To think some people simply have more energy than others

[Unsureaboutitall]

And that there isn’t much one can do to be the same.
I have always been naturally quite lazy, even thought I get on with things like full time work, parenting, try to carve time to be active (failing currently but have been a regular gym goer for years pre DC) etc. But my default is to try and do as little as I can, I love my sofa and love sleeping, would always choose a lie in over anything else. I know some people who have 3 DC (absolute nightmare for me as I feel full on with just 1!), demanding jobs and yet have time to run marathons, be super fit, bike everywhere etc. they just seem to naturally have morw energy and enjoy leading busier lives.

AIBU to think thay you either are like that or you are not? There is no amount of healthy eating and supplements that will get me that level of energy

Tend to agree, whilst I can enjoy a lazy day I am active, I do 3 hours of sports a week, cycling, dog walks and work 40hrs FT. Tge guys I work with all say they don't know where I find the energy and they are up to half my age. I am currently yawning and wondering if I should have an early night! 🤣

Ive always been low on physical energy (in my later years some of that has been explained because of autoimmune illnesses and other chronic illnesses) but I'm very high on mental energy.

I find it very hard to, for example, just to do one thing. Like just watch a film, listen to music or radio. I always have to do at least one other thing. I usually choose to do some kind of puzzle, like killer sudoku at the same time.

My mind hardly ever stops wondering about things and connections. And I can easily pass a day thinking about an issue , it's connection to other issues and "what if" kind of scenarios.

I'm sure there are people who are both high on physical and mental energy, and I really envy them.

but if I had to choose, I'd choose my mental energy. It really keeps me entertained.

It depends on the day for me.
Some days im high on energy and others im close to death.

Im pleased its just me i have to take care of as having child id never do it.

I am definitely an anxious person who can’t sit still 🤣

I don’t even think upbringing comes into it, unless you mean the kind of childhood where parents had regimented waking going to sleep an x amounts of exercise, TV etc. My mum always went to bed early, got up late and did all the usual parent things (slowly). My dad on the other hand was up early, late to bed and worked 7 days a week, from 8-11 when my brother and I were younger. My brother has inherited my mother’s energy and I am like my dad. I have to be doing something all the time, I go to bed most nights at 1 am and get up at 7 am. I work 6 days a week and on Sunday clean the house, garden, batch cook etc,then I go out for the afternoon, and see friends etc. I could never sit and watch a film for example in the daytime. I have to be cleaning, cooking, gardening etc if I am home.

Moderately fit but I have always heen like this, even when I used to work out 4 days a week regularly

My DH is a lifelong Duracell bunny. I’m a sloth. We are the Jack Sprat and his wife of energy division.

I feel so tired reading this.
curious to know if you were brought up to be productive at all time amd made feel like lazy or not doing enough by your parents? Asking as my best friend is the same as you (also ADHD) and her parents were like that

Some people definitely have more stamina. My husband used to do 45 minutes on our cross trainer like a robot yet I could only do 10 minutes before feeling like I was dying. He's not a super fit athletic type either

I would love to have more energy but it's all I can do to flop on the couch every evening. I do work hard when I'm at work, from 7am until approx 5pm every day, usually without a break but then once I get home, it's like I've burned out. We eat and I flop. I can literally barely keep my eyes open. I fell asleep at 7pm tonight until 8:20pm.

I would have thought doing regular exercise would give one more energy

Completely agree - I have high sleep needs, always have. I go to bed at 10 on the dot and I could easily sleep until 8am if my alarm didn’t go off. On office days when I am up at 6:30, I’m exhausted.

I go to the gym 3 times a week. I eat well. I’ve tried various supplements over the years. I’m just tired.

Are you me?

I’m in my 40s, one child (4), demanding job and I have nothing in the tank.

Last year I managed to keep up running small distances fairly consistently, and this year I’ve started bootcamps once a week, so I’m not totally unfit, but I get a couple of hours of energy from exercise and then I feel a crash.

One late night out and I’m wiped the next day!

I think I probably need 9 hrs of sleep a night, and I also love quality time with the sofa!

