Working & Exhausted

Executive Member Joined: Jul 09 2008 Posts: 377

I recently began a new job with the ideal working mother's hours 9-3.

I enjoy it and relish the challenge. Only problem is I AM EXHAUSTED. By the time the afternoon rolls around, I am snappy to everyone in sight. I am usually a calm mother but this job is really getting to me.

Is it normal to be crazy exhausted every day? I sometimes fall asleep on the couch before 7:00 pm.

What can I do to boost my energy level?

Silver Member Joined: Oct 28 2009 Posts: 789

I'd love to know any suggestions, cuz I work 9-1 and have 3 children under 3, so I feel the same

Posted: Wed, May 02 2012, 7:33 pm Post subject: re: Working & Exhausted

Perfectly normal. And therefore, I quit my job.

Executive Member Joined: Jul 09 2008 Posts: 377

I'm relieved to hear it's normal. I need creative tips to cut down on my obligations. I doubt there is much to cut, but would like to hear ideas.

I have 4 kids, oldest is 6.

Wakeup is 6:00 am
Dress kiddos
Make beds
Prepare hot breakfast (I'm a big beleiver in a warm meal, no cereal here)
Prepare lunch & snack for 1 child (the others dont need)
Prepare Dh & my breakfast & lunch
Eat breakfast
Wash breakfast dishes
Quick shower
Makeup
Wash faces, brush teeth, and do hair for 4 kids.
Wait for bus
Walk w/ two littles to playgroup/babysitter (this takes me 1/2 hour)
Get to work 9:00

Is there anything I can do to either boost my energy level or make my life simpler?

Posted: Wed, May 02 2012, 8:04 pm Post subject: re: Working & Exhausted

I assume you didn't work before this?
when a mother starts working some things have got to go. Can your dh make his own lunch? Forget the breakfast dishes or teach your six year old to help with that. Shower and make child lunch before? I think the main problem is that you are expending a lot of your energy before you even get to work. Do you wake your kids up or they naturally wake at 6? Can you do instant oatmeal some mornings for hot breakfast?
I've heard that pomegranate juice is good for energy, I'm thinking of trying it.

Executive Member Joined: May 17 2011 Posts: 261

Posted: Wed, May 02 2012, 8:13 pm Post subject: re: Working & Exhausted

When you are a working mom there are just some things that have to go or you will go nuts; for example, why won't cereal cut it for breakfast? If it saves you 15-20 minutes, it's worth giving you a few extra minutes of sleep or time to yourself. You mention making breakfast for husband, can he do his own? Just a thought. I've worked full time since the beginning of my marriage, always leaving earlier than my DH and I just don't make him breakfast. As it is I leave at 7 and don't get home til 5 and it's just never been an issue. I do make him great suppers and cook for him when I can, but he does his breakfast. Lunches are tricky because the night before they never take as much time cabin the am, so try doing them when you get home maybe after dinner before you fall asleep. It's tough feeling like there is so much to do. Hopefully it will all straighten out after a few weeks. Good luck!

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 01 2009 Posts: 8212

Welcome to motherhood while working! My schedule is a bit longer (I leave at 6 am and get home at 5:15), but here are some tips I have:

1) Know what dinner is the night before and do as much prep as you can. Keep dinner simple.

2) Prep lunches in the evening. Have those who can help be involved (your DD should be able to pick her own snacks and put them in bags).

3) Shower at night if you can. THat will spare you some time in the morning.

4) have your husband pitch in more

5) Lower your expectations

6) Make sure to have 8 days worth of clothing for everyone (at least) so that if you need to do laundry only on the weekends, thats ok. (We do a lot of laundry on sunday). Otherwise, we often start a load in the morning, move it the drier at night and then fold when we get a chance. We try to hang things that get very wrinkled. Otherwise, we hang them in the bathroom to steam during showers.

7) Aim lower. Your house will not be spotless, your meals will not be gourmet...

8) If you insist on hot breakfast, try doing prep the night before. Try doing eggs in muffin tins and then taking them out of the fridge to heat up (they are muffin shaped then). Stuff like that.

Good luck, being a full time working mother is really, really hard!
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Silver Member Joined: Apr 28 2009 Posts: 831

when I was working I always showered at night because it was too timely for the morning. I would cut this first and sleep until 6:20 instead.

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3375

What are you eating?

I have seen a real difference in my energy level since I started (thanks to OOTBubby's suggestion!) snacking on nuts and seeds rather than starches. Nuts and seeds contain proteins and fats that give you energy and keep you feeling full, respectively.

