The Art of Slowing Down: Why Women in Midlife Need Rest More Than Ever
There came a moment for me last week, somewhere between juggling work, family, my mum and the occasional glimpse of a social life, when I sat down and thought: I’m totally exhausted. Not just a bit tired, but bone-deep weary. It was a warning sign for me that life had got out of sync again and my body was letting me know that I needed to slow down.
It was a combination of too much to do, not enough rest and not feeling aligned with many of my daily tasks. It’s got a lot to do with perimenopause too - my hormones are doing the crazy dance and my nervous system is crying out for a little extra kindness.
I know that I’m not alone, many women I speak to are feeling some version of this. They are doing too much and not allowing themselves enough rest. But why does it effect us so much more these days?
In midlife, our bodies begin to shift gears, particularly with the changes in oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol. These hormones play a huge role in energy, mood, sleep and how our bodies handle stress. When they fluctuate, as they do in perimenopause and beyond, our once-reliable coping mechanisms for stress and overwhelm can feel shaky and sometime fail us completely.
Image: Kinga Howard
The Hidden Cost of “Pushing Through”
For years, I ignored my body’s messages. I often powered through fatigue, minimised the signs of burnout and treated rest like a luxury rather than a biological necessity. But even by my late 30’s I realised I couldn’t sustain the same rhythm and that has just got clearer since I entered perimenopause. And I didn’t want to rush anymore. I wanted to slow down.
I learned that when oestrogen dips, it can throw cortisol (our stress hormone) out of balance. That means our nervous system is more reactive, our sleep becomes lighter and we’re more prone to anxiety, irritability and overwhelm. It all made so much sense.
Slowing down isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about recalibrating. Giving the body the chance to switch from fight or flight to rest and repair. When you rest properly, your nervous system can soften, digestion improves, hormones regulate more smoothly and your mind clears.
What Proper Rest Actually Means
Rest isn’t only about sleeping, though a good night’s sleep is a wonderful start. Proper rest includes moments that nourish the body and calm the mind. It’s time spent in a state of ease rather than achievement.
Think of rest as a menu that you can pick things from to include in your daily routine:
Physical rest – gentle stretching, naps, lying down without a phone in your hand.
Sensory rest – less screen time, soft lighting, quiet spaces.
Mental rest – doing something absorbing but light, such as reading or walking (especially in nature).
Emotional rest – time with people who don’t drain you or a few hours alone if (like me) that’s what you need.
When you build small pauses and include them into your day, your nervous system begins to settle down and becomes less reactive. That’s when you start to feel steadier and more like yourself again.
Image: Florian Seidl
A Final Thought
In a culture that glorifies being busy, slowing down and choosing rest is quietly radical. It says, “I value myself enough to stop.” Midlife is an invitation to live with more wisdom, less rushing and a deeper respect for what your body truly needs.
So, next time your body whispers that it’s tired, listen. Rest before you’re forced to. Slow down before life insists on it. You’re not giving up, you’re gathering strength.