Why Rest Isn’t a Luxury in Midlife...it’s the Missing Hormone Strategy

You’ve pushed through for years.

Put everyone else first. Held the pieces together. Hustled on low sleep, high stress, and a nervous system stuck in overdrive. That’s what women do, right?

Until your body starts whispering (then screaming) that it’s time to stop.

That whisper is why we chose Permission to Pause as the very first theme of the Shebang Box.

Not because it sounds cute on a sticker. But because giving yourself permission to actually rest might be the most radical, healing thing you can do in midlife.

We weren’t taught how to pause. We were taught how to power through. But in perimenopause, pushing through stops working.

Your hormones don’t care about your color-coded calendar. Your body is changing. Your mind is shifting. Your spirit is tired of being silenced.

And no one gave you a roadmap for this part.

That’s where Shebang comes in.

The July box was created to offer a breath. A soft place to land. A reminder that slowing down isn’t giving up, it’s coming back to yourself.

Your hormones are listening to your lifestyle.

Cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone, isn’t here to ruin your life. But when it stays elevated too long (thanks to stress, screens, deadlines, people-pleasing, etc.), it throws your whole hormonal ecosystem out of whack.

Chronic stress depletes progesterone, spikes inflammation, and increases insulin resistance, worsening everything from anxiety to belly fat to insomnia.

In midlife, your body becomes less forgiving of burnout. And more vocal about your need to slow the hell down.

What chronic stress does in midlife:

• Triggers hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability
• Interrupts sleep cycles and hormone regulation
• Increases cortisol and blood sugar crashes
• Depletes focus, energy, and libido
• Keeps you stuck in survival mode

Read more: The Midlife Mental Load: Why You're So Damn Tired (And How to Lighten It)

When we first dreamed up Shebang, we kept coming back to one question: What’s the first thing a midlife woman truly needs to start feeling like herself again?

Not another supplement. Not a stricter routine or another item on the to-do list. Not a program to fix her, shift her, or make her more productive.

She needs permission.

Permission to slow down. To feel what’s been pushed aside. To breathe deeper than she has in months. To stop performing and start listening—to her body, her heart, and her own inner knowing.

We wanted to make that permission real. So we turned it into something tangible—a box. Not just a box of things, but a box of reminders. Tools to support her hormones. Rituals to soothe her nervous system. Messages that whisper, “You’re not broken. You’re becoming.”

Everything inside was chosen with care, by two women walking through it too. It’s a love letter wrapped in tissue paper. And it begins with the belief that you don’t have to earn your rest. You’re allowed to take a damn minute.

7 Types of Rest That Actually Heal

(Yes, there’s more than one kind. No, zoning out with Netflix doesn’t count.)

1. Mental rest: Turn off the brain chatter. Unplug.
2. Sensory rest: Step away from screens and overstimulation.
3. Emotional rest: Let yourself feel without performing.
4. Spiritual rest: Reconnect to what brings meaning.
5. Physical rest: Sleep, stretch, move gently.
6. Creative rest: Doodle. Dance. Daydream.
7. Social rest: Be with people who don’t require a performance.

Take the Midlife Survival Style Quiz to find out where your system needs the most support.

Tools We Love for Pressing Pause

(All of these are Shebang-approved and affiliate-linked because we only share what we actually use.)

• Vagus Nerve Reset Deck – 5-minute cards to regulate your nervous system
• Weighted Eye Mask – for tension relief and better sleep
• Earthing Mat – grounding support while working or resting
• Infrared Heating Pad – comfort for body and mood

Books to Read in the Pause:

• Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
• Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
• Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm
• The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

Your Turn

What would it feel like to pause on purpose?
Not because you burned out.
But because you finally knew you were worthy of rest.

Tell us one thing you’re letting go of to reclaim your energy.
Or forward this to someone who’s been holding her breath for way too long.

Want More Midlife Support?

If you’re into hormone-friendly tips, soul-deep validation, and being the first to know when our next box drops—get on the list. It’s like a group chat with your smartest, sassiest midlife friends (plus exclusive perks and freebies).

Click here to join the Shebang mailing list — your inbox will thank you.

About Shebang

Shebang is a women-founded brand reshaping the menopause experience. We’re here to flip the script on midlife—less shame, more soul. Through curated subscription boxes, real talk education, and a community that actually gets it, we’re helping women reclaim their energy, power, and permission to pause.

We started Shebang because we were tired of feeling dismissed, overwhelmed, and alone in our own perimenopause journeys. So we created what we wished we had: a lifeline disguised as a care package.

Whether you’re in the thick of hot flashes, ragey mornings, or existential unraveling, we’ve got you. Welcome to the club you didn’t ask to join—but won’t want to leave.

P.S. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work and mission. 💛