TL;DR:
Nervous system regulation for women in midlife is more important than ever, especially during summer.
You’re on vacation but waking up exhausted.
You’re at a BBQ but feel anxious and overstimulated.
You finally have downtime, but can’t seem to relax.
If you’ve felt this way recently, you’re not alone. Summer is supposed to feel light and carefree. But for many women in their 40s and 50s, it brings a surprising wave of exhaustion, irritability, digestive issues, and sleep disruption — even when nothing is “wrong.”
This isn’t about mindset or motivation. It’s about how your nervous system is responding to chronic overload.
While longer days and sunshine can be a boost, summer often brings a perfect storm of factors that disrupt the body’s rhythm, especially for women already feeling depleted:
These might seem like minor things. But to a nervous system that’s already in overdrive, they’re enough to tip the scale.
Chronic stress doesn’t just live in your head. It builds up in your gut, your hormones, your sleep patterns, and your immune response. And it shows up as:
These aren’t random. They’re your body’s way of trying to cope with long-term dysregulation.
Your 40s and 50s are a time of major hormonal change, whether you’re perimenopausal, post-birth control, postpartum, or simply carrying decades of unprocessed stress.
Estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol all impact:
The more depleted your system already is, the harder it becomes to “rally” for things that used to energize you, like social time, exercise, or a weekend away.
Most women don’t realize they’re in low-grade fight-or-flight mode until something small sets them off or their body forces a full stop.
We see this all the time in women who say:
“I don’t feel like myself.”
“I should be happy, but I feel nothing.”
“Even rest doesn’t feel restful.”
That’s not in your head. That’s your nervous system stuck in a loop, and no amount of productivity, positivity, or “just relax” advice will fix it.
Instead of forcing yourself through another self-care checklist, try this:
Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, reduce cortisol, and rebalance your body’s natural rhythms. It can support better digestion, sleep, and mood — without adding more to your to-do list.
Sometimes the foods we think are “healthy” are triggering an inflammatory response. Identifying and removing those hidden stressors can ease digestive symptoms, headaches, and fatigue; and give your system a real chance to recover.
Burnout recovery, especially in summer, isn’t about retreating from life. It’s about moving through life with more awareness, space, and support.
That might mean:
And when you’re ready, working with a practitioner who sees the full picture, not just your symptoms.
If summer feels harder than it should, it’s not because you’re ungrateful or unmotivated. It’s because your body needs deeper care, not just more effort.
At Needle & Glow, Kari works with women to uncover the root causes of burnout, gut issues, and hormone imbalance.
Because your body isn’t overreacting…it’s asking for something different.
Feel like you need a reset this summer? Book a session with Kari and let’s explore how we can support your nervous system, digestion, and overall balance.
Q: Why am I so exhausted even when I’m not “doing that much”?
Depletion isn’t about activity; it’s about your system’s ability to recover. If your nervous system is dysregulated and your hormones are out of sync, even small things can feel overwhelming.
Q: Can acupuncture help with summer fatigue or burnout?
Yes. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, regulate cortisol, support better digestion, and improve sleep. Many clients find it helps them feel more grounded, less reactive, and more in tune with their body.
Q: I eat pretty well. Why am I still bloated or inflamed?
You might be reacting to foods your body no longer tolerates well. Food sensitivity testing can uncover hidden triggers that contribute to inflammation, brain fog, and gut discomfort (even if your diet is “clean”).
Q: How do I know if stress is the root issue?
When multiple systems are “off” (digestion, energy, mood, cycle) it often points to nervous system and endocrine (hormone) imbalance. Kari takes a root-cause approach to figure out what’s really going on.
