I eat well, stay active, do all the right things… so why am I still tired?
You exercise regularly. You eat well. You prioritize sleep. You try to stay mindful, set goals, and check things off your list.
From the outside, it looks like you’re doing everything right.
But at the end of the day - or the week - you still feel drained, with no energy left.
It feels like you’re just going through the motions, keeping busy but not moving your life or energy to the next level.
What makes the most energized people different?
After spending many years in market research, I decided to run my own study.
We interviewed a representative sample of people across Canada and the U.S. to explore what differentiates those who feel energized, fulfilled, and motivated.
While there were many interesting findings, now I want to focus on one dimension I call Connection in my P.E.A.C.E. framework for evaluating energy levels - a dimension where even successful people often score lower than you’d expect... connection to what matters most - your values, your passions, your purpose - all the things that bring deep fulfillment.
The data shows that those who score high on this Connection dimension tend to have the highest levels of energy, happiness, productivity, and motivation - but it’s a small group, only about 13% of the sample.
What sets them apart?
They regularly reflect on whether their habits and routines support what truly matters to them.
They prioritize activities that bring them joy and re-energize them.
They make space for self-care and for people who who truly uplift them.
They use their natural strengths - especially in their work.
They say 'no' to things they don't want to do or that don’t feel aligned.
They have a clear vision for where they’re going - one that’s rooted in their own values.
And they don’t waste energy on things they can’t control.
In one word - they live authentically.
Authenticity gives you energy.
There’s plenty of research and evidence - and most of us have felt this firsthand - that when you live in alignment with what truly matters to you, you feel stronger, more focused, and more energized.
Think about how you feel when you’re stuck in a job you hate. When you say 'yes' to something you really didn’t want to do. When you spend time with people who drain you.
Even if you sleep well and eat well, you still feel exhausted - because you're out of sync with what matters to you.
Now think about moments when you’re energized by something you love.
When you enjoy what you’re doing - whether it’s a great conversation, an exciting project, or time with someone you care about - you can stay up late and not even feel it.
For me lately, it’s been a new program I’ve been diving into - a blend of NLP, psychology, quantum physics, kinesiology, energy work. It challenges how I think, taps into the subconscious, and brings together all the topics I absolutely love. I’ve been fully immersed, staying up until 2am several nights in a row - and I wasn’t even tired the next morning.
I also remember one of the coolest projects I worked on 10 years ago (yes, I still remember it! 😊) - a week-long trip from coast to coast with little sleep, a packed schedule, a lots of amazing people, and plenty of hiccups along the way.
It was focused on music and guitar software (a quick flashback of the final result is still on YouTube - https://youtu.be/VFqaz_0A5mY?si=T2jnHYZuBFcyICjE). Because it aligned so well with my values - movement, exploration, learning something new, meeting new people, music - I felt fully energized the entire time, even under pressure.
Just one of those examples that shows what the right kind of work can do for your energy!
Compare that to the times I’ve spent entire days sitting at a desk doing work that didn’t inspire me - completely drained by the end of it.
When what you do aligns with your values, passions, strengths, and priorities, it gives you energy. When you don’t - it slowly drains you.
But there are two common traps I see with this:
1. You know your values and strengths - but you’re not living by them.
You say family is your top priority, and you work hard to support them - but there’s no space left for quality moments together.
You value creativity, but your job is repetitive and gives you no space for it.
You care about freedom, but your calendar is packed with obligations and no time for the things you actually want to do.
That gap between what you say matters and what you actually do is where the energy starts to leak.
2. You’re not really sure what brings you joy or what’s important to you.
You don’t have a clear sense of your values or non-negotiables.
You’re not sure what excites you anymore - or what energizes you.
And who has the time to stop and reflect on that regularly? 😉
But without that clarity, you might end up living in ways that go against what matters to you - and not even realize it.
You may say 'yes' to the wrong things, focus on what drains you, or miss signs that something is off. Even if your mind doesn’t notice it right away - your body does. And that quiet disconnection slowly pulls your energy down.
What can you do?
If you’ve been doing all the “right” things for your body and mind but still feel exhausted…
Try asking yourself these questions:
Do I know what truly energizes me - the tasks, people, and environments where I feel most alive and happy?
When was the last time I checked in on my values, goals, and strengths - and whether they’ve shifted?
Are my daily habits, activities, and commitments aligned with what I say matters most to me?
Where am I saying 'yes' out of guilt, fear, or obligation - and it’s draining me?
What parts of my life feel off - am I being true to myself there?
If I lived one week fully aligned with my joy, values, and strengths - what would I do differently?
I hope this gave you something to reflect on. ❤️
If you’d like to explore what’s really fueling or draining your energy - and see how you score on Connection and other energy dimensions - I’ve created a free self-assessment that you can download here: subscribepage.io/O1QWGC - no strings attached!
It takes about 10 minutes and gives you instant insights into areas you might be overlooking.
And if anything in this article resonated with you, feel free to reach out.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation.
Hi, I am Marina Korotkikh - your go-to Energy and Time Management Coach for High Performers. I help you go from Point A (Always too busy, never enough time) to Point B (Clear, Energized, and In Control) in 70 days using my P.E.A.C.E. framework.
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