I don’t even remember what the original question was — but I’m pretty sure less doom scrolling and more nervous system support is the answer.
And no, that’s not just a mindset shift or a wellness buzzword. The overwhelm so many women feel right now is real, measurable, and happening at a nervous-system level.
We live in a constant state of stimulation. Social media. News alerts. Endless opinions. Add in work, family, and the mental load most women carry, and even “rest” stops feeling restful. Our bodies rarely get a signal that it’s safe to slow down.
The Science Behind the Overwhelm
Chronic stress - including digital stress - activates the sympathetic nervous system and keeps the body in fight-or-flight mode. Research published in the Journal of Behavioral
Medicine shows that prolonged stress dysregulates the HPA axis, leading to elevated cortisol and disrupted hormone signaling.
In plain terms: when your nervous system is overwhelmed, hormone balance becomes incredibly difficult. Energy drops. Mood feels unpredictable. Digestion slows. Sleep suffers.
And yet, most women are told to respond by trying harder — eating “cleaner,” adding more supplements, or pushing through workouts — even when their body is clearly asking for something else.
What Actually Helps (And It’s Surprisingly Simple)
A 2021 study published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology found that just three daily behaviors significantly improved nervous system regulation in women:
- Morning light exposure ☀️
- Gentle movement, like walking
- Mindful breathing
No extremes. No perfection. No expensive tools.
These practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system - the state where your body can regulate hormones, support digestion, and recover from stress.
Why Nervous System Support Comes First
Here’s the truth most people never say out loud: your body cannot heal in survival mode.
If your nervous system doesn’t feel safe, it will prioritize protection over balance every single time. That’s why “doing all the right things” doesn’t always work — and why slowing down can feel so uncomfortable at first.
This isn’t a willpower issue.
It’s a regulation issue.
A Gentle Place to Start
If this resonates - if you’re feeling tired but wired, overstimulated, or stuck in a cycle of burnout — start by learning how your body actually responds to stress.
👉 Follow me for simple, science-backed nervous system and hormone education designed for real life.
Or grab my Nourished Cycle Recipe book to begin supporting your body without overwhelm.
Because healing doesn’t start with doing more.
It starts with helping your body feel safe again.
This is a perfect make ahead lunch option. It's packed with protein and delicious. I've definitely edited a bit between forgetting quinoa or even left out the sweet potato - and it was still delicious and pretty easy too!
Ingredients:
- 1 Sweet Potato (medium, cubed)
- 2 tsps Avocado Oil
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup Quinoa (dry, rinsed)
- 1/4 cup Organic Peanut Butter
- 3 tbsps Water
- 2 tbsps Lime Juice
- 2 tbsps Tamari
- 1 cup Purple Cabbage (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 Cucumber (medium, diced)
- 1/3 cup Frozen Edamame (thawed)
- 1/2 cup Chickpeas (cooked)
- 1 Carrot (medium, peeled, grated)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the sweet potato to the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until fork tender.
- Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to the package directions.
- Add the peanut butter, water, lime juice, and tamari to a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake the jar until well combined.
- Layer the ingredients in a mason jar in the following order: peanut dressing, cabbage, quinoa, sweet potato, cucumber, edamame, chickpeas, and carrot. When ready to eat, shake well and dump into a bowl. Enjoy!
2 servings
This crispy cabbage is one of those surprisingly good recipes you don’t expect to love… and then you’re standing at the pan picking at it before it even hits the table. The cabbage gets golden and crunchy in the oven, then it’s tossed in a creamy almond-sesame dressing that’s nutty, savory, and just a little tangy. It’s simple, cozy, and the kind of veggie side that actually feels satisfying — perfect for busy nights when you want something easy but still really, really good.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsps Almond Butter (runny)
- 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Water
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
- 8 cups Savoy Cabbage (shredded)
- 2 tbsps Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, mix together the almond butter, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, water, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the cabbage to the baking sheet and add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine, then spread it out in an even layer.
- Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cabbage has browned and is crispy.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and pour the dressing all over. Toss to combine. Top with sesame seeds and divide evenly onto plates. Enjoy!
4 servings
Here’s the truth I wish more women heard sooner:
You’re not tired because you’re lazy.
You’re not burned out because you’re “bad at stress.”
And you’re definitely not broken.
If you’re waking up exhausted, relying on caffeine just to function, and feeling wired at night but wiped out all day — that’s not a personality flaw. That’s chronic stress changing how your body operates.
Chronic Stress Doesn’t Just Affect Your Mind — It Rewires Your Body
When your nervous system lives in fight-or-flight for too long, your hormones take the hit. Chronic stress disrupts your HPA axis (the communication system between your brain and hormones), which controls cortisol, thyroid output, sleep, and energy.
- Here’s what that can look like in real life:
- Cortisol stops following a healthy daily rhythm
- Thyroid function can slow, dragging down metabolism and energy
- Sleep becomes lighter, shorter, or impossible to maintain
- Energy crashes feel constant instead of occasional
So you wake up tired.
You push through the day on caffeine.
You collapse at night but can’t truly rest.
And slowly, this starts to feel like “normal.”
Your Body Isn’t Failing — It’s Protecting You
This part matters: your body is responding exactly as it was designed to under chronic stress.
Research shows that long-term stress leads to HPA axis dysfunction, impairing hormone production and energy metabolism. In other words, your exhaustion is a biological response — not a lack of willpower.
That’s why pushing harder, doing more, or telling yourself to “just relax” doesn’t fix burnout. Your nervous system doesn’t feel safe enough to power back up.
Healing Burnout Requires Regulation, Not Hustle
Real healing isn’t about doing less or escaping responsibility. It’s about restoring safety in the body so your hormones can regulate again.
That means:
- Stabilizing blood sugar so cortisol doesn’t spike all day
- Supporting thyroid function with consistent nourishment and rest
- Teaching your nervous system that it’s safe to exit survival mode
- Rebuilding energy instead of borrowing it from tomorrow
This work matters to me deeply because I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like to feel depleted while doing “everything right.” And I also know that burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means your body has been strong for too long without support.
If this hit close to home, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep running yourself into the ground to feel worthy of rest 🤍
This is one of those dinners I make when I want something real but don’t have the energy for complicated. The chicken gets golden, then turns sticky and citrusy in the pan while the sauce thickens (aka it smells amazing and everyone suddenly appears in the kitchen). I throw together a simple romaine salad, slice the chicken on top, add everything bagel seasoning, and call it a win. It’s light but filling, gluten-free, and feels like a reset after a long, chaotic day.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided)
- 5 ozs Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless)
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice
- 1 tbsp Tamari
- 2 tsps Raw Honey
- 1/3 Lemon (medium, juiced)
- 3 leaves Romaine (medium, chopped)
- 1 tbsp Everything Bagel Seasoning
Instructions:
- Heat half of the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add it to the pan and cook for five minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, tamari, honey, salt, and pepper. Add the mixture to the pan and cover with a lid. Cook on medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through, flipping halfway.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add the romaine and toss well.
- Transfer the salad to a plate. Slice the chicken and place it on top of the salad. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and enjoy!
1 serving
