Malaise & low energy
Running on empty? Move a little.
🌅 Coach Sunny: "You don't have to feel like it. Shoes on, door open. That's the win."
How moving can help
It sounds backwards, but regular exercise tends to raise energy. A meta-analysis found chronic exercise increased feelings of energy and lessened fatigue compared with control conditions (Puetz 2006). The same paper notes that studies with placebo controls that tested exercise alone found no effect, so expectations may play a part. We think that's fine: feeling better still counts.
Persistent fatigue can have medical causes, so get it checked.
Your next 15 minutes
- Stand up and stretch for 2 minutes.
- 10-minute easy walk or gentle yoga.
- Drink a glass of water and notice how you feel.
From the original Exercise Is The Answer: "if you have the time to read this, get off your butt right now and do 10 pushups. Seriously, actually do it. Now."
Start the free 21-day habit builder →The research (verified against the published abstracts)
- Puetz TW, O'Connor PJ, Dishman RK (2006). Effects of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue: a quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin 132(6):866–876. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.866
Regular exercise increased feelings of energy and reduced fatigue versus control (mean effect Δ = 0.37). Caveat: studies with a placebo control that tested exercise alone found no effect.
Not medical advice. This site shares general information and summaries of published research. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Exercise can help, and it works best alongside care from a qualified professional. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a health condition.