort of a game. But even on days when I ignore everything else, I always manage to keep a clean kitchen no matter what.

What can you do during your hour of commute? Book on tape? Pray a chaplet? Language tapes? I was never very good at listening to audiobooks or language tapes-- I’d focus on the audio and not pay proper attention to the road-- but they seem to work for other people.

You seem sad that you don’t go out for coffee much. What purpose did the coffeehouses serve for you in the past? Was it a social outing with others? Was it an opportunity to listen to live music? Was it a treat that you couldn’t make at your home? Was it a change of scenery? What did you get out of it besides coffee, and where else can you get that something that you’re really missing?

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Csmcsm, it all sounds pretty normal. I don’t know if your feeling the effects of greiving or, depression. But, you could do a couple of things, to lighten your work load.

Hiring a house cleaner would take away your messy house concerns. Most people I know, with a very neat house. Relax by house cleaning.( I’m sure thats a mental illness that has escaped diagnosis thus far)) A house cleaner, would free you up for a little more recreation. Molly maid type services are somewhat expensive. We use them for my parents home on a monthly bases. It’s $83.00. But, we are looking at hiring an individual at a much lower rate. The only problem is, you have to be there to let them in. Some people give them a key. But, that would have to be after a background check. Everything else you mention, seems pretty squared away! Making your meals for the week, ahead of time. Very impressive.

You didn’t mention a pet, or a hobby you can use to un-wind with. Could be TV just doesn’t do it for you anymore. So, thats something you could look at, in your spare time.

ATB

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

…I have been feeling VERY tired and worn out. The funny thing is, my schedule is the same it has been for years.

This is a very good indicator that you should take yourself to your physician for a thorough medical, including a screening for depression considering the recent death of your father.

Once you’ve gotten any medical issues addressed, if there are any medical issues to address, you can start tweaking your life in ways pleasing to you to give you more free time, help relieve stress, liven things up, etc.

But I would start by getting clean bills of physical and mental health.

Luna

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

Dear cmscms, I’m so sorry for the death of your father, and I am praying for you.

I think certainly that your fatigue might be related to his passing. Any time people feel as you do, it’s a good idea to check in with your regular doctor, just to be sure.

Perhaps it’s time to challenge that schedule a little too. Do you have friends at your parish who might join you for shopping or a cup of herbal tea somewhere?

You sound like a very dear person and it’s so nice to share things with others.

Also, are there any grief counseling groups recommended by the Diocese or a local health center? Can you speak to your priest? We all need support when going through the death of a family member or friend.

Your schedule sounds pretty full during the week. Maybe you could just change it around a little one weekends. If you have any interests/hobbies, etc, most cities list all kinds of sponsored activities
God bless you and know that you are in my prayers.:heaven:
Kathryn Ann

 

[cmscms]

Hiring a house cleaner would take away your messy house concerns.

I have tired that in the past and in a nutshell, it just doesn’t work. House cleaners do not pick up after me and that is 80% of the work. I did have more of a personal maid and it did NOT work. She would put things in the wrong place, load the dishwasher without rinsing the dishes. Hang towels to dry on the door. They don’t know where I like to keep my paper work.

But thanks for the suggestion

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I have tired that in the past and in a nutshell, it just doesn’t work. House cleaners do not pick up after me and that is 80% of the work. I did have more of a personal maid and it did NOT work. She would put things in the wrong place, load the dishwasher without rinsing the dishes. Hang towels to dry on the door. They don’t know where I like to keep my paper work.

But thanks for the suggestion

I know just what you mean. For me, it’s 80% about clutter and piles of stuff. I end up cleaning up before the maid comes! And then I think, “What am I paying a maid for??”

I notice you only have one social event during your week - playing cards on Fridays. Is that enough socializing for you? Are you maybe wanting to be around others in a recreational setting more often? I ask because many people get all the people contact they want or can deal with during the weekdays, and just want to be left alone on their own time.

Do you have any hobbies, or things you enjoy doing? Not just part of the routine, but something enjoyable just for you.

Have you considered getting a pet?

I’m glad you are getting some exercise. Not getting any can be a cause of fatigue, but if one doesn’t have energy in the first place, it’s tough to want to get exercise.

I agree with the others, getting a physical with thyroid tests would be a good place to start. You could be slightly depressed, but for women, our weak spot is our thyroid. Many of us have it conk out as we get into our middle age years. For me, mine went wonky after my 2nd child.

:hug3: