What If Your Exhaustion Isn’t About Rest?
You get home, drop onto the couch, and say it:
“I’m so tired.”
But you slept okay. You didn’t overexert. You haven’t done anything that should leave you this worn down.
So why do you feel like you’re running on empty?
Because sometimes you’re not physically tired. You’re missing something else and calling it fatigue because that’s easier to name.
When “Tired” Is Really About Something Else
Jay thought he was exhausted. Work had been nonstop.
Every night looked the same: scrolling through his phone, reheating dinner, bailing on plans. So when an old friend invited him to a Saturday soccer game at the park, he almost said no again.
But this time, he showed up. He was winded within minutes.
But then something shifted, a teammate made a goofy pass, Jay laughed, and suddenly he felt good.
His body was moving. His mind was clear. He felt awake.
“I wasn’t actually tired,” he realized later. “I was just missing this.”
It wasn’t about rest. It was about feeling human again.
What You Might Be Missing?
We use “tired” as a catch-all. But what’s really missing could be:
Movement
Connection
Fun
Purpose
Novelty
It’s easier to say, “I’m tired,” than “I haven’t felt connected to anything in a while.”
Sometimes what feels like burnout is just disconnection. A little movement or laughter can bring energy back.
What the Research Says
This kind of emotional depletion is common and treatable. In a University of Georgia study, participants who added light exercise three times a week reported 65% less fatigue after just a few weeks.[1]
Other research shows that trying something new can release dopamine, the brain chemical linked to motivation and vitality.[2]
That’s why switching up your routine, even just a little, can make you feel more alive.[3]
This is why you might come back from a short hike near Calgary or a last-minute game night in Brooklyn, feeling like a different person. It’s not magic. It’s biology.
7 Things to Try When Rest Isn’t Helping
These small shifts can make a big difference:
Move your body just for fun. Walk. Dance. Stretch. Toss a ball around.
Say yes to something light. A game night. A walk with a friend. A local event.
Change your scenery. Work from a coffee shop. Eat lunch outside.
Pick up something you used to enjoy. Music, painting, and journaling start small.
Make something with your hands. Cook a real meal. Build a playlist. Sketch badly.
Take a break from screens. One night off. Let your mind wander.
Do one thing that’s purely for play. No productivity. No goal. Just joy.
When we feel emotionally empty, these little recharges help us reconnect with ourselves.
What You’re Feeling Is Real, And You’re Not Alone
You’re not lazy.
You’re not broken.
You’re not falling behind.
You’re just tired of the wrong things.
And you’re allowed to want more than just getting through the day.
Sometimes what we need isn’t more rest.
It’s more life.
So What Are You Really Missing?
If you’ve been feeling like you just can’t shake the exhaustion, ask yourself:
When’s the last time I did something new?
Have I moved my body this week?
When did I last laugh, or feel connected to someone?
Am I emotionally fulfilled or just “coping”?
Start small.
Try one change.
And don’t be surprised if you feel a little more awake, not because you slept more,
But because you finally gave yourself what you were actually missing.
Sources
1. University of Georgia – Study on light exercise and fatigue
2. Psychology Today – Novelty and dopamine
3. Psychology Today – Movement as an energy booster