The energy chart Zoë Foster Blake uses proves you're not lazy. You're exhausted.

Ever wondered why you're utterly shattered after a day where you barely moved from your desk? Or why a casual catch-up with six friends can leave you feeling like you've run a marathon?

Cause, same.

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Turns out, we've been thinking about energy all wrong. And where author and entrepreneur Zoë Foster Blake might have just changed the game.

In a recent Instagram post, The Go-To Skincare founder shared an energy chart that has completely transformed how many of us understand fatigue, including the Mamamia Outloud team.

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We now know exactly why you're always tired.

Not all tiredness is created equal.

A thing you might not know: Zoë Foster Blake has been navigating chronic pelvic pain since having her second child. Like many people dealing with ongoing health challenges, some days are tougher than others.

But what's fascinating is the chart she shared — developed by a doctor studying long COVID — breaks down energy expenditure into three distinct categories: physical, cognitive, and social/emotional/spiritual.

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A post shared by Zoë Foster Blake (@zotheysay)

And here's the real kicker: they all drain your battery in different ways

"Just as running requires 10 out of 10 energy exertion, so does a cognitive task like major decisions or detailed calculations," Mia Freedman explained when she talked about the concept on Mamamia Outloud.

These are the hidden energy vampires. Because while most of us understand physical tiredness (running = exhausting, sitting = restful), we rarely acknowledge the massive energy drain from other activities:

Cognitive load:

• Reading complex reports (9/10)

• Paying attention to TV (5/10)

• Driving unfamiliar routes vs familiar ones

Social/emotional load:

• Socialising with six or more people (10/10)

• Being angry or frustrated (8/10)

• Experiencing anxiety (6/10)

• Scrolling social media (5/10)

"This explains why you're so exhausted after you've had a big conflict with somebody," Holly Wainwright noted. "Or after a big social event like a wedding — it's not necessarily that you've been dancing all night."

Interesting!

We give ourselves permission to rest after physical exertion — run a marathon? Everyone expects you'll need recovery days.

But what about teachers at term's end? Parents after weeks of illness management? People dealing with financial stress or health worries?

"I did a keynote recently where I spoke to a room of people," Jessie shared. "I've previously given myself no grace and not understood why the next day I might have a headache, feel grizzly or negative."

This attitude stems from how we've been conditioned to view tiredness as a weakness — something to push through rather than respect.

The hidden cost of modern life.

The chart also reveals the surprising energy drain of things we don't typically associate with exhaustion — which turn out to be actually pretty darn exhausting.

Things like:

• Financial insecurity

• Parenting worries

• Being in pain (absolutely exhausting)

• Depression (makes even simple tasks like going to the bathroom energy-intensive)

• Political news consumption (keeping us in prolonged fight-or-flight).

Delayed reactions and energy preservation.

Perhaps most illuminating is the chart's note that "symptoms can be delayed for up to three days" — meaning Wednesday's big meeting might not catch up with you until Saturday.

This explains those weekends where all you can bear to watch is bland, undemanding television. As Holly shared, "I always thought I was being a bit lowbrow or something... But apparently I'm preserving energy and it's a virtuous thing to do."

For introverts especially, this chart validates why returning to office work can feel so depleting — constant small talk and social navigation drains energy reserves that work-from-home arrangements preserve (although Zoom calls bring their own flavour of exhaustion).

The bottom line.

Understanding that tiredness comes in many forms — physical, cognitive, social, and emotional — might just be the permission slip we need to respect our energy limits and practice better self-care.

So, next time someone asks why you're so tired when "all you did" was attend a conference/manage a crisis/handle difficult conversations — direct them to Zoë Foster Blake's chart. Because now we know: energy isn't just about how much you move your body.

Sometimes, the most exhausting marathons happen entirely in your head.

What are your thoughts on the above? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Insatgram/@zotheysay.