I do think this is true to an extent but I also think positive habits feed each other and give you more energy. When I make a point of exercising, I’m thirsty after so I drink more water, already in my activewear and then need to shower and get dressed instead of staying in my loungewear. Then after I’ve made the effort I think I should probably eat something with proteins and veg. By then I’m feeling super productive and proud of myself and I’ve had a dopamine hit so I’m then more likely to get some housework done or tick off some jobs. This keeps me busy and then I feel tired in the evening so go to bed on time and get enough sleep, then I’m more likely to feel energised enough to do all the same the next day!! Admittedly this really doesn’t happen very often in my house but when it does I can really see how people get so much done and feel so energised.

For me it’s all about how I start my day - if I wake up and check Mumsnet/social media I end up coming back to it again and again, sitting on the sofa, then I make lots of cups of tea, eat biscuits and do very little! Then surprise surprise I’m not very energised!

obviously different when health issues etc. are in play but I do think it can be a vicious cycle. I remember watching a video where somebody said your body isn’t giving you any energy because you aren’t doing anything, if you get up and do something it will give you energy. Again illness/conditions aside I do think there’s some truth to this. Sleep is absolutely key for me, I have an enforced 10:30 bedtime so I get 8 hours of sleep or I’m useless!

Yes to a degree but I do also think there are a lot of people who eat a shit diet, have vitamin deficiencies, don’t do any exercise, who then wonder why they are always tired or think that people doing ‘normal’ stuff are somehow really energetic. I used to think I wasn’t energetic but then I cleaned up my diet, lost weight, sorted some vitamin issues and started to exercise and now I have a shit ton more energy than I had when I was 10-15 years younger.

Yeah I've always lacked energy. Was diagnosed last year with an underactive thyroid though no idea how long I've had it. Currently waiting for the meds to kick in and feeling what normal people feel for the first time in my life! Even my almost 80 year old mum has way more energy than me, makes me feel exhausted just hearing how much stuff she's packed into a day!

It annoys me how socially acceptable it still is to call people lazy when we've now got so much awareness around other health issues. It's not like most people just decide to be lazy they just physically find it so much harder to do things.

I totally agree. I’m always exhausted (insomnia ) and so envious of people who have lots of energy. If I do manage to get up early and be productive I feel great but it’s rare.

Some people just like to have lots going on that's all I think. And as the saying goes " if you want something done ask a busy person"

I'm not sure it's upbringing that much. My brother and I had similar upbringing and are total different, he would be a sloth given a chance, same with my DDs. Total opposite every wise

For me they more I do , the more energy I have

As someone who runs 4 times a week (60-70km at its peak) that time is when I fully relax mentally, I can go for a 2 1/2 hour run and have no idea what I was thinking about when I’m done. Nobody needs my attention, I can’t do any work etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I love a nap on the sofa too but being active is a great way to completely switch off from things.

I used to be one of those busy people with boundless energy. One of those where people said "if you want something done get a busy person to do it" (ie me).
I hardly recognise that person so full of vitality now. Hit 60 and my energy fell off a cliff. And now love nothing more than sitting around and doing bugger all, given half a chance.
I think it's about knowing and accepting your limitations.

I’m a busy person in terms of job/family/pets/house/socialising but with my down/free time I’d rather do something like study online than do any form of exercise. I just hate it- all forms of it.

I am heading into separation I think partly because of this difference. My parents haven't lived together since the 80s, but are both from very working class backgrounds and use every minute wisely but well. They can relax, they read and have lots of friends but they also never waste a minute. If it isn't growing their own food, it's having immaculately maintained houses, sewing or making something.

My possibly soon to be ex husband would happily vegetate on his phone all day long. It seems to me to be such a waste of a one wild and precious life.

I agree, the amount of people who say they don't have time for XYZ (I know, I've said it in the past) but will sit scrolling for hours.

I'm 50 and love the gym and if I'm not in there after work, I'll take myself off for a run or a power walk. DH and I pretty much plan every hour of our weekends as we don't want to be sat around.

My 20 something colleagues love the fact they WFH, log off, binge watch Netflix and go to bed at 9pm. I couldn't think of anything worse than finishing work and sitting in front of the TV all evening. Each to their own, I guess.

This.

I'm a sloth. Since I started taking antidepressants, 12 years ago, I've been exhausted. I spend all my days lounging around. Hate having to do anything. I eat well, walk a lot, take multivitamins and get tons of sleep. But I just have no energy! My partner, on the other hand, is always bouncing around, full of energy. It's mad.