Can’t Find the Energy? Tips for Working Out After a Long, Stressful Day

You
know
those
days
when
it
feels
like
everything
and
everyone
has
drained
every
last
ounce
of
your
energy?
By
the
time
I
walk
through
the
door,
all
I
want
is
my
couch,
a
big
bowl
of
something
comforting,
and
maybe
mindless
scrolling
until
I
fall
asleep.
For
a
long
time,
this
was
my
routine
after
stressful
days,
and
it
didn’t
exactly
make
me
feel
better.

Eventually,
I
realized
that
my
lack
of
energy
wasn’t
just
because
of
my
job
or
my
packed
schedule.
A
big
part
of
it
was
how
I
was
handling
my
evenings.
So,
I
started
experimenting,
and
slowly
but
surely,
I
found
ways
to
work
out
after
those
long,
exhausting
days.
Here’s
what
worked
for
me
and
why
it
might
work
for
you
too.

Start
Small,
Win
Big

I
used
to
think
that
if
I
wasn’t
doing
a
full
60-minute
gym
session,
it
wasn’t
worth
it.
The
problem?
That
mindset
made
it
almost
impossible
to
start.

One
evening,
after
battling
my
own
excuses
for
over
an
hour,
I
told
myself,
“Just
do
10
minutes.”
That
small
promise
felt
manageable.
I
did
a
short
yoga
flow
in
my
living
room,
and
you
know
what?
By
the
end
of
it,
I
felt
like
continuing.

Now,
this
approach
is
my
go-to.
I
give
myself
permission
to
do
less.
Even
if
it’s
just
a
walk,
some

light
stretching,
or
a
short
online
workout,
starting
small
is
enough
to
get
the
ball
rolling.
And
often,
I
surprise
myself
by
doing
more
once
I’ve
started
moving.

Prepare
In
Advance

I’m
not
great
at
making
decisions
when
I’m
already
tired
and
have
no
energy.
After
a
long
day,
the
idea
of
finding
my
workout
clothes,
packing
my
bag,
or
deciding
which
workout
to
do
is
overwhelming.
So,
I
took
decision-making
out
of
the
equation.

The
night
before,
I
started
laying
out
my
gym
clothes
by
the
door.
If
I
was
planning
to
go
to
a
class,
I’d
book
it
ahead
of
time.
For

workouts
at
home,
I’d
pull
up
the
video
in
advance
and
leave
my
yoga
mat
out.

It
sounds
simple,
but
having
everything
ready-made
a
huge
difference.
When
I
walked
in
the
door,
there
were
no
excuses.

Turn
Music
into
Your
Motivator

If
I
had
to
name
one
thing
that
instantly
changes
my
mood,
it’s
music.
It
has
become
a
non-negotiable
part
of
my
workouts
now.

I
made
a
playlist
full
of
songs
that
pump
me
up—think

high-energy
beats,
strong
vocals,
and
lyrics
that
make
me
feel
like
I
can
conquer
anything.

Sometimes,
I
even
put
it
on
during
my
commute
home
to
help
shift
my
mindset
before
I
get
through
the
door.

Rely
on
an
Accountability
System

Here’s
a
secret:
I’m
much
better
at
sticking
to
plans
when
someone
else
is
involved.
A
friend
and
I
made
a
pact
to
work
out
together
once
a
week
after
work.
We’d
text
each
other
throughout
the
day,
hyping
up
our
plans.

On
those
nights,
skipping
wasn’t
an
option
(even
though
there
were
times
I
had
no
energy
at
all)
–
not
because
I
didn’t
want
to,
but
because
I
didn’t
want
to
let
her
down.

The
same
strategy
works
for
other
commitments
too.
Booking
a
fitness
class
or
signing
up
for
an

event
in
advance
gives
me
something
to
look
forward
to.

I’ve
even
joined
online
groups
where
people
share
their
post-workout
selfies
or
celebrate
small
wins.
Knowing
someone
else
is
in
it
with
you
makes
it
easier
to
follow
through.

Try
The
Myers
Cocktail

There
was
a
point
when
even
these
strategies
weren’t
enough.
I’d
hit
a
wall
where
my
body
just
felt
completely
depleted.
That’s
when
I
discovered
the

Myers
Cocktail
in
NYC.

It’s
a
blend
of
vitamins,
minerals,
and
antioxidants
designed
to
boost
energy,
support
your
immune
system,
and

combat
fatigue.
I
was
skeptical
at
first,
but
after
trying
it
during
a
particularly
rough
month,
I
noticed
a
real
difference.

It
didn’t
just
help
me
feel
more
energetic
for
workouts,
it
made
getting
through
the
workday
easier
too.
If
you’ve
been
feeling
like
you’re
running
on
empty,
it’s
worth
considering.

Reframe
Exercise
as
Self-Care

For
a
long
time,
I
saw
working
out
as
another
item
on
my
to-do
list,
which
made
it
easy
to
skip.
I
felt
like
I
had
to
check
it
off,
rather
than
wanting
to
do
it.
That
mindset
made
it
feel
like
a
chore,
especially
on
stressful
days.

One
night,
I
changed
my
approach.
Instead
of
thinking,
“I
have
to
work
out,”
I
told
myself,
“I
get
to
move
my
body.”

I
started
to
see
exercise
as
a
way
to

take
care
of
myself,
not
something
I
was
obligated
to
do.

On
days
when
I’m
overwhelmed,
I
remind
myself
that
working
out
is
my
time.
It’s
not
for
my
boss,
my
coworkers,
or
anyone
else,
it’s
for
me.
That
shift
in
perspective
turned
exercise
into
something
I
look
forward
to,
even
on
hard
days.

Fuel
Your
Body
Right

There
was
a
time
when
I’d
hit
the
vending
machine
at
3
p.m.
for
a
sugary
snack
to
push
through
the
rest
of
my
day.

It
worked
for
about
30
minutes,
and
then
I’d
crash
hard.
After
realizing
this
wasn’t
helping,
I
started
paying
more
attention
to

how
I
fueled
my
body.

Now,
I
focus
on
eating
balanced
meals
that
keep
my
energy
steady.

A
snack
with
protein
and
healthy
fats—like
a
handful
of
almonds
or
some
Greek
yogurt—gives
me
what
I
need
to
power
through
an
evening
workout.
And
water!
Staying
hydrated
is
a
game-changer.

Picture
the
Afterglow

When
all
else
fails,
I
think
about
how
I’ll
feel
once
it’s
done.
You
know
that

rush
of
endorphins
after
a
good
workout?
It’s
like
the
stress
of
the
day
melts
away,
and
I
feel
calmer,
happier,
and
more
in
control.

On
tough
days,
I
remind
myself
of
that
feeling.
Even
if
the
workout
isn’t
my
best,
just
showing
up
helps
me
feel
accomplished.

Final
Thoughts

Working
out
after
a
long
day
isn’t
always
easy,
but
it’s
always
worth
it.
By
starting
small,
prepping
in
advance,
and
using
tools
like
accountability
and
music,
I’ve
found
ways
to
make
it
part
of
my
routine—even
when
I’m
tired.

If
your
energy
feels
completely
zapped,
consider
trying
something
like
the
Myers
Cocktail
to
give
yourself
a
boost.
And
above
all,
remember
that
every
little
bit
counts.

Some
days,
it’s
about
crushing
a
full
workout;
other
days,
it’s
simply
putting
on
your
sneakers
and
moving
for
10
minutes.

Whatever
you
can
manage,
you’re
doing
something
good
for
yourself—and
that’s
what
matters
most.