too tired

One in Four Brits Are Too Tired for Sex as Exhaustion Takes Toll on Daily Life

Thursday 05th Feb 2026 |

Brits Are Running on Empty — and Fatigue Is Affecting Everything from Exercise to Relationships

A QUARTER OF BRITS ARE SIMPLY “TOO TIRED” FOR SEX, WHILE REGULAR EXERCISE, FOOD SHOPPING AND COOKING FROM SCRATCH ARE OTHER TASKS MANY SIMPLY HAVE NO ENERGY FOR

As many as seven in ten (73%) Brits say they feel “constantly tired” while a third (31%) feel they are “running on empty” most days.

In fact, four in ten (38%) say they struggle to function on a daily basis, because they are so tired, with the after-lunch slump emerging as the biggest daily drop in energy, according to functional drinks brand, UNROOTED.

Shockingly, the majority (86%) of us are now so tired we no longer have the energy to tackle certain things, with everything from exercise (36%), cooking from scratch (35%) and even SEX (25%)

While 29% haven’t got the patience to listen to people who take too long to get to the point.

Three quarters (73%) regularly bail on plans simply because they are too wiped out to function, with women (74%) more likely to duck out than men (71%).

It’s no surprise that a fifth (22%) say their relationships would improve if they weren’t so tired, with 11% admitting they argue more with their partner because of their fatigue.

Two thirds (69%) believe they have less energy than their parents’ generation, with 41% blaming the nonstop pressure of modern life for draining their energy.

More than a quarter (27%) admit they constantly feel overwhelmed by the endless flood of notifications and the feeling that they should always be doing something.

Poor sleep (70%), financial worries (45%), work pressure (37%), lack of exercise (37%), poor diet (35%), general mental load (30%) and hormonal changes (23%) are also thought to contribute to low energy.

To rebuild energy levels, Brits have been turning to coffee and tea (46%), naps (29%), energy drinks (22%), chocolate and sweets (20%), exercise (18%), supplements (17%), meditation (6%) and health shots/juices (6%) for help.

Qualified nutritionist Kristen Stavridis says: “Fatigue is not just about going to bed late; your gut has a huge influence on how energised you feel. When it is out of balance, it can affect sleep, mood and how well your body absorbs nutrients, and all of this adds up to lower energy.  With so many people complaining of constant tiredness, supporting gut health is a simple way to help the body feel more awake and capable of handling day to day life.”

Nathan Clemes from UNROOTED added: “The research reveals that the UK is running low on energy but that we are willing to adopt micro habits to improve wellbeing. We need to work smarter not harder – which is why we have developed all of our products to include baobab – naturally rich in nutrients like fibre, potassium, vitamin C and calcium to support energy levels every morning in a tasty and convenient way.”

TEN DAILY TASKS BRITS ARE SIMPLY “TOO TIRED” FOR….

  1. Regular exercise – 36%
  2. Cooking from scratch – 35%
  3. Phone conversations – 30%
  4. People who don’t get to the point – 29%
  5. Going out at weekends  – 28%
  6. A self-care routine – 27%
  7. Having sex – 26%
  8. Having a daily shower – 25%
  9. Ironing – 25%
  10. The weekly supermarket shop – 25%


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