44. The One Where Exercise Stops Feeling So Hard

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In this practical, myth-busting episode of The Fatigue Fixer, Dr. Sarah tackles one of the most common (and misunderstood) prescriptions for fatigue: exercise. If you’re tired, busy, overwhelmed, or stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset, this episode will help you rethink movement in a way that actually feels simple and doable.

Sarah breaks down why feeling tired isn’t a reason to avoid exercise, how our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are quietly fueling fatigue, and why small, consistent movement habits matter far more than perfect workouts. From “exercise snacks” to NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), this episode offers realistic strategies to help you move more — without guilt, overthinking, or burnout.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Exercise Matters for Fatigue: Why movement is one of the most powerful tools for improving energy, even (and especially) when you feel tired.
• How Sedentary Life Is Catching Up to Us: Eye-opening stats on physical activity levels in women and kids in Canada, and how work-from-home life has changed our daily movement.
• Thinking Traps That Sabotage Exercise: How All-or-nothing thinking (“If I can’t do it perfectly, why bother?”) is keeping you stuck and busting motivation myths and why your brain is wired to resist movement
• The Power of Small, Doable Movement: Why exercise snacks (8–10 minutes!) beat big, unrealistic plans and how consistency compounds over time.
• Listener Question: ‘Why Don’t I Look Different?’: A compassionate reframe on why visual changes aren’t the best measure of exercise success and what benefits actually matter most.

NEAT: The Unsung Hero
How everyday movement (walking, chores, fidgeting) often impacts energy and metabolism more than formal workouts.

Making Movement Fun (Again)
Why enjoyment, social connection, and play matter more than discipline and how fun keeps habits sustainable.

Actionable Takeaways

• Something is always better than nothing.
• Choose fun and accessible activities over complicated plans.
• Prioritize consistency over intensity — twice a week for a year adds up fast.
• Stop using beauty standards as motivation; focus on strength, energy, and function.
• Build movement into daily life with short exercise snacks.
• Let your phone screen time be a reminder to move your body.

Recommended Listening:

Episode 26: The One Where You Build Habits That Last with Katie Falloon-Drew
Episode 32: The One That Sets The Record Straight on Cortisol


Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca.

The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.