It’s not your fault: why moving more is harder than it should be (and what you can do about it)
Do you ever feel frustrated that moving more, something that’s supposed to come naturally, often feels like such hard work?
You’re not alone, and more importantly and perhaps surprisingly, ‘it’s not your fault’!
Let me explain why not.
We often blame ourselves when we struggle to stay active. We tell ourselves we’re lazy, unmotivated, or just not trying hard enough. But the truth is, our bodies and brains are wired for a different way of interacting with the world and that mismatch matters more than you might think.
What is the ‘Evolutionary Mismatch Theory’ and why does it matter?
The term "evolutionary mismatch" was first introduced by evolutionary biologist George C. Williams in 1996, and later popularised by scientists like Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard paleoanthropologist. It refers to what happens when traits that evolved to help us survive in ancient environments don’t suit the conditions we live in today.
Our ancestors moved a lot - not because they chose to, but because they had to. Whether it was hunting, foraging, building shelter or escaping danger, daily life was movement. And when they weren’t moving, they rested - because conserving energy was crucial when food was scarce.
Fast forward a few thousand years, and here we are: in a world of chairs, remote controls, lifts, cars and, in the Western world, high food availability.
However - our instincts to conserve energy haven’t changed, but the environment and therefore the necessity to move has.
As Daniel Lieberman puts it in his book ‘Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health’, “We never evolved to exercise. We evolved to avoid it - unless it was necessary.”
That line stopped me in my tracks when I first read it, because it explains so much.
We're not lazy. We're human.
The modern world is designed for stillness
Let’s be honest: most of us spend large portions of our day sitting at desks, in cars, on the sofa. The daily movement that was once part of life, like walking to get water, squatting to cook, lifting heavy loads, has now become optional. And optional things are easy to skip, especially when we’re already tired or overwhelmed.
We’re told we just need more willpower. But that advice ignores the bigger picture. Movement isn’t automatic anymore. It’s a choice. One we have to make repeatedly, in a world that keeps offering easier options.
And when you’re busy, stressed, or worn out? That decision can feel impossible.
Awareness is everything
Thankfully, there’s good news: when we understand what’s working against us, we can start to work around it.
Because knowing the problem doesn’t begin with you, but instead the mismatch between your biology and your environment, gives you permission to approach movement differently:
Knowing that we need to stop waiting for motivation to arrive
Stop beating ourselves up for choosing rest when our bodies tell us we need it
Start noticing where and how you can intentionally add natural movement into your day
That’s where I come in.
Small shifts, big wins
You don’t need a dramatic overhaul to start feeling more capable, more mobile, more alive in your body. You just need to rebuild the relationship between your body’s needs and the way you live your life.
To avoid stiffness, pain, injury and chronic illness, we need to ensure we reclaim a foundation of regular, varied movement. Movements that benefit our mobility, strength and even confidence to age well.
I help people do this using the Everyday Ease Method™; that helps you make movement part of your day with ease and to reclaim ease in your movements again.
These micro-movements or movement breaks might not look like ‘exercise’, but, quite frankly, your body doesn’t care what the activity is called - it just needs more and better.
When you give it the right inputs, it responds, adapts and progresses.
As biologist Randolph Nesse explains: “Our instincts are not broken. They are just mismatched with the modern environment.” The instincts we’re programmed with to help us survive and be well, and movement is an incredibly important part of that puzzle. And that’s why we have to build new habits with intention.
A new kind of evolution
We can’t go back to the savannah, and likely don’t want to. But we can shape our days with more movement - on our terms.
Most of the world may have forgotten how humans used to live, but your body hasn’t. It’s just waiting for the right signals.
You don’t need to do everything, all the time, but you do need to do something. With one small shift, then another, and consistency, they add up.
Want to start making it easier?
If you’re ready to explore how your own everyday life can support your unique body, not work against it, I’d love to help.
In all my courses, I teach the Everyday Ease Method™ - a simple and sustainable way to bring natural, meaningful movement back into your day. It’s designed specifically to help you navigate this mismatch between how we evolved and how we live now.
I’ve got some brand new courses in the pipeline. If you’d like to be the first to know when it’s ready, you can click here to join the waiting list.
You were built to move. Let’s make it feel that way again.
