What No One Tells Women 35+ About Burnout
- Nelea Lane, CMWC
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
You're Not Just Tired, You're Depleted.
If you're a woman over 35 feeling constantly drained, emotionally flat, or struggling to get through your day, you might be dealing with more than just everyday stress. Burnout can show up in subtle and deeply physical ways that are often dismissed or misdiagnosed. And if you're told it's "just in your head" or to "try harder," you're not alone.
Burnout is real, and it affects your entire body, not just your mind. For women, it often hides behind symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, sleep issues, and even digestive distress.
Let’s unpack what burnout really looks like, why it hits women in midlife and beyond so hard, and what you can do to begin restoring your energy.
The Hidden Signs of Burnout in Women 35+
Burnout doesn’t always look like a breakdown. Sometimes, it looks like:
Needing caffeine just to function
Feeling emotionally numb or detached
Struggling to concentrate or finish tasks
Constantly waking up tired
Snapping at people for no reason
Forgetting things more often
Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
These are not signs of weakness. They are signs your nervous system, hormones, and energy reserves are maxed out.
Why Burnout Feels Different After 35
Women over 35 experience unique stressors that affect the gut-brain-hormone axis. Midlife brings hormonal shifts (hello, perimenopause), greater emotional loads, and often a pressure to hold everything together for others.
Combine that with a dysregulated nervous system and depleted adrenal function, and your body starts running on fumes.
This is why burnout after 35 often comes with physical symptoms like:
Gut issues
Hair shedding
Sleep problems
Increased anxiety or irritability
Slower recovery from illness or stress
This isn’t about doing less. It’s about supporting your body in a new way.
Support Starts With Understanding Your Body
The solution to burnout is not pushing through. It starts with calming your nervous system, nourishing your gut-brain axis, and creating new rhythms that help you feel safe, supported, and stable.
Small steps that support recovery:
Prioritize deep rest and unstructured time
Add adaptogenic support (like Mood+)
Start the day with gut-brain support (like Happy Juice)
Swap high-intensity workouts for gentle movement
Identify and release energy leaks in your schedule
You don’t have to overhaul your life. But you do have to shift from survival mode to restoration.
Take the Next Step Toward Reclaiming Your Energy
Start with the Happy Lifestyle Habits Quiz and discover where your body might be asking for support.
Or download the Finding Happy Guide to learn how to support your mood, motivation, and metabolism naturally.
It’s not just about managing stress. It’s about healing from depletion.
FAQs
Q: How do I know if I’m experiencing burnout or just tired?
A: Burnout often includes emotional exhaustion, brain fog, lack of motivation, and a feeling of disconnect — not just physical tiredness. If rest doesn’t seem to help, your nervous system may need deeper support.
Q: What helps with burnout recovery naturally?
A: Supporting your gut-brain axis is key. Start with stabilizing your blood sugar, using adaptogens, prioritizing rest, and simplifying your schedule. Tools like Happy Juice or Mood+ can help regulate stress hormones.
Q: Is burnout a medical diagnosis?
A: Burnout isn’t classified as a medical condition, but it is recognized by the World Health Organization as a stress-related syndrome. It’s a signal that your body and mind need recovery: not just more willpower.
You deserve to feel like yourself again. xoxo
Nelea R. Lane
a/k/a The Happy Juice Chick
Available by Text: 936-209-7222
Comments