Feeling crap.. 1 week to go before Im back to work

Trotter

Im a primary teacher and Im heading back to school in a week. Trouble is, I've completely lost the plot on my diet and sleep, and exercise in the past month. As a result I wake up tired, get sleepy in the middle of the day, and Im wide awake and hungry at 1am.

Im a member of a gym but I havent been in a couple of weeks. Im just energyless!

Can anyone recommend some tips to re-energise in the space of one week? I'll need my wits about me next Monday!

Esse85

Post up your diet.

Trotter

No need. Its bad. Have been eating out a lot and then for lunch have been eating omelettes or sausages and toast etc. No breakfast.

I know thats awful, and it has to get back to normal (proper eating) but what can I do that will make differences to the energy levels in the space of a week?

justsomebloke

Trotter wrote:

but what can I do that will make differences to the energy levels in the space of a week?

eat properly and exercise. Get plenty of fruit and veg into you aswell as getting plenty of water.

also it may be in your interest to start waking up early so you can get your sleeping patterns back in order

Esse85

Trotter wrote:

No need. Its bad. Have been eating out a lot and then for lunch have been eating omelettes or sausages and toast etc. No breakfast.

I know thats awful, and it has to get back to normal (proper eating) but what can I do that will make differences to the energy levels in the space of a week?

Well you seem to know what the problem is with your diet so sort that out for a start.

You have a week off till your back to school, what have you planned during this week?

I dont really understand your post, surely you've had the whole summer off to recharge your batteries, your diet is crap at the minute and you know this yet you havent taken the action to change it.
You have a further week off yet you dont know what to do to get your energy levels up in a week.
Id take pity on you if you had to work 60 odd hours a work, for minimal pay, and had 2 weeks a year off.
Seems to me like you need a reality check.

Sort out your diet, if your unsure what to eat, ask.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour, and get up at a reasonable hour too.
Get some exercise in.
Get plenty of fresh air.

davyjose

OP, you can turn it around BIGTIME in the space of a week. Start exercising and going to bed on time. The exercise will help promote sleep and getting to bed at a reasonable hour will help obviously. You know what needs to be done with diet to a certain extent - eat regular small meals, up your intake of fruit and veg.
I must say I don't have much sympathy - having to work all summer and that but seriously, a week is plenty of time to get back on the right track.

Trotter

Esse85 wrote:

I dont really understand your post, surely you've had the whole summer off to recharge your batteries, your diet is crap at the minute and you know this yet you havent taken the action to change it.

You have a further week off yet you dont know what to do to get your energy levels up in a week.

Id take pity on you if you had to work 60 odd hours a work, for minimal pay, and had 2 weeks a year off.
Seems to me like you need a reality check.

I've just finished a postgrad (last week) that had me working during the day and studying at night and at weekends. I dont need a reality check. I wasnt asking for pity. I was asking for advice... ie.. to drink plenty of water, to eat a lot of fruit and veg during the week.

So... Just to ensure you know everything about my background.. I'd love to have been working just 60 hours a week all summer. And if teaching is as good as you seem to think.. do the postgrad and start in september 09. I'm starting my first fulltime teaching job and I havent had time off in months.

Loads of holidays and no stress. If you believe that.. you're mad.

SO.. I dont need a reality check thanks. Luckily I dont need basic manners either.



Thanks to the others for the good advice. Are there any "secret weapons" for detoxing for a while? A friend of mine recommended wheatgrass shots.. obviously with the basics like improved sleep and eating. I need to do something thats going to sort out my energy levels fast.. and I'll work on the longterm stuff from now. Its been a very very long 18 months of lectures/ studying at night and the weekends.. so when it finished up I kinda went off the rails.. ya know the usual studying with a bag of sweets handy etc. I tended to study into the early hours too so it got me into a bad going to bed late habit.

JSB and Davyjose thanks for the tips.. I think the sleep patterns are the big thing. I expect to be in much better shape this time next year after a few proper weeks off. I'll spend some of it posting out the teaching postgrad forms to you all seen as you love the idea of the holidays so much

davyjose

I think regardless of what you do it'll be tough getting back into it, but routine is very good for the body. TBH, I don't know how good Wheatgrass is, but there is NO magic cure, if there was, we'd all be taking it. As advised, take it upon yourself to settle back into a routine of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep; that's about the best you can do, but 8/9 days is plenty of time to do it in - oh and enjoy your week off.

