I work full-time and am studying part-time to get my degree but my work load at work is moderate and my school schedule is quite flexible (2 lessons a week after work). I feel that i have sufficient time to do other things, but at the same time i just want to lie in bed all day on my rest days and do nothing. I’m not motivated to do things i like e.g. playing games, working out, and my appetite has been very bad. In terms of appetite, I used to be able to eat 3 regular meals a day + snacks in between but now i can barely eat one regular meal a day, and normally consume of junk food to have energy to get through the day. I feel unmotivated to go to work and do my school projects which adds on to my stress as I have to rush projects last minute. I don’t know what is going on, and i don’t know how to get out of this cycle. it feels like im just on autopilot, trying to get through the day. I’m not sure if i’m suppose to see a psychiatrist/therapist and i don’t know how to reach out to one either.
Thank you for taking your time to write in to Let’s Talk!
It must have been exhausting for you to juggle both work and studies at the same time even if workload and school have been manageable so far. It is definitely more than okay to lie on bed all day on your rest day and do nothing since resting is very important for the body. But it also important to pay attention when things escalate, for example like you mentioned, having no motivation to do the things you normally do such as playing games, working out and having a lack of appetite. These could indicate something more is going on whether that could be burnout or something else. Regarding your question on whether you should see someone, yes, that could be something you can consider especially if it is affecting your quality of life (eating, working, studies). I can leave some resources here for you to consider:
- If you perhaps just need someone to talk to, you can reach out to National Mindline by calling 1771 or WhatsApp them at 6669-1771. They have trained counsellors round the clock to support you
- You can also head down to your nearest GP or polyclinic to consult a GP, you can describe what you’ve been experiencing, and they can refer you to a psychiatrist or counsellor depending on what’s most appropriate for you.
Please know that you do not have to go through these alone okay 
Dear @fairbunny9797 ,
Thanks for writing in and sharing about the context of what you are going through at the moment!
Hearing about your schedule, I do wonder if you’re actually juggling a lot at once, even if you find that it’s manageable.
While on the calendar it can seem like there are free blocks of time for you to do other things on top of school + work, our energy levels sometimes may not be as straightforward - when we have to dedicate so much bandwidth for work and school activities, by the end of the day, the motivation dwindles significantly and it’s completely normal. In fact, it’s our mind’s way of signalling to us we need rest!
I’m glad you are in tune with these bodily signals and not ignoring them - not having appetite could mean that you’re experiencing higher stress levels than you perceive.
All of this must feel very confusing, since your mind is telling you one thing and your body is signalling another. Yet, you don’t have to figure this out alone I would really encourage you to talk to someone who can unravel this cycle alongside you and then you can take baby steps from there! As @Acaihearts has suggested, the national mindline or a GP’s referral would be an amazing place to start.
Rooting for you, @fairbunny9797 !
Hey @fairbunny9797,
Thank you for sharing the struggles you’re facing here. I hear that now, you can’t find the motivation to do anything, even the things you enjoy doing. I also hear that it has affected your appetite, and is affecting your assignment submissions for your school projects. Like what @tobs mentioned, this could be a sign that your body is telling you that it needs rest. Maybe you could try doing something different, like going for a short walk in a nearby park, trying something you always wanted or hanging out with people close to you, as a way to help your mind relax and rest. If you’ve noticed this cycle has happened for quite a long while, I would also strongly suggest reaching out to someone, like the suggestions by @Acaihearts.
Know we’re here for you too and you don’t have to go through this alone 