3 thing I learnt from being overwhelmed
And asking for help in my 40s.
Let’s be honest. Sometimes life in your 40s and in midlife, feels like one long group project you didn’t entirely sign up for.
You’re the default team leader for everything from childcare, work, school admin, dinner plans, dentist appointments, never-ending WhatsApp groups and trying to remember to take your supplements, whilst calculating protein and hitting forgot password for the millionth time.
Despite my best swan-energy (you know the vibe calm on the outside, legs paddling like mad beneath), I reached a point this year where I realised… I have reached my limit. Usually I could push through but not this time.
What followed was a simple text to my husband. A few honest words that felt huge to admit:
“I’m overwhelmed. I can’t do this. There’s nothing left in the tank.”
My body and brain reached a point where I knew I was running on emotional fumes and surviving on cortisol and crumbs.
Truth be told, looking back, I was operating like a robotic machine trying to keep up with everyone and everything. Endless broken nights of sleep with my 2 and 5 year old, early starts, too much coffee, a sick toddler, playdates, running my own business, being in perimenopause, juggling the invisible load… and then the car broke down and the Wi-Fi went out. (Side note: I run my business online. I found out that week my entire life pretty much runs online.)
The universe, much like my nervous system, was sending some whopping great signals that it was time to slow down and ask for help.
Maybe you’ve felt the same.
Maybe you’ve asked yourself:
Is it perimenopause?
Is it burnout?
Isn’t this just what being in your 40s and midlife is meant to feel like?
Or is it Pluto’s shadow dancing against the moon…?
Here’s the truth: The dynamic speed at which many of us are living is not sustainable long term.
Your body and brain need space to reset. You don’t have to crash to deserve a pause.
After a good soul-clearing cry (you know the kind), I realised that asking for help was the moment I stopped betraying myself.
Here’s what I learnt from that moment:
1) You are allowed to ask for help.
That doesn’t make you a burden, weak, dramatic or failing. In actual fact, I’ve discovered it makes you a leader in your own life who knows when she’s reached her limits. It takes courage to ask for help. You’ll also find that people really want to help you.
2) Your exhaustion and overwhelm are valid.
Lack of sleep is not just hard it’s torture. Feeling constantly stressed and overwhelmed depletes your nervous system and clouds your thinking and creativity. Everything feels harder when you’re chronically exhausted because your brain is literally functioning in survival mode. It’s time to down tools and listen to your body.
3) Something’s gotta give — and it’s not you my love.
The old way of doing things? It’s no longer working and instead of carrying the heavy load of guilt for needing help, let this be a turning point. A signal that your capacity has been stretched and that something needs to shift. Also explore where those inner expectations are coming from. (Plot twist: they might not even be yours — they may have been passed down for generations. If so, they’re not yours to carry anymore.)
This is your moment to create a new way of living and vibing. One that doesn’t cost you your wellbeing.
🪩 Next week’s Tapping Reset on Tuesday, 3rd June will be inspired by this exact feeling — overwhelm. We’ll speak our truth, breathe and tap it out. Tapping resets your nervous system and lowers cortisol in the body. Come away feeing less overwhelmed and more empowered.
It’s short, powerful, keep your camera off or on and kept under 30 minutes because I know your time and energy are precious.
🧠 Also brain fog update! It’s lifted and I realised something that a lot of people wanted to try The Tapping Reset but found the whole “go find your card, enter your details, remember to do it” process a bit of a faff.
So, I’ve made it easier:
🎉 You can now sign up for a free live session trial by simply adding your name and email — no card required and no faff.
👉 Click here to access the free trial.
Sending you a big exhale and a reminder:
You don’t have to do it all. You’re not alone.
You’re not meant to carry it all without support.
With love,
Jo xx
Thank you for sharing this X