Dear Woman, Are You Listening to Your Body?

What comes to mind when you think of fatigue? Most of us blame long work hours, too many responsibilities, or simply “getting older.” But for so many women, fatigue runs deeper than late nights and busy schedules. It’s tied to something often invisible yet powerful-our hormones!

I’ll be honest here: I never really thought much about hormones until my own body forced me to. At 37, I realized my body feels very different than it did in my 20s. And yes, before you roll your eyes, I’ll quickly add, I don’t look 37 (thankfully 😜), but my body? Oh, it knows. The energy I once took for granted now requires intention. The late nights I used to bounce back from leave me foggy for days. Stress that I brushed off in my younger years now lingers and shows up as muscle fatigue, bloating, or random mood swings. It was humbling to realize: my body wasn’t betraying me; it was simply asking for a different approach. I realise I can’t power through workouts anymore. I need more rest days as compared to earlier and navigating weight is a different story!

Our hormones are like an orchestra-when they play in harmony, life feels smooth. But when even one instrument is off, the entire symphony can feel chaotic. Stress is one of the biggest disruptors. When you’re constantly rushing, worrying, or overworking, your body releases cortisol. In short bursts, cortisol is useful. It helps you handle emergencies. But when stress becomes chronic, cortisol stays elevated. This not only drains your energy but also disrupts estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid balance, leaving you tired, irritable, and sometimes even hopeless.

Think of it like this: your body is always listening. If you keep telling it, “We’re in danger! We have no time to rest! Keep going!” it will prioritize survival, not thriving. That means poor sleep, brain fog, irregular cycles, digestive issues, and constant exhaustion. And yet, most women blame themselves. “Maybe I’m not trying hard enough,” they say, instead of realizing their bodies are simply overworked and under-supported.

Also Read: Dear Woman, Who Are You When No One’s Watching?

I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I kept doing all the things that used to work in my 20s; pushing through workouts, skipping rest days, staying up late finishing work, eating “healthy” but not really considering my hormones. And when I didn’t see results or felt constantly drained, I blamed myself. But the truth was: my body had shifted, and so did its needs. That realization was both frustrating and freeing. Frustrating because I wanted to be able to do it all like before. Freeing because I realized there was nothing “wrong” with me. I just needed to listen differently.

It’s important to listen and respect your body at different stages in life. As much as we women want to hustle and fit into a man’s world, we have to realise that we actually don’t need to. Yes, men and women are biologically different! Our bodies run on various hormones and the graph is constantly going up and down. But, men function on a 24-hour testosterone cycle and the levels are pretty steady and so are the dips. 24-hourren’t many variations for them to constantly adjust and struggle with. Yet, most of us are women are always trying to work against our body’s wisdom. However, here are a few things that we can do to support our bodies better –

• Prioritize rest as medicine. Stop treating sleep as optional. Create an evening ritual-dim lights, no screens, maybe herbal tea or journaling or simply snuggling up in your bed. Rest isn’t indulgence; it’s repair.
• Slow down consciously. We are so used to hustling and being on the go that our rate of speech, speed of typing, walking, talking everything is high! This means that your nervous system is always on. But when
• Balance blood sugar. Instead of skipping meals or surviving on caffeine, eat balanced plates with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. This keeps your energy stable and reduces cortisol spikes. The food that you eat (or don’t eat) directly impacts your mood, focus, concentration-everything.
• Support your cycle. Notice how your energy shifts through the month. Instead of pushing against it, work with it. Schedule demanding tasks during ovulation (when energy peaks) and allow more rest during your luteal phase.
• Practice nervous system resets. Simple practices like deep breathing, yoga, or even walking barefoot on the grass signal to your body: “We are safe.” That alone lowers cortisol.
• Seek support, not shame. If your fatigue feels relentless, don’t dismiss it. Check your thyroid, cortisol, and other hormones. Sometimes healing needs guidance, not more willpower.

Dr. Libby Weaver, in Rushing Woman’s Syndrome, asks a powerful question: “So many women are rushing, yet few are asking: what for?” That question made me pause. What was I rushing for? Why was I treating my body like a machine? The moment I stopped fighting my body and started working with it, things shifted.

Also Read: Darling, The World Won’t Fall Apart If You Slow Down

So if you’re reading this and nodding along, maybe waking up tired, maybe wondering why your old routines don’t work anymore, I want you to know: you’re not broken. Fatigue is not laziness. It’s your body’s wisdom coming through. It’s your body saying, “I’ve been carrying you for years, can we please do this together now?”

And while the world may not applaud you for resting, for slowing down, for listening deeply to your body, you will feel the difference. Energy returns, clarity comes back, and that sparkle in your eyes (the one no age can dim 😉) begins to shine again and there’s no better reward than that!