In our hectic world, burnout is practically a given. To combat it, the quest for more energy sometimes feels like an obsession. Just look at the enormous success of the energy drink industry: By 2026, it is projected to exceed $86 billion.
The boom reflects the demand for quick fixes—and, increasingly, a misalignment between the pace of modern life and the way our bodies were built to function. It’s no wonder we’re exhausted: “Stress, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of sleep, screens, and nutritional deficiencies negatively impact the health of our mitochondria, the battery of our cells,” notes Dr. Adeline Richard, a specialist in functional medicine and longevity.
The consequences of living in a perpetual state of dysregulation are numerous—brain fog, mood swings, fatigue, and the risk of diseases are just a few of the adverse effects. But in a world that never slows down, our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are constantly out of whack.
Even worse, all this chronic stress and exhaustion can leave their marks on the face. From a physiological point of view, fatigue is associated with a rise in cortisol, the neuromediator that reflects our resilience to emotional or physical stress. “Excess cortisol in the skin increases inflammatory phenomena and immune dysfunction, contributing to premature skin aging,” explains José Ginestar, scientific director at Sisley Laboratories.
The burnout blues
Though the World Health Organization recommends a balance of exercise, diet, and sleep to support vitality, we all know this trio has its limits. If the body is already in a state of chronic stress, for example, intense workouts can actually worsen the condition. And, even if we are lucky enough to get our recommended eight hours of a night, many of us are probably lacking in the deep sleep required for true repair. “Each person is different, as are their responses to interventions that attempt to bring them back into balance,” notes Richard.
For women, getting back to balance can be particularly challenging. “Burnout in midlife women is influenced by a complex mix of life pressures: raising or launching children, managing a household, career demands, cultural expectations, and caring for aging parents—all while experiencing the very real physical changes from perimenopause and menopause,” notes double board-certified women’s health and hormone expert and certified functional medicine practitioner Dr. Sarah de la Torre of Respin Health. “Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol affect the whole body and can lead to sleep disturbances, mood changes, and a decline in mental focus, among other symptoms, adding to the already high stress of midlife. Many women are used to powering through and often normalize these symptoms, which increases the risk of worsening burnout.”
