So many mental manifestations of menopause have plagued me and the goddesses at one time or another. Inability to concentrate, butterfly mind (winging from thing to thing without alighting long on any one), jellyfish brain, ADD (attention deficit disorder), forgetfulness, dyslexia, and more have at times dwarfed the physical and emotional symptoms. Yuck.
The weirdest is when you have several of these in the course of a single day. If my brain is not going to work, I at least would like it to malfunction in the same way for a time. So I can figure out how to deal with it.
And now, a new mental effect is afflicting me. I’m going to call it Menopause Demotivation Syndrome. After all, we seem to name everything these days to make it sound important at best and necessitating treatment at worst.
Living in two places requires that my husband and I essentially move twice a year. Which means making reservations, packing, organizing house sitters and repair personnel, etc. I’m not complaining – life is good, if slightly disorienting sometimes.
I’ve always been a self starter. I get stuff done. Or maybe I should say “I got things done.” These days? Not so much. Oh, I eventually get things done, but I feel my drive to do even those high priority items slipping into neutral.
Which is why, a week out from our departure from Hawaii to the mainland, I am still trying to get into gear. First gear would be okay, although with each day that passes, a higher gear will be needed.
Panic mode used to be a motivator. That helped. I can’t find that mode anymore. Or the mode where I put my head down and just do one task after another, forcing the motivation. Nor can I access the mode where I delight in organizing, packing, and planning.
In fact, it is taking every last shred of discipline I have just to write my blog entry for this week. I fear that I will exhaust my infinitesimal supply of get-up-and-go just doing this. I’m not sure this is hormonal, although it could be (by the way, goddesses, the decrease HRT project is going swimmingly, although I’m not sorry to leave Hawaii for the summer as it is heating up a bit.)
Perhaps this demotivation is naturally occurring phenomenon due to aging? What do you think? Am I the only one? And do you have any tips for kicking into gear? Because I seriously need to get packing.
Right now though, I think I’ll have a cup of espresso……..Better make it a double!
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The cure my dear, is not to worry about it until you’ve missed the plane because you didn’t get packed! Your demotivation theory is right on and most of us experience it–sometimes for years. I know, not something we want to hear, but a blessing to know the truth. My tip is to schedule what time you’re going to pack…example: 10:30 today–pack for one hour (whatever feels like something you can DO) At least you have something to shoot for. 🙂
My solution was to pick which home I liked best and sell the other one. That was liberating!
Maureen offers a solution. I have found simplify, simplify, simplify is the key then I’ve found energy for how I really want to use my energy. I think from observation that at this time in our lives, its an opportunity to chose because life does have alot to offer . . . just look how good your life is. AND that good life comes at a cost (like now the panic to move back to the mainland) to our well being, happiness, health.
Addition to above: Overnight I slept on your uprooting of household to reestablish roots here on the Mainland. . .transplanting takes an enormous amount of energy. . . sapping from above ground to provide for the essential. All this comment & above isn’t very helpful in the here & now panic. However, maybe something to look at later. I wish you well on your transplanting!
Funny I should decide to open your blog today and read this—exactly how I feel today. It seems to wax and wane, some days I have more than enough energy, today, I can barely move w/o feeling dizzy and fatigued. Some days I have both. Mornings are usually my worst, I seem to get some get up and go after 5pm. I’ve treid to schedule my harder or faster paced yoga at that time and a walk or gentle stretching in the morning. (yes, I do better if I have 2 kinds of excersise most days) I also do better if I have a 15-30 min. meditation time or nap. I seem to think much more clearly. I’ve also noticed that when I have the day to myself is when I feel the most fatigued, can’t decide if I should wash clothes, unpack from a trip, call my mom so I procranstinate. If I’m away from home or have several things that MUST be done right away, I seem to do better—until I crash after 3 or 4 days of this. Haven’t figured it out, most likely never will. This also seems to be when I have the most other meno symptoms as well. It’s hard to plan in advance, even something as simple as, have a massage or go for a 4 mi. hike, it just seems to depend on the day and doesn’t matter if I’ve slept for 5 hrs. or 8. Maybe I’m just bored and maybe you are too? Maybe you don’t really want to move back and forth anymore—-or maybe you still want to but to a different place? I have found that if I try to do what needs to be done but do it for somebody else other than myself, I can get more accomplished. Also, sometimes I just give in, sleep, watch tv, read or just sit and stare.
ditto everything karen said!! I was starting to worry about myself again!
I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I read about Amberen here and decided to give it a go. Has been working nicely so far :).