Faye Chapman on When Life Feels Like 478 Open Tabs: Stressed, Blessed, Hot Mess

There I was, casually scrolling through travel insurance quotes, when one particular question made me laugh out loud:

“Have you ever been diagnosed with, struggled with, or taken medication for any of the following mental health issues?”

The first item on the list?
Stress.

I mean… really? Who hasn’t been stressed?

Honestly, some days I feel like a human browser with 478 tabs open—each one demanding attention—while I’m just moments away from crashing.

Running a business? Stressful.
Travelling regularly? Stressful.
Living and working with your partner 24/7? …Let’s not even open that can of worms.

And let’s not forget the superhero mums out there. I can’t even begin to imagine the daily balancing act. Hats off to you—seriously.

Now, don’t get me wrong. These are all blessings. But let’s be honest: just because something is a blessing doesn’t mean it’s not completely overwhelming at times.

So yes, I laughed at the question—but only because it hit a little too close to home.

The truth is, stress isn't just about the obvious tension headaches or restless nights. It’s sneakier than that. Studies show around 50% of working women deal with stress weekly, if not daily. Juggling work drama, family demands, ageing parents, or even just keeping up with the group chat—it all adds up.

And stress can show up in ways you might not expect:

Brain fog – walking into a room and immediately forgetting why
Stubborn belly fat – the kind that laughs in the face of workouts
Cravings – especially those mid-afternoon carb-fuelled ones
Mood swings – let’s just say... approach with caution

If you’re a woman in midlife, this might all sound eerily familiar. Maybe you’re wondering if perimenopause is creeping in. Maybe your doctor’s run tests and said everything looks “within range”, but you still feel exhausted, foggy, or just off.

Here’s the thing: just because your cortisol levels are “normal” on paper doesn’t mean they’re not wreaking havoc. Chronically high cortisol can knock your hormones off balance—impacting insulin, testosterone, even oestrogen—and leaving you feeling like a stranger in your own body.

And then, because you feel awful, you get more stressed. And the cycle goes round.

But here’s the good news: you can break it.
I’ve been there. And I found my way back.

Before I share the three simple steps that helped me reclaim my energy, mood, and waistline, I want to say this clearly: stress and cortisol are not the enemy.

In fact, we’re here because of them.

Imagine it: 2.5 million years ago, you’re a cavewoman out gathering berries. Suddenly there’s a rustle in the bushes. Your palms go clammy. Your heart races. Adrenaline kicks in. You’re ready to fight or flee. That’s cortisol doing its job—keeping you alive.

But the problem now?
The "rustling bush" is your email pinging.
The traffic jam.
The looming deadline.
The cryptic “We need to talk” text.

Modern life is full of micro-stressors. Our bodies react like it’s life or death—even when it’s just someone forgetting to take the bins out.

We need cortisol—to wake up, to function—but we don’t need it 24/7. And yet, many of us are running on high-alert all day, every day.

At one point, my own stress became so overwhelming, I spent days in bed. I wasn’t sad—I was just empty. No drive. No energy. Nothing. I’d officially gone from high-achiever mode to full-on burnout.

But I clawed my way back, and it started with these three simple steps:

Prioritise Sleep

Resetting my body clock was game-changing. I became strict with my bedtime—even on weekends. No phones in the bedroom. I created both a calming night routine *and* a morning ritual to ease into the day.

Quality sleep helps regulate cortisol better than almost anything else.

Manage Stress and Build Resilience

Sure, breathwork helps. But for me, journaling was transformative. I also cut down my screen time significantly, which did wonders for my anxiety. But managing stress is just one side of it—building resilience is the key. That’s where strength training came in. Lifting weights built not only physical strength, but mental resilience too.

Support Gut Health

The gut-brain connection is real. A healthy gut helps regulate cortisol and supports better mental clarity. I added more fibre-rich foods, probiotics, and prebiotics into my diet—and I felt the difference within weeks. Less bloating, better moods, and much clearer thinking.

Look, life will always have stress. That’s a given. But feeling buried by it? That’s optional.

You don’t have to live in survival mode.

You don’t have to settle for feeling “meh” all the time.

It starts with closing a few of those mental tabs. One by one. Creating space to breathe again. To think clearly. To feel like *you* again.

Because you deserve more than just coping.
You deserve to *thrive*.