Motivation/Fatigue?

mrs_perfections · July 2016

Hi there!

First of all, I've been relatively inactive and I apologize if some of you are like "who the eff is this lady and why is she asking us anything?"

So I'm a little over 12 weeks now, and I'm really struggling with fatigue and being motivated to do anything. I really need to get back into an exercise routine and just, in general, get up in the morning. I work from home with a pretty lax schedule, so I'm not obligated to get up and go anywhere really.

Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips on how to get moving?

Appreciated in advance.

ceclarlinetlo · July 2016

Welcome! I hope decide to stay and be involved

this is also a struggle for me. We recently moved states and there weren't many job options for me and the one I thought would work out didn't get the funding they thought they would so I am unemployed and don't have any children yet so I also have no structure for my day. Part of it may be that you really are just fatigued and when your energy comes back you'll be ready to just go out. That has been the case for me - some days (like today) I just want to rest and that's fine.

In other periods of my life when I had an unstructured day it was helpful to literally just go somewhere - anywhere just to get out of the house. I would go to Starbucks, get the cheapest thing to drink and crochet while watching Netflix - could I do all of that for free at home? Sure but for $1.50 just getting out of the house and being around other humans gave me more energy to do other things around the house. Another place I would go was the library. If you aren't in an area where there are things near by simply taking a shower and getting out of pajamas into real clothes can help too.

BAJDesigns · July 2016

I am almost 15 weeks and work part time and I too struggle with this. For me, some days it is not really an option. My body is exhausted and killing me and no amount of motivation can make a difference. Other days though, it is mind over matter. I have been keeping a list of little projects and chores to keep me motivated, and intentionally plan things that make me get out and moving. I have my prescriptions sent to a pharmacy a little farther from home where all the big stores are. Since I'm NOT going to skip my nausea meds, I force myself to travel a little farther. Then I pick up odds and ends we need, and maybe even pop in and look at maternity clothes. I keep using the mantra of trying to do at least one thing. One thing on my list, even if that's just folding laundry!

mrs_perfections · July 2016

Thanks ladies! That's really helpful. I think you're right, just getting out of the house might be a good idea, even just for a minute. Yesterday I took out the garbage and it apparently sent me into a spiral of cleaning the fridge and packing a few boxes (we are moving in a little over a month). So I'm going to try and just get up and do one thing a day.

But @BAJDesigns you're totally right, some days I am just tired and that is all there is to it.

hjmorgan-2 · July 2016

I have found that fresh air does me a LOT of good! If you can get past the nausea, just working out, for me at least, gives me energy by the end. I feel a lot better afterwards.

I am just over 12 weeks also, and I honestly gave up on working out completely until my nausea started getting a bit better this week. Yesterday after I workout I felt SO GOOD and had SO MUCH more energy. I just have to get past that initial 'slump' at the beginning. Haha.

poetryandoceans · July 2016

I know I expected to "shake it off" by about week 12; I had hoped I'd be past the fatigue and getting stuff done again, and really beat myself up for not feeling up to doing much. I was convinced this was my new normal, that growing a human just takes it out of you and there was nothing to be done. But I've started feeling better the last week or so.

I'd say, if you're getting stuff done that NEEDS to be done (and cutting yourself some slack in terms of your definition of what "NEED" is), give yourself a little bit more time. You've received really good advice about motivating yourself to get out of the house which I totally agree with, but I do think the end of the first trimester, the nausea lifts before the fatigue does, so just because you no longer feel like puking every minute doesn't necessarily mean that your body is ready to resume its regularly scheduled programming. Be kind to yourself.

mrs_perfections · July 2016

@poetryandoceans

you're totally right too. this is my first pregnancy and I am going through all these changes and I think I'm having a bit of a hard time accepting them lol. I am not usually this tired, this emotional. But, baby bean is growing and I need to just let myself accept that sometimes

KRB22 · July 2016

I'm almost 14 weeks and have been struggling with this as well. I had planned to take a sabbatical from my job starting in May with the intention of doing lots of fun, productive, and active things this summer. I found out I was pregnant my last week of work, and the morning sickness hit soon after that.

I've always been really good about working out, but really haven't done much the past several weeks. I think I'm finally starting to feel a little better, but also getting used to this lazy routine. I need a little kick in the butt to get myself going again; I know I will feel even better once I'm working out more regularly.

The 1 thing that helps me get out during the day regardless is that my DH works in real estate locally and is in and out of the house, and often free on weekday afternoons. So I try to plan around his schedule a but- we'll go out to lunch sometimes or do random errands together. I do feel less "lazy" if I can accomplish 1 or 2 things during the day, but I definitely still have some days where even that's a stretch. Hoping to have more energy and motivation soon!

Vivi20 · July 2016

I'm 12+4 weeks and I struggle to take a shower every day. The exhaustion is horrendous this time around; I think having my 3 year old to take care of is what makes it exceedingly worse than when I was pregnant last time. I'm a SAHM, but she has me up every morning by 6am at the latest, bouncing off the walls and demanding breakfast right away. She doesn't take naps anymore, and she doesn't let me nap, so more often than not I struggle just to get dressed. It's physically and emotionally draining and not fun at all. People have told me to just get out of the house, that it'll help, and I want to throat punch those people because they don't understand that I'm so exhausted I feel sick. Pushing my body to walk around and be active makes it WORSE. What would make me better is if I could sleep. I live for the days my husband is off work.

Edited grammar

sldp123 · July 2016

I'm really struggling with this right now. I work FT and have an 8yo. Granted he is very self-sufficient as far as bathing, dressing, feeding himself, etc. But he has summer camp which requires me to pack him lunch and materials every day, he has baseball at least 3-4 times a week, and I generally just don't want to totally neglect him. I have been doing the absolute bare minimum around the house just to get by these past few weeks. My husband does a lot to pick up the slack, but it's still frustrating to have no energy and just feel physically incapable of doing anything. I was actually crying over the weekend because I feel so useless, haha.

mrs_perfections · July 2016

You all are making me feel so much better!

@sldp123
I did the SAME thing! I honestly couldn't do anything this weekend and felt terrible about it. And I cry all the time haha. What even are emotions anymore?

Thank you all for this, seriously. Making this first time mama feel a lot better.

Vivi20 · July 2016

Oh yes, there is lots of crying here, too. And over the most silly things. Everything makes me cry.

hjmorgan-2 · July 2016

I busted out in tears in front of my husband a couple weeks ago. I was way too nauseous and tired to workout, the only food that sounded good was anything fastgood, fried, and greasy-- So I had the ultimate fear that this pregnancy was going to make me morbidly obese and I was "not going to look attractive to you(my DH) anymore! I want you to think I'm sexy!!"

I cried like a baby... Until he told me that no matter what he'll think I'm sexy because he loves me. Then I felt better.

But still. Hormones. lol

My poor husband...

ThePax89 · July 2016

I spend the majority of my time on my bed laying flat. My poor daughter. She has had a speech explosion since I got pregnant though since all we do is read.

Teach123 · July 2016

I work 1/2 days, 4 days a week right now teaching summer school. It takes everything I've got to make it through the day though. I get home, and all I can do is crash on the couch. My house has definitely suffered, but the exhaustion and nausea are just too bad right now. Today is the worst I've felt so far, and I'll be 12 weeks tomorrow. I hope it gets better soon. This is my second pregnancy.

mrs_perfections · July 2016

The other day, I saw the amazon commercial with the baby and the dog and probably sobbed for a good 20 minutes. I also made the mistake of watching a vet show and cried because a kitten died.

Then I was afraid my cat would be upset when the baby was born and would think I didn't love her anymore. Ridiculous right?

The list goes on

LeahNicole · July 2016

Today the fatigue is real and the MS is in full force. I've had pretty mild nausea and MS thus far and today it feels like it all caught up with me. Hoping this goes away soon so I feel more like myself.

mrs_perfections · July 2016

@LeahNicole

Hope you feel better soon!

Knottie25816533 · July 2016

12weeks tomorrow and I still feel so exhausted. Called off work today and am feeling so guilty. I like others also feel so useless. I get the bare minimum done around the house. Couch and bed are my best friend! I also get so bored at home also. It's such a struggle. Hope to feel somewhat normal again soon.

michellemikeliu · July 2016

I'm 14 weeks and 5 days, and the nausea is still here but in waves. I was walking yesterday up a slight hill, and I suddenly felt a queasiness at the top of my stomach that was making me so exhausted/tired/sick. It felt like I had no energy and could not take another step, so I had to slow down. It is frustrating because I thought the nausea would be over now, but it is just coming in intense waves. I've had these waves of nausea hit at home too, but in these cases, I try to just lie down. I also have some intense headaches. In my opinion, I am convinced that nausea must be related to a chemical in the stomach because I can feel it simultaneously in my stomach and head when it takes over; it is intense.

mrs_perfections · July 2016

I still have CRAZY morning sickness sometimes. Like, I can't get out of bed or I will surely empty the contents of my stomach sick. I keep a bottle of water by my bed because that usually helps it pass. I have waves of nausea throughout the day too. I am so glad I work from home because if I was at my last job, I probably would have been fired by now.

