When Doing “All the Right Things” Is Still Leaving You Exhausted
A Perimenopause Perspective on Energy, Stress and Sustainable Health
For years, I believed I was doing everything right.
I was eating “healthily”, exercising regularly, working hard, learning constantly and pushing myself to keep all the plates spinning. From the outside, it looked like commitment, discipline and motivation — the hallmarks of a healthy lifestyle.
In reality, it was quietly draining my energy, overstimulating my nervous system and leaving me feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and running on empty. As I entered perimenopause, these effects became impossible to ignore.
This is something I see so often in the women I work with — intelligent, capable, health-conscious women who are genuinely trying their best, yet feel increasingly tired, wired, stressed and disconnected from their bodies.
When “Healthy Habits” Stop Supporting Your Health
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this:
You can be doing all the right things and still be undermining your health.
Take breakfast, for example.
For years, I started my day with fresh fruit and low-fat natural yoghurt. It felt virtuous and aligned with what we’ve been told is “healthy”. But the lack of protein, fibre and healthy fats meant my blood sugar was on a constant rollercoaster. I was hungry again by mid-morning, craving carbohydrates and completely wiped out by mid-afternoon.
Exercise was another area that needed rethinking.
High-intensity and sprint-style workouts after long, stressful workdays only added more pressure to an already overloaded nervous system. Rather than building resilience, they pushed me closer to burnout.
Then there was the pace of life itself.
A fast-paced job, children, home responsibilities, exercise, eating well, constant learning and self-improvement — all without meaningful rest. Evenings offered no real downtime, and bedtime became another opportunity to consume information by reading work-related or study books. My brain never truly switched off.
Long days passed at my desk without stepping outside, breathing fresh air or allowing my body to reset.
Perimenopause: When the Body Asks for a Different Approach
Perimenopause often brings a clear message: what worked before may no longer work now.
Hormonal changes can affect blood sugar regulation, stress tolerance, sleep quality, energy levels and recovery. At this stage of life, the body often needs more stability, not more stimulation. More nourishment, not restriction. More recovery, not relentless effort.
This isn’t about doing less for the sake of it — it’s about doing what actually supports health, wellbeing and longevity.
What I Do Differently Now
These are the changes I’ve made that have had the biggest impact on my energy, focus and sense of calm:
A savoury, protein-rich breakfast with adequate fibre and healthy fats to support balanced blood sugar, sustained energy and mental clarity
Strength training for 30 minutes, 2–3 times per week, scheduled when I am well fuelled and have the energy to benefit from it
Evenings reserved for restoration, including slow flow yoga, gentle stretching and meditation
Intentional pauses during the day — lying down, breathing, allowing thoughts to pass without needing to act on them
Daily movement and fresh air, with defined work boundaries rather than endless days at a desk
Fiction and light reading before bed, allowing my mind to relax and support better sleep
None of these changes are extreme. They are practical, realistic and sustainable — and that is exactly why they work.
Stepping Off the Hamster Wheel
There often comes a moment where it’s important to pause and ask an honest question:
Is the way I’m living actually supporting my health, happiness and long-term wellbeing?
When you’re caught on the hamster wheel of responsibility and expectation, it can be very difficult to see what needs to change. You are too close to it. This is where an objective, supportive perspective can be invaluable.
Small, personalised adjustments — rather than more pressure or rigid rules — are often what help women feel calmer, more energised and more like themselves again, particularly during perimenopause.
How I Can Support You
If this resonates and you recognise yourself in this story, you don’t have to work it all out alone.
I offer a free, no-obligation chat where we can explore what’s going on for you, identify where your current habits may be working against your physiology, and discuss the small, realistic changes that could make the biggest difference to your energy, stress levels and overall wellbeing.
Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is all it takes to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
You are very welcome to get in touch to see how I can support you.
