Why Am I Always Tired and Unmotivated?

Lianne Perry, MA, MSc., RCC

You’ve had your coffee. Maybe even two. You got a decent night’s sleep, nothing out of the ordinary. But still, you feel like you’re moving through wet cement. The to-do list is there, but the motivation? Nowhere to be found.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “Why am I always tired and unmotivated?”, you’re not alone. And no, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy or broken. There are real reasons why your body and mind might be running on empty, and understanding them is the first step toward change.

The Usual Suspects (But It’s Not Always Just Sleep)

Yes, sometimes the answer really is as simple as not enough rest, poor nutrition, or an underlying medical condition. If you haven’t had a check-up in a while, it’s worth ruling those out.

But for many people, the exhaustion lingers even when they’re technically “doing all the right things.” You get the hours of sleep. You eat decently. You cut back on the caffeine. And still… you’re running on fumes. That’s usually a sign that something deeper is at play.

Stress and Burnout

Chronic stress is like keeping your body in “emergency mode” 24/7. At first, adrenaline keeps you going, but eventually, your system starts sputtering. Burnout sets in and suddenly even the smallest tasks feel monumental.

Burnout doesn’t just feel like being tired. It feels like:

• “I don’t care anymore.”

• “I can’t get myself moving.”

• “Even the things I used to enjoy feel like work.”

No amount of triple-shot lattes will fix nervous system burnout. It’s not about more fuel, it’s about letting your system recover.

Anxiety and Depression: The Sneaky Energy Thieves

Anxiety and depression are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to low energy and lack of motivation.

• Anxiety puts your body on constant high alert. It’s like your brain is revving the engine at full speed even when you’re parked. That drains energy fast.

• Depression often flattens your motivation. Even simple things, like doing the dishes or replying to a text, can feel like climbing Everest.

Neither of these are character flaws. They’re signs your system is overloaded, and they’re incredibly common.

Trauma’s Impact on Energy

Trauma doesn’t just live in the past, it can quietly weigh down your present. Even if you don’t consciously remember every detail, unresolved experiences can leave your nervous system working overtime.

It’s like your body is idling on high all the time, ready for the next “threat.” That constant state of alertness is exhausting. Over time, it shows up as fatigue, emotional numbness, or lack of motivation.

The Inner Critic Factor

Here’s a sneaky drain on your energy: self-criticism.

Picture this cycle:

1. You feel tired.

2. You tell yourself, “I’m so lazy. What’s wrong with me?”

3. Now you’re not only tired, you’re also carrying the weight of shame.

It’s like carrying a backpack full of bricks on top of being exhausted. No wonder you don’t want to get moving.

Moving toward calm. Sometimes the first step in healing exhaustion isn't pushing harder, it's slowing down and finding a new path.

How Therapy Can Help

Here’s the hopeful part: you don’t have to stay stuck in exhaustion forever. Therapy can help untangle what’s draining your energy and help you reconnect with your natural motivation.

Two approaches I often use are:

• Internal Family Systems (IFS): This helps you understand the different “parts” of you that might be pulling in opposite directions — the part that just wants to rest, the part that pushes you to keep going, and the part that criticizes you for not doing enough. IFS helps you bring balance so your calm, wise Self can take the lead.

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This helps process old trauma, stress, or negative beliefs that keep your system weighed down. For example, if you carry the belief “I have to be perfect,” EMDR can help your brain rewire how it holds that memory so it no longer drains your energy in the present.

Together, these approaches don’t just put a Band-Aid on the problem. They help heal the deeper wounds so you can actually feel lighter, more energized, and more motivated.

A Different Kind of Energy

Feeling tired and unmotivated doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It means your system is asking for support. And the good news? Support works.

With the right help, you can:

• Feel more rested even without changing your sleep schedule.

• Experience more energy for the things you care about.

• Notice motivation returning, not because you’re forcing it, but because the weight holding you down is finally lifted.

If you’re ready to explore why exhaustion keeps showing up and how to move past it, I’d love to walk alongside you. With tools like EMDR and IFS, therapy can help you find a steadier rhythm, one where rest feels restorative, energy flows more freely, and life doesn’t feel quite so heavy.

Joey’s Take

When I’m tired, I don’t tell myself I’m lazy, I just flop down for a nap and recharge. Simple. Humans seem to make it harder, carrying around worry and self-criticism on top of being tired. If you need a reminder, watch me chase my ball after a good rest. Energy comes back when you give yourself permission to pause.

Joey balancing on colourful tires with a big smile, proving that play, movement, and confidence go hand in hand. A reminder that healing often comes with energy and joy.

About Lianne

I’m Lianne Perry, a therapist based in British Columbia who works with clients online across Canada. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. I am a certified EMDR therapist, and I also integrate Internal Family Systems into my work. My approach is grounded, collaborative, and practical, with a mix of conversation and tools you can actually use. When I am not in session, I am probably walking my Australian Shepherd, Joey, or sitting by the ocean listening to a good podcast.