Trotter

davyjose wrote:

I think regardless of what you do it'll be tough getting back into it, but routine is very good for the body. TBH, I don't know how good Wheatgrass is, but there is NO magic cure, if there was, we'd all be taking it. As advised, take it upon yourself to settle back into a routine of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep; that's about the best you can do, but 8/9 days is plenty of time to do it in - oh and enjoy your week off.

She was saying the wheatgrass would help my digestive system when combined with the fruit and veg.. that it would help make the best of the proper diet in the short term.

No such luck on the week off... I've 7 days to plan the years work for 30 new clients Paperwork city!

Esse85

Trotter wrote:

I dont need a reality check. I wasnt asking for pity. I was asking for advice...

And i gave you advice if you bothered to read the last paragraph. All of which will really benefit you if you choose to follow it.

Perhaps your first post was a little mis-leading in that you just stated your were a primary school teacher. Nothing of working during the day and studying at night was mentioned here. It appeared you were looking for sympathy, and i wasn't alone in thinking this, and for that i apologize.

Teaching as a career doesn't interest me, i have other ambitions that i want to achieve, but best of luck with your chosen career:)

Illkillya

As you already know, it's nearly all about the diet. In particular, get up early every day this week and have a good breakfast of porridge or muesli with some fruit. Make the most of the weather and go for a long walk. I don't really believe in quick fixes... a week is enough for you to get your energy back if you do it right. As the others said, good diet, fresh air, basic exercise, try and get 9 hours sleep every night. Omelette for lunch is fine, just make sure you get plenty of fruit and lots of green veg in with your dinner.

Roper

Hi Trotter,

With this forum, expect 50% superiority "I am wonderful, you are a moron, why don't you eat/sleep/exercise properly?" and 50% good advice. It's important to weed out what you need!

I reckon you've answered your own questions really- as someone who has the same winter/summer, work/take it easy pattern, I can relate to the feeling of dreading the lack of energy you'll have this coming week! For me, I just start to slowly get up earlier in the mornings and I find it lessens the shock of that first 6am start! I can't relate on the diet front, but I do notice my energy levels drop a lot when my diet goes to pot. Kids are telepathic- they just know when you're not on the ball!

Roper

Also- Esse85, I'd have a word with your employer the minimum holiday allowance for a full time worker is 21 days per annum, and the maximum working week is 39 hours- so if you're working 60 you're either getting a nice overtime reward or you're being rode by your boss.

Primary teachers get 9 months wages spread over 12 months and most do a fine job and have the patience of saints to put up with kids for 8 hours a day and with jealous private sector workers saying "what are you complaining about you get the summer off" the rest of the day.

Esse85

Roper wrote:

Also- Esse85, I'd have a word with your employer the minimum holiday allowance for a full time worker is 21 days per annum, and the maximum working week is 39 hours- so if you're working 60 you're either getting a nice overtime reward or you're being rode by your boss.

Thankfully none of this applies to me so i wont be having words with anyone, but thanks for your concern:D

Clive

Roper wrote:

Also- Esse85, I'd have a word with your employer the minimum holiday allowance for a full time worker is 21 days per annum

Twenty days I believe Mr. Tootin'!

ali.c

to sort out my sleeping patterns this is what i do, its pretty simplistic but i get up at the same time everyday irregardless of what time i go to bed at. If this means putting my alarm clock over the other side of the room forcing me to get up out of bed to turn it off, then i do. Once up stay up, no matter how wrecked you are dont nap during the day. Then as early as you need to go to bed, only go to bed when your tired too. Basically by fixing the time you get up at in the morning, after a few days your body kinda sorts itself out and then regular sleeping patterns sorted in less than a week.

I wouldnt bother looking at detox products personally, if that was a road you wanted to go down then just cut out all processed foods for a few days. If you are feeling groggy in the morning, personally i find that drinking 1litre of water a great way to wake me up. or a couple of cups of hot-water and lemon.

doing a masters at the moment and the above has worked for me at those times (usually after a hand-up) when my body clock is just completely out of whack.

Khannie

jsb wrote:

eat properly and exercise. Get plenty of fruit and veg into you aswell as getting plenty of water.

also it may be in your interest to start waking up early so you can get your sleeping patterns back in order

+1 for this. Sound advice.