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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum THE LOUNGE Personal exhaustion

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    • Moothebun
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        I am usually not one to put myself out there like this but there is a first time for everything. Lately I have been so busy with school in softball that I literally come home and just want to go to bed. And then I look at them and I see [bunnies] looking at me and I see all the poop and hay everywhere and I don’t want to have to deal with it. And I get a thought like why did I ever put all this on myself. But then I get up and I clean and I see their faces and cuddle with them and I know this is why. I am physically and mentally so exhausted. And its reflecting back to them and I love them with all my heart. Just school and sports is taking everything out of me. Please do not judge me for this. Please do not say that I shouldn’t of gotten them because I am busy. They are extremely well taken care of. 


      • HotCrossBuns
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          I have been in your shoes too Moo. I was working 40+ hours a week while being in college full time. I thought I wasn’t going to make it. Even though I wanted to come home and go to bed I forced myself to put the buns first. You will get through it, I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel now that I have my 4 year degree.


        • vanessa
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            I know what you mean. Sometimes I also feel overwhelmed. I have 4 bunnies, 2 dogs, a cat, a fish tank, anywhere between 30 and 40 birds depending on who has babies, and a million other hobbies. So sometimes I also ger really busy and I feel tired, but I still have to clean up after the animals whe I get home from work. When I get tired, I try to find ways to make things easier. Like sharing water bowls so I dont’ have so many to change, or creating an automatic water bown that flushes itself out twice s day in the outside aviary, or mixing the fruit the night before for the ruit eating birds, or putting an extra scoop of wood pellets int he litter boxes so I can skip a night of changing them. Anything that makes it easier fo me. Sometimes I pay a neighbor kid to take care of the zoo for me while I go away for the weekend and have a break from them. But I sure do miss them when I go away for a weekend and I’m always super happy to see them again. I love my animals. I hope you find creative ways to make things easier. I can tell you love your animals.


          • Mikey
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              I get exhausted too, but i ignore that feeling whenever i see my babies. I cant work because im disabled and have a lot of limitations on what i can actually do. But i can do chores [i do all of the cleaning unless im having a bad pain day] as long as its at my own set pace. By the end of the day, my neck, shoulders, and back are always killing me. But i look back at my happy little bunnies, my happy little fishies, and my happy, proud boyfriend, and i smile. Their happiness is what encourages me to get up and do it all again the next day


            • Azerane
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                I think we all feel that way sometimes. For me, cleaning out a litter tray or sweeping up hay I don’t consider a chore, they’re simply things I do because I loved having a bunny, and yet even those simple tasks can sometimes feel overwhelming. But you are right, one look at the rabbit/other pet and you just get up and do it because it’s for them

                Bandit helped me through a lot for that exact reason. My husband is from the USA so at one point we were apart for about 18 months when he had to go back. I had some really depressed days where I just wanted to sleep in bed all day. And yet knowing that Bandit was there, waiting for me, gave me the strength I needed to get out of bed and start my day because I knew I couldn’t let him down.


              • Love4Bunny
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                  I, too, can relate to what Azerane is saying (even down to the bit about having a Yank for a hubby )

                  Moo, everything has a season. You won’t be in this situation forever, though I hear you – that you really want to do the best for your rabbits. Maybe don’t worry about having the cleanest floor or most pristine litterbox- just continue to do your best and love on your bunnies. Finding a balance between rest and work (or school/ sports in your case) is a lifelong lesson, so if you find that you don’t even have time for yourself (let alone the rabbits), it may benefit you to reevaluate your sports commitments periodically. Only you can say whether it is too much, or whether you just need a vacation, you know?


                • Q8bunny
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                    I work 12 to 14 hour days 5 days out of 7 most weeks. So I know the feeling. But like you, I too push myself and put Chewie first because I love him.


                  • Hazel
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                      I’m sorry you feel a bit overwhelmed. I agree with L4B, if it’s just getting too much, you might consider cutting back on sports a little. Bunnies (and school) are most important!

                      I hope things level out for you soon!


                    • Moothebun
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                        You guys are the best! I love being apart of this forum because it’s nice to know you’re never alone with anything! Thank you for helping me out


                      • Vienna Blue in France
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                          Even I’m smiling reading all of this – what a support group !!!

                          Yes, you’ll learn to prioritise (in life and work) and take healthy short cuts (in life and work !! LOL).
                          Like making sure buns have food and water is an absolute life or death priority.
                          But maybe playing chase the poops around the floor comes later if you can’t cope with it all at once…. but sitting in wee in the litter tray isn’t probably something that any of us would like to do by choice….
                          But you know, it’s all about the initial push to get going – once you get started then other things start to get done with you realising.

                          And you always but ALWAYS feel SO much better afterwards.
                          Satisifed is the right word I think and then you get rewarded, with a “Right! What’s next?” attitude from within.

                          And you know – tell yourself out loud ‘Well done me !!”, (heck, SHOUT IT), smile and give yourself a pat on the back. It works really well too !!!


                        • Azerane
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                            Posted By Vienna Blue in France on 5/04/2016 12:30 PM
                            And you always but ALWAYS feel SO much better afterwards.
                            Satisifed is the right word I think and then you get rewarded, with a “Right! What’s next?” attitude from within.

                            I agree wholeheartedly. Housework is something that I cannot stand, but the feeling afterwards, being able to look at a clean kitchen, or tidy lounge room and knowing you’ve accomplished something is the best. I’m always able to relax better when that’s the case too


                          • Hazel
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                              Posted By Azerane on 5/04/2016 2:21 PM

                              Posted By Vienna Blue in France on 5/04/2016 12:30 PM
                              And you always but ALWAYS feel SO much better afterwards.
                              Satisifed is the right word I think and then you get rewarded, with a “Right! What’s next?” attitude from within.

