So tired after work.

I have days when I get home and it's not so bad, but I also have days where I feel like I'm about to fall over. It doesn't help that I walk home from work - it's only a mile, but an extra mile after a rough day feels like it takes a freakin' eternity.

On the days that I feel like I just can't move when I get home, but I know I have things that need to be done, I will give myself some time to sit and rest before starting. Usually 45 minutes to an hour, and I'll let myself just sit, watch tv, close my eyes, whatever for that time. Then, I am still tired, but definitely a little more relaxed when I get back up and do whatever I need to do.

One thing that helps is doing as much as you can BEFORE work, when you're still fresh. Before you go to work, make sure the dishes are done, things are straightened out, etc. You won't come home to as much housework.

And for dinner? I like to take my days off and make a few meals at a time, and freeze them. Things like lasagna/pasta bakes, soups, and casseroles freeze really well, and all you have to do when you get home is heat them up

But whatever you do, don't make yourself feel bad about it. We work hard, it's normal to feel tired. :)

Also don't forget the little things that we often over look. Little things like:

-Making time for yourself

-Drinking enough water every day

-A little physical activity

-Eating right

......

I also find that keeping a routine or schedual helps me out a little bit.

Oh my goodness, Dondie, you said it !! I get up at 4:30 am, I take care of vulnerable needy people, and I give out to each one. If I dare to sit or lie down when I get home, I fall into a coma. There's nothing left of me to give to my family. When I get back up after lying down for a hour or two, I'm still so tired I literally feel like I'm ill. I'm fortunate to have a husband who likes to cook so he takes care of that for my family. The only thing I can accomplish after work is the laundry. For some reason, I find doing laundry relaxing without being too taxing. Sometimes it's really despairing. I'm 48 and fit, but I feel like this job is making me old !!! I can hold my own on my job with those who are half my age, I can run circles around some of them. However -- at what price. It's really difficult for me because I have 4 kids who need me too! I don't want my whole life to be consumed by my job because it takes it out of me so hard that I can't even enjoy my time off.

At night I just look forward to it so much -- the kids all settled, no more dishes to do, just me and my pillowtop mattress, my Sweetie next to me, and the remote control.....in no time I'm comatose again, drooling on the pillow...... :zzzzz

Well I may start a nursing assistant position at a hospital (telemetry/med surg.) ...got 2 jobs I have to choose between by tomorrow It stinks I would be working 7-3 rotating weekends, but I have such a hard time sleeping and am usually tired..and I can just imagine when I start working.

I know what you mean. I can't sit down after work if I want to get anything done because once I sit, that's it... I'm not getting up (except to go to the refrigerator about 15 times!). And actually when I veg out immediately, I get even more tired around 5pm and I feel miserable and completely unmotivated to even get up and make supper (and normally, I like to cook). If I stay productive as soon as I walk in the door I noticed I don't get so sleepy and once I go to bed I get a better quality of sleep.

It's easier said than done though. The urge to flop down and eat often overcomes me. I think it's the stress of being at work more than being physically tired.

This is why I do not work 7-3! I honestly don't know how people do it. Whenever I pick up a shift in the morning it reminds me why I don't work the shift. I am exhausted! All I want to do when I get home from work is have a cold beer and watch something really junky on TV and sit in a recliner.

InterceptingLight & Fuzzy--I think you guys just re-worded my post!! Lol That is exactly how I feel! I get up at 4:15, earlier than I need to, but I get to sit down for a while put my make-up on (yes, I'm one of "those" girls!) and drink a cup of coffee. It helps me feel like ai'm not rolling out of bed and hitting the floor at work. I clock in at 5:30.

My husband tells me that I should start working out and that would give me more energy. I know he's right, but I don't like to listen when he says things like that! I know I should and enjoyed doing pilates when I stayed at home and lost quite a few pounds of baby weight at the time. I have put it back on and I'm sure that is part of the problem as well. I still have the DVDs and have thought about getting them out. I have always said that the hardest part is getting started. Summer is coming quick so I guess now is as good a time as any, though I will probably stick with my tank top & shorts style bathing suit this year.

I'm so glad you guys can relate to what I'm going through! I was anxiously waiting to see what you guys had to say when the page was loading. Sure didn't want you to think I was totally lazy! Lol

Y'all are the best!!

InterceptingLight & Fuzzy--I think you guys just re-worded my post!! Lol That is exactly how I feel! I get up at 4:15, earlier than I need to, but I get to sit down for a while put my make-up on (yes, I'm one of "those" girls!) and drink a cup of coffee. It helps me feel like ai'm not rolling out of bed and hitting the floor at work. I clock in at 5:30.

My husband tells me that I should start working out and that would give me more energy. I know he's right, but I don't like to listen when he says things like that! I know I should and enjoyed doing pilates when I stayed at home and lost quite a few pounds of baby weight at the time. I have put it back on and I'm sure that is part of the problem as well. I still have the DVDs and have thought about getting them out. I have always said that the hardest part is getting started. Summer is coming quick so I guess now is as good a time as any, though I will probably stick with my tank top & shorts style bathing suit this year.

I'm so glad you guys can relate to what I'm going through! I was anxiously waiting to see what you guys had to say when the page was loading. Sure didn't want you to think I was totally lazy! Lol

Y'all are the best!!

Yes! I too, like that 'coffee and putting on makeup' routine before work. So...your hub thinks you need to exercise? Yeah, I used to be really ambitious this time of year, just before summer.......every night I'd do a round of vigorous 'butt-buster' type exercises, see if I can eliminate the dimples on my backside. Fuhgetaboutit. When I'm getting paid to bust my butt every day at work, why do it more when I get home? Nuh-uh.

Oh trust me you aren't the only one that is dead when you get out of work... I get up at 5 am and commute I chose days though cause I want to get it done and over with and then come home and relax but I am sooo tired when I come home.. I work in a LTC on a Palliative floor and its always busy. I come home my feet are sore, my back is sore etc.. I take a couple of Ib's and relax and all is well again but you know? I wouldn't change my job for nothing :) at the moment

I wouldn't trade my job either! I could drive a little farther for better pay, but right now I live less than a mile from my job, so the lower pay & less gas kinda evens itself out. Plus, I get home about 2:15 and the man leaves at 3, so that's all we have until the weekend. I love the girls I work with too and I'm afraid it wouldn't be this way at another facility.

Yeah, he thinks exercise would help. My back hurts when I get up in the morning and he says I need to "strengthen my core". He says it with my best interest in mind, though. He would love me if I weigh 300 lbs. I tell everybody that he's sprung on me. Lol! He'd be lost and we both know it!

Why is it that work isn't enough exercise anyway?!? You'd think with the lifting and turning people over that your arms would be ripped!!

That's what I'm sayin'! I've seen it stated before (in articles and the like) that nurses and aides are more often overweight than most other professions.

I have found, in my experience, that this is pretty accurate - not only am I overweight myself, but I'd say a high percentage of my coworkers have also been at least slightly overweight. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? We work our freakin' butts off. I mean, I know weight is determined by other things, too...but still.