You’re Resting—So Why Are You Still Exhausted?

You’ve tried everything. You go to bed early. You take breaks. You rest all weekend. But you still wake up exhausted.

And now you’re wondering: What’s wrong with me?

Here’s the truth:

Rest and recovery are not the same thing.  If you’re still feeling wiped out after a weekend of rest, your body isn’t just tired—it’s depleted. And depletion needs more than stillness. It needs refueling.

Let’s start with something you’ve probably lived more than once:  You’re completely drained. Not just tired—done. Your limbs feel heavy. You’re foggy. You’re scrolling your phone on the couch because it’s all you can manage… but you still feel awful.

That’s because rest alone isn’t enough.

Rest = passive. It stops activity.
Refueling = active. It restores what was lost.

Rest might look like:

• Lying on the couch
• Taking a nap
• Avoiding responsibilities

But refueling looks like:

• Stepping outside and getting a breath of fresh air
• Drinking water or eating something nourishing
• Laughing, connecting, or even stretching your body

Rest is like parking a car. Refueling is like putting gas in the tank.

You can stop moving all you want—but if the tank is empty, you’re not going anywhere.  I see this all the time in my practice.

Let me tell you about Sarah.  She came to me exhausted. She was “doing everything right”—healthy food, good sleep, regular breaks. But by the end of every day, she’d collapse. Her routine? Scroll her phone until bed. The next day: same story.  She told me, “I don’t get it. I’m resting… but I still feel awful.”  That’s when we introduced the tiniest shift: stand outside for 30 seconds before sitting down. That was it. That little change opened the door. Soon it was 30 seconds outside and a glass of water. Then a stretch. Then fewer hours scrolling and more intentional recovery.  Her energy improved—not because she “did more,” but because she finally did what her body actually needed.

So what can you do if this sounds like you?

1. Notice what’s not working.

If rest doesn’t help, it’s not actually refueling you.

2. Pick the smallest possible shift.

Don’t overhaul. Don’t force it. Just ask:  What’s the tiniest thing I can do right now that would help my system refuel?

3. Change your sensory input first.

One breath. A splash of water. Step outside. Sit somewhere else. It’s not about more effort—it’s about giving your nervous system something new to respond to.  Your nervous system isn’t lazy. It’s depleted. It doesn’t need pressure. It needs support.

So today—pause.

Ask yourself: Is this actually helping me refuel?
And then make one small shift. Just one. 

Want to understand what’s actually draining you? Take my [3-Minute Self Check-In]  It will help you see where your energy is leaking—and what to do about it.

If you'd like to listen to this entire episode, please check out Episode 3 of The Dysreguation Code Podcast.

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