                              I agree wholeheartedly. Housework is something that I cannot stand, but the feeling afterwards, being able to look at a clean kitchen, or tidy lounge room and knowing you’ve accomplished something is the best. I’m always able to relax better when that’s the case too

                              Normally, I’d agree with you guys. However, today the hubby and I finally made ourselves go out there and take the wheels off my jeep to check the breaks (we thought they needed replacing because they’re squeaking like hell). Turns out the pads aren’t worn down after all, so now we have no idea what to do about the squeaking. Also, while the wheels were off, we noticed a nail stuck in one of the tires. It was sticking out about an inch, so we decided to pull it out, thinking it didn’t go in very deep. Turns out it was a 3″ monster nail, and sure enough, after pulling it out we started hearing that dreaded “pssssssss….”. So, after three hours of work, my breaks still squeak and my tire is shot. Should have just put it off and went to get a pizza instead, like we usually do.  


                            • MoxieMeadows
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                                I hear ya! 

                                For total animals we have 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 rabbit (moxie), 1 bird, 2 fish tanks, and nearly 40 chickens. I do A LOT of the work (even though they aren’t all mine). And then I have school. Then I do the dishes and cook dinner 4 days of the week. And I am an on-call babysitter, babysitting 1-4 times a week for long periods of time, sometimes from 6 am to 8 pm. 

                                It really wears a person down after a while. By the time I actually have free time, I have no more motivation to do anything, I just want to sleep or maybe use the internet! I mean I barely have a social life.  

                                But I get what you’re saying. I’m sure it’ll get better. Hang in there! (Just think, It’s almost summer vacation!)


                              • Love4Bunny
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                                  I have an idea, Moo. It sounds ridiculous, but you may want to consider writing your weekly schedule out. Eg. 7am shower, 8am eat breakfast, 8:15am feed rabbits and clean litterboxes, etc.

                                  If you include your getting-ready-for-school times, your relax time, etc, you may be able to find out where all your time is going, and plan ahead for what you know you need to do. This way, you have a better chance at achieving your goals. This is a suggestion that they give us in college training, so we can find time to study and take care of families, etc.


                                • vanessa
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                                    I love that idea. In fact, I was just reminiscing the other day about ow I used to set very detailed schedules for myself when I was a teenager. I had my schedule worked out from wake up, shower, get dressed for school, eat breakfast, catch the bus, be at school, arrive home, change clothes, do school work, do chores, end of scheduled day, relax, then bed time. You get the picture? Today I still use similar schedules, but I don’t break to down to the minute, but I do list every thing I want to get done during the week after I get home from work. Sometimes I work late. I always spend an hour feeding and watchign the animals, because watching them is relaxing. And then I start my schedule. It includes things like changing litter boxes, potting plants, digging vegetables, making walls/roof/different parts to the next woodwork project, change motorcycle battery, make new bird feeder, vacuum bunny room, water garden, do dishes, laundry, etc etc etc. I scratch things off my list once they are done, and move them over to next week if I didnt’ get them done. And I don’t ever feel bad about moving things over, because I keep seriousely busy and I get alot done at home. A schedule helps me to set priorities and stay focused. Knocking things off the list makes me feel a sense of achievement. Without a schedule/list – and the same amount of work, I would feel aimless and completely overwhelmed all of the time.


                                  • Moothebun
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                                      I will definitely try a schedule. I feel so bad for the buns sometimes because I play softball and I don’t always get home at the same time everyday. So they aren’t on a set schedule and I know that they are trying to get on a schedule and I can’t do that for them.


                                    • Love4Bunny
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                                        @Vanessa: Wow, you sounded like one organised teen! I’m also a list person, and for the same reasons.

                                        Moo, it could be that the mornings are possibly the most consistent time in your week. I say this as a night person (because I am not fond of rising early) so if you are not a morning person either, just know that I understand the struggle when I suggest getting up earlier. Possible options are:
                                        1) Rabbit time early morning on your softball practise and game days, and
                                        2) Rabbit time in the afternoon/ early evening on regular school days

                                        I think it’s awesome that you care so much about your rabbits, you said something. There are a lot of students out there who wouldn’t even bother (I work with students, so I know), so just know that you’re not alone. We’ve all been overwhelmed by our responsibilities at one time or another. Start with a small change and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do everything you planned.


                                      • Vienna Blue in France
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                                          There’s some ‘self help’ saying that goes something like this : “Replace the word ‘should’ with ‘could”… and life is less stressful”.

                                          “I should do the washing up”.
                                          “I could do the washing up”.

                                          It makes it less of a “failure” if you don’t do it. And more of an accomplishment when you do.


                                        • LittlePuffyTail
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                                            I’ve been there. When I brought my daughter home from the hospital, those few months were just insanely exhausting. I had a baby, 2 cats and 2 bunnies at home. I’m a major schedule police. My buns were always on a very tight schedule with their meals and out time and it was really hard for me to become more flexible with their schedule. I know the guilt of not being able to spend as much time with them as you want. But remember that a safe and loving home, even if they don’t get out as much or as much attention as you’d like is much more that a lot of bunnies get.


                                          • Moothebun
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                                              @viennablueinfrance saying could rather and should was a motivating thing.
                                              @love4bunny @vanessa I tried a schedule today it worked for the most part just strayed away a couple of times. Thanks for the suggestion!!!

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                                          Forum THE LOUNGE Personal exhaustion