Residents of these US states are starting the year more exhausted than the rest

Is America’s Energy Running on Empty?

A new year often brings big goals and high expectations, but without the energy to sustain them and follow through, even the best-laid plans can quickly lose momentum.

To explore how Americans are starting 2026, we analyzed fatigue- and energy-related search behavior across the U.S. throughout January to identify the states showing the strongest signals of exhaustion. The aim was to understand where signs of low energy are already emerging early in the year, and how this may be influencing factors such as focus, sleep patterns, and overall quality of life as the year gets underway.

The results reveal clear regional differences in how fatigue is being experienced and searched for, suggesting that while intentions for 2026 may be high, energy levels are not evenly distributed across the U.S., and some states may need more support to recharge.

The Most Exhausted States Entering 2026

Looking at fatigue-related search behavior across four key areas (mental, physical, sleep, and nutrition), the following states appear to be kick starting 2026 with the lowest overall energy levels.

“When we see the same states showing elevated searches across mental, physical, sleep, and nutrition-related fatigue, it suggests a more systemic energy issue rather than short-term tiredness. From a clinical perspective, that kind of overlap is often associated with sustained lifestyle strain rather than a single isolated factor,” says Heather Koenig, a registered dietitian with Juice Plus+.

Top 5 Most Exhausted States

• Utah
• California
• Louisiana & New York
• Washington & Pennsylvania
• Texas

These states consistently appeared across multiple fatigue categories, suggesting broader, more sustained energy challenges rather than short-term tiredness.

How Signs of Fatigue Are Showing Up In Different States

Looking beyond the overall ranking, the data also highlights how exhaustion is showing up differently by state. While some states show stronger signals of mental fatigue or burnout, others are more closely associated with sleep disruption, physical tiredness, or nutritional energy strain.

“What we’re seeing reflected in these search trends mirrors what many dietitians notice in practice at the start of the year — people feel pressure to ‘do more’ in January, but they’re often starting from an energy deficit rather than a surplus. When sleep, nutrition, and stress aren’t aligned, fatigue becomes the default rather than the exception.”

Mental Fatigue Hotspots

1. Louisiana
2. Utah
3. New York
4. Pennsylvania
5. Florida

Sleep Fatigue Hotspots

1. Washington
2. California
3. Utah
4. New York
5. Ohio

Nutritional Energy Strain

1. California
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. Kentucky
5. New York

Physical Fatigue

1. Utah
2. Louisiana
3. Pennsylvania
4. Kentucky
5. Iowa

Across many of the most exhausted states, multiple fatigue categories overlap. In other words, the same states often rank highly across different fatigue dimensions. For example, New York is one of the states that appears across mental fatigue, sleep fatigue, and nutritional fatigue categories, suggesting that energy depletion is rarely driven by a single factor.

Full State Rankings: Exhaustion Index

Below is the complete ranking of U.S. states based on their overall Exhaustion Index score. This method reflects relative fatigue intensity by state rather than raw search volume.

*Scores are shown to one decimal place for readability and represent a relative index of fatigue-related search behaviour by state, rather than absolute differences in fatigue or energy levels.

Why This Matters for Energy and Wellness in 2026

Persistent fatigue doesn’t just affect how people feel — it shapes daily healthy habits, focus, motivation, and long-term wellbeing. When exhaustion carries over into a new year, it can make even the smallest lifestyle changes feel harder to sustain.

The patterns in this analysis suggest that for many Americans, supporting energy in 2026 may be shaped less by quick fixes and more by rebuilding solid, long-term foundations that help sustain consistent, healthier habits – from nutrition and sleep to stress management and recovery.

Methodology

This analysis examined fatigue- and energy-related search behavior across U.S. states using Google Trends data. Over 100 commonly used search terms related to physical, mental, sleep, and nutritional fatigue were analyzed to reflect how adults typically express low energy and burnout online.

Search behavior was analyzed from January 1st to 31st, 2026, capturing the start of the year, a period often associated with renewed routines and expectations around energy and productivity.

Each search term was analysed independently, with U.S. states ranked against one another based on relative search interest. Rankings were converted into percentile scores relative to other states to support fair comparison across terms. Percentile scores were averaged within fatigue categories and then combined to create an overall Exhaustion Index.

Results indicate relative patterns in search behavior rather than absolute or clinical measures of exhaustion.

Disclaimer

This analysis is based on aggregated Google search behavior and reflects how fatigue and low-energy concerns are expressed online, rather than clinical or medical measures of health. Google Trends data is normalized by region and time period, enabling relative comparison between states rather than absolute search volume or population size. References to “exhaustion” are used descriptively to indicate elevated fatigue-related search signals, not clinical conditions or diagnoses. The findings are intended for informational and editorial purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice.