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Brooke is always here to support your fitness journey!
I’m sure a lot of people think I’m an energy machine, but that’s not anybody’s reality… including mine. I definitely understand what it’s like to go-go-go until I run out of gas. And I deeply appreciate the need to honor my body when I need to rest.
What I also understand is that often when we feel mentally and physically tired, we are actually caught in a counterintuitive dynamic. The less energy we have, the more we need to move. It’s called the energy paradox, and understanding it can help you refill your tank.
When we’re sedentary, our circulation slows down and our oxygen intake drops. By engaging in even low-intensity movement, we’re essentially “priming the pump.” Scientifically, exercise increases the production of mitochondria – the power plants of our cells. So moving doesn’t just use energy. It helps our body produce energy more efficiently.
Similarly, when our brains get overwhelmed, it’s often a direct result of high cortisol levels from stress or a lack of blood flow to the brain. Movement acts as a biological refresh button. Physical activity literally triggers the release of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that helps repair brain cells and improve focus. And a 10-minute brisk walk is enough to make a difference.
That’s the really interesting thing about the energy paradox. We often think exercise has to be an endurance event. In reality, when you’re running on empty, intensity is the enemy of consistency. If you have zero energy, try the 10-minute rule:
- Pick a low-friction exercise and do it for 10 minutes.
- If you still feel like a zombie after 10 minutes, stop.
Ninety-percent of the time, once our blood starts flowing, we’ll feel better.
Yoga and stretching are great for lowering cortisol and improving blood flow. A slow walk in fresh air naturally quiets the brain’s stress centers. Just twenty body-weight squats can boost your heart rate enough to wake up your nervous system.
The takeaway is that exercise isn’t something to do when we have extra energy. It’s a tool for generating energy when we need it.
So, don’t wait for a jolt of energy or a spark of motivation. Instead, lean into movement. Your future self – the one who actually feels awake and capable – will thank you.
