What to do on low-energy days (without trying to fix them)

Some days arrive feeling quieter than others.

Not necessarily heavy or overwhelming — just softer, slower, a little lower in energy. The kind of days where everything still functions, but with less momentum. Where concentration drifts more easily, motivation feels distant, and even small decisions ask for more than usual.

These days are a normal part of being human. They come and go in gentle cycles, often without a clear reason. And yet, many of us meet them with resistance — wondering what’s wrong, or what we should be doing differently.

What if low-energy days don’t need fixing at all?
What if they’re simply asking to be met with a different kind of care?

Low energy is not a problem to solve

It can be comforting to remember that low energy isn’t a failure of will or discipline. It doesn’t mean you’re behind, unmotivated, or doing life incorrectly.

Often, it’s just a sign that you’ve been holding a lot — emotionally, mentally, or energetically. Or that the season itself is asking for a slower pace. Or that your system simply needs a little more gentleness right now.

When we stop trying to override these moments, something shifts. The pressure eases. And instead of asking how do I get back to normal?, we can ask a kinder question: What would feel supportive today?

Support looks different on quieter days

On low-energy days, effort can feel surprisingly expensive. Big plans, new routines, or ambitious self-care ideas often add more weight than relief.

Support, on the other hand, tends to be simple.

It doesn’t ask you to improve yourself or push through. It meets you where you are and offers steadiness rather than solutions. Here are a few gentle ways to support yourself on days like these — without turning them into another thing to get right.

Soften the space around you

When your inner energy is low, your surroundings can help carry some of the load.

This doesn’t mean creating a perfect atmosphere or resetting your entire home. Small shifts are often enough: opening a window for fresh air, lighting a candle, letting the room be a little quieter or dimmer than usual.

These subtle changes can signal to your nervous system that it’s safe to slow down. When the space softens, you don’t have to hold yourself up quite so much.

Let expectations loosen, just for today

Low-energy days often feel hardest when we expect ourselves to operate as if nothing has changed.

It can be deeply supportive to decide — even temporarily — that today doesn’t need to be maximised. That fewer things can count as enough. That showing up gently is still showing up.

Choose one small thing to focus on, or allow the day to unfold without demanding too much from it. There’s no need to make this a rule — just an offering of kindness to yourself in this moment.

Lean on something physical

When thinking feels tiring, the body often knows what to do.

Holding something steady — a warm cup, a smooth stone, the fabric of a blanket — can bring a sense of grounding without requiring focus or effort. Physical sensation gives the mind somewhere to rest.

This kind of support doesn’t need to be formal or time-bound. It can happen while you’re sitting, moving, or pausing between tasks. Sometimes simply having something tangible to lean on is enough.

Allow pauses to be small

Rest doesn’t always need to be long or structured to be meaningful.

On low-energy days, even brief pauses can help — a few slow breaths, a moment of stillness, a short step outside. These pauses don’t need to become a practice or a commitment. They’re simply small pockets of space, offered without expectation.

Short counts. Gentle counts. Everything counts.

Remember that energy moves in cycles

Energy isn’t meant to be constant. It rises and falls, expands and retreats — often in ways we don’t consciously control.

Some days are for action and momentum. Others are for holding steady and conserving. Neither is better than the other. When we allow these cycles instead of judging them, they tend to pass more smoothly.

Low-energy days don’t need to be productive to be worthwhile. Sometimes their quiet work happens beneath the surface.

A gentle reminder

If today feels slower, you’re not doing anything wrong.

You don’t need to push, catch up, or make meaning of it. Support can be simple. It can be quiet. It can meet you exactly where you are.

And sometimes, letting yourself lean — rather than trying to fix — is more than enough.

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.