I used to be the kind of person that could have 10 things on my plate, schedule them and get them all done completely and efficiently. I worked (still do), cleaned, cooked..etc..PLUS...wrote a children's novel, took an online college course, tutored English, and had time for relaxation....NOW....

I don't know where the hours go...I have a list of things I want to do and ...don't do any of them..or..it takes me for EVER to finish one simple task. I feel so inadequate! I can't think very well anymore....I feel mentally and physically tired often, I exercise on a regular basis for...a week or two and then...I dunno what happens....I've been editing the same novel for 2 years and I'm still not done because I sit down to do it and then....my mind wanders....I feel uninterested in things in general-but they are things that are really on my priority list and need to get done! Most times I'd rather sleep! I was never ever like this before and gradually ...after age 43 or so I began to change- I'll be 48 this month and to tell you the truth if all I had to do all day was sit home I'd probably be just fine with that. But I can't do that..I have to work and I really
have a lot of great things I have planned...but..can't seem to do..I feel like I have no energy, no zest, no get up and go....

has this happened to anyone else...?? If so..what did you do about it? How are women handling this..?? I can't just give up everything...dump my life..but..I honestly do know where my energy went...or how to get it back! I'm a comlpete disroganized mess now-can't get much done and don't have the energy to do it anyway..!!

your thoughts and experiences.....??

YES! YES! YES! I use to have it all together now nothing seems to work or fit. I haven't found a solution but what I do, do is not give up. I continue to search and continue to struggle so I'll check back and see if anyone else has answers....

Great question!

Oh yes I am the same way ..... I have taken alot of my plate so I dont feel like such a failure when I dont get all the things done . i know I am not super woman so I try not to be one . I do what I can and am happy with that . I am not going to beat myself up any more because I didnt get the dishes done or finish the laundry ,tomorrow is another day . Dont be to hard on yourself or you will make yourself crazy over it .

I can't hardly even walk and chew gum at the same time anymore.....

This is soooo normal! Drove me nuts for the last year, then I said "ENOUGH"! I started kicking things off my plate before they had a chance to build up or else they would end up "sliding" off my plate wrapped in great anxiety anyway...so why not just kick them off? There are SO many things I am slowly finding out we can simply do without but it is very had for a control freak to let go of control and let chaos come in! Want an example? As you know I own a daycare in my home (this IS ladybugs just with a name change by the way!) so anyway, my house has to stay clean. Would I ever eat off the floor. Heck no! I have three dogs! I am forever vacuuming because of it. My kitchen, dining room, playroom, living room and bathroom must maintain a profession order during business hours. THAT in and of itself is exhausting. SO. I decided SOMETHING should be and must be allowed to go to pot. It can NOT be my bedroom. I simply can not sleep in a dirty room. So I chose my car. It is fairly new and it breaks my heart sometimes. But my car is a pig sty. I only clean it out once per month. Parents never see the inside of it either. I do "sanity" drives for my health. It is a two mile loop by my house where I reconnect with myself. Supprisingly, the mess in the car is soothing. Kinda let's me hang my hair down for a bit. Does my family complain? YOU bet! I tell them if it bothers them so much THEY can clean it out ( it is after all their messes too!) but that I will not clean until my designated day so deal with it or do it yourselves! Can you guess that they don't!!! I have a phrase I live my life by and it is this: Whether it be relationship issues, house issues, job issues or health issues. PICK YOUR BATTLES WISELY. Some can't be avoided so you MUST pick them but I am finding so many are simply by CHOICE. If a battle, mess, marriage or whatever is going on at this very moment will not mean anything in ten years.....let it go! Have a fantastic stress free day!

I am with you ladybugs ...... I also have 3 dogs and would try to vacumn all the time now I vacumn on Saturday thats it(unless I know some one is stopping by) !!!!! Its an never ending battle so why fight it ? I could never go to bed if the kitchen was a mess with dirty dishes in the sink ha now I could careless if there is a pile in there and I have a dishwasher .Where is it written I have to have a clean house ? Tomorrow is another day and I might do it then and if not oh well ..... i am just not going to stress over the small stuff anymore ,just not worth it . Yep I have turned into a slob but I am not stressed and if thats what it takes then I am a slob . lol

When both of my daughters lived at home and I was busy with them, our home, my job, etc., I could also juggle many things. Now, it's just my husband and I at home, and I think because I don't HAVE to get certain things done by a certain date (like to their activities, shopping, etc), I have slowed down. I still work full time. But this weekend we had no where we had to be, and we have been very lazy. I like to think we are resting up for the return to work. Although, this morning I have already watered outdoor plants, made muffins from scratch, cooked bacon, and done a load of laundry. Next I plan to dress and go for a walk in the neighborhood. I thought of going to an exercise class at the gym, but the though of driving there and listening to the loud instructor with pounding music is more than I can do today. I usually like the gym after work, but it's also a pretty noisy place. I find with menopause (I'm post), I need more quiet. We were in a large home appliance, etc, type store yesterday, and I found myself literally getting dizzy from listening to all the sound in there from stereos, PCs, conversations, etc in that store. I was happy to leave.

I think I get less done because I have less to do. And that's ok!

WriterMom

I use to be MULTI-TASKING Queen--now I can hardly add 1+1!!

Anymore than 1 thing on my mind to do, is nothing less than Overwhelming!!..if 2 things are on my mind it plaques me til it's done (or I constantly write notes to remind me..and yes, I forget where I put the notes..so I start anew............


I'm so F*********************king over MENOPAUSE! ENOUGH ALREADY!