Knottie1443924966 · July 2016

You are not alone

I think the majority of women experience fatigue withing the first three months.

My experience was awful. I never understood fatigue until my pregnancy. It is nothing like being tired or exhausted. You literally don't have the energy to walk to the bathroom.

But don't worry the light is around the corner. At least for me once I went into my 13th week it was like night and day!!

And after taking a long break from working work remember that your strength and balance will be different.

I used to work out all the time!! I was a lean double 0 for crying out loud!! And I ate like a horse.

You'll be back in the gym soon. Don't worry. One day you'll wake up and be like "omg..I feel like a human again. Where's the elliptical?"

afwifey2014 · July 2016

Contrary to what I thought, working out really helps with my morning sickness and fatigue. I like the elliptical that have the little fans.

AlabamaRedhead · July 2016

Tuesday, I made it to work, spent 30 minutes trying to poop. Took a break, went back, finally pooped and I was flat out exhausted. I left work at 10, crawled into bed at 10:30 and woke up about 2. I felt so much better. Sometimes you just gotta stop, listen to your body and rest. I'm ready for the 2nd tri. This preg has been the worst fatigue ever.

LCartee2016 · July 2016

I was so ready for that second tri energy to come, but so far nothing yet. I'm still exhausted all day and moody, and my house is in shambles right now (we've began the "upgrading the guest room into a nursery" project) and I am just..over it. I wish I could wake up in the morning and everything be clean and sparkling.

I AM doing laundry today though.. And getting our dishes cleaned up. So, hopefully, that'll help this insane time crunch I'm already starting to feel.

rdh33 · July 2016

I definitely feel ya'll. I'm at 15.4 weeks and am more tired now than ever. (Or, at the very least, just as tired as weeks 7-12.) It is getting ridiculous! I'm so ready to get some energy back. Any day now... and on that note, it's time for bed!

Carly79 · July 2016

I am 14w5d and just this week have started getting my energy back. If I'd had the option most days the last 6 weeks I wouldn't have gotten out of bed or left the house. Unfortunately I work FT and have a 20 month old very clingy toddler so even though I tried some days, I was usually up. I struggled with this a lot while I was on maternity leave with my first. I didn't have anywhere to go, didn't have any real schedule, and didn't really need to shower every day if I didn't feel like it. The days I did get out of the house and do something were much better days. I felt better about myself and found some motivation to do things those days. My lesson learned is with this next one, I need to make sure we are doing things, even if it's just going to walk around the mall (since it will be cold).

TexasGal24 · July 2016

I work from home 100% too so I can completely relate as this is also our first! I have my husband wake me up between 7-7:30am every morning so I can "start" my day. He eats breakfast and I might have a piece of fruit or juice so we have "breakfast" together. Then I pack his lunch and he's out the door by 8:15. Then I will usually check personal email, FB, etc for about 20 minutes then I'm out the door by 8:45am for a walk. Even on days where I just don't feel like it, I know that getting out will help me have a good day (and I normally end up walking between 1-2 miles). I come back and start my work at 10am. Basically, I make my own schedule but I put effort into keeping that schedule (even when it takes a LOT of effort because I just feel like watching Netflix all morning).

During the work day, I stay busy but when it is so slow that I don't have any work to do and my mind starts to wonder back to Netflix - I bake. I'll use my lunch hour to slap together a homemade pie or scones or cake. I really love to bake so this is something very enjoyable to me and keeps me busy and focused. I like to try new recipes. I'm about to start a new venture into finding the perfect biscuit recipe, I can't seem to find anything that gives me big, fluffy, layered biscuits with a golden buttery crust. Maybe you could find a hobby to do during down times at work?

I've also joined the local Junior League because it's hard to make friends where I live and this will force me to get out about 3 times a month to meet people, volunteer, and try new things.

So glad to see another person who works from home - it can get very isolating

.

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