Also - Why don't you use disposable dishes for breakfast?
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Platinum Member Joined: Feb 20 2009 Posts: 7624

Some of it is probably just adjusting to a ,new routine. After a while it doesn't take as much emotional or physical energy.

Can you take a quick nap when you get home before dealing with the kids? That can make a huge difference.

One more thing- get to know your crock pot! You can make some delicious meals with very little prep and no messing around when you just get home.

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 12 2010 Posts: 5784

Perhaps you need more iron?
If you are into health stuff and vitamins go to your local health store and ask them to recommend the best vitamin for energy (c, b12).

Shower and lunches/snacks can and should be prepared at night. This gives you a little more relax time in the morning.

Perhaps you can give your kids some toys/pictures to color when you get home so that you can nap on the couch for half/1 hour. It really gives you energy to get through the next few hours and then go to bed at 9/10.
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Silver Member Joined: Dec 13 2007 Posts: 743

Have you heard 5-Hour-Energy's recent marketing campaign? A lot of people just run out of energy in the afternoon hours. That's part of the reason I push off taking lunch until sometime between 2-4 and just go out for a 30 minute walk.

And yes, you need to simplify your routine and share the chores with your husband.

Executive Member Joined: Jul 09 2008 Posts: 377

What great ideas!

Yes, this is my first time working w/ young kids.

My kids always wake up 6:00 am, nothing I can do about that. (I've tried later bedtimes but they wake w/ the birds.)

I can cut my dh's lunch but what diff. would that make?

Breakfast dishes is the pot of oatmeal, the frying pan, utensils.

I eat moderatly healthy meals. WW bread w/ a protein & veg. No coffee or junk. I skip lunch as I'm too busy at work to eat.

The 1/2 hour nap is a great idea. After the kids are settled, they can play quietly.

Does vitamin B12 really work? Would I need a prescription for that?

Executive Member Joined: Jul 09 2008 Posts: 377

Platinum Member Joined: Feb 20 2009 Posts: 7624

Don't skip lunch! Of course you'll be exhausted. Limit your carbs, but eat lots of lean protein to boost your energy mid-day.

Executive Member Joined: Nov 28 2010 Posts: 334

Senior Member Joined: Dec 06 2008 Posts: 111

I have 4 kids and work 9 -3, my oldest is almost 8 and bh" life is hectic but vey under control
this is what works for me:

1) supper, know way in advance what your planning to do for supper meaning if I want I do serve monday soup + chicken I'll do the soup sunday night, bake the chicken monday morning b4 work and when I get home at 3 do the side dish(anything that's quick or easy) -> I get a full supper done in 3 steps so easy and relaxed.

2) in the morning everyone makes their own beds (besides little kids) puts away pj's and gets themselves dressed , then its breakfast - I do eggs or grilled cheese - it doesnt take long to cook...

3) while everyone is eating I do the snacks/lunch for kids I do not do dh lunch!! hes's the type that doesnt need it ( eats on the go...) and myself I just take along a grille cheese or yogurt and eat it first thing at work, and then I'm good to go I skip lunch instead I eat carbs works great for me although not too healthy.

4) then I get the kids off to school, get myself to work,

5) I pick up the little kids and then I'm home at about 3 oclock - in the morning I usually prepared the load so I turn the washer on, throw in the side dish for supper ( main dish is ALWAYS ! done) unless I do sanwitches for supper, I do that once or twice a week and my kids looove it its their favorit supper ( and my easiest) for dh I can have leftovers or anything he's easy on me !

6) after supper the kids relax with coloring books toys or whatever then its bath and bathe little kids into bed , big kids do home work then into bed for them
7) once e/o is in bed I do cleanup ( I use paperdishes alot) fold the laundry and I'm usually done by 8: 30-9:30 always in bed by 10:30 after shower

Gold Member Joined: Apr 27 2010 Posts: 1972

Executive Member Joined: Jul 09 2008 Posts: 377

asweet, that sounds doable. Maybe I just need to get in the groove.

I certainly plan my suppers ahead of time. I shop on sunday and plan a menu. If everything is in the house then its no big deal.

My oldest two are 6 & 5. They do their bed and fold their pj's, but are lazy to get dressed. I will have to make them do it.

I will start doing lunch. I'm thinking munching on nuts at work should give me a boost.

Thank you all for your chizzuk.