There’s tired, and then there’s the kind of exhaustion midlife women describe: the heavy-body, foggy-brain, “I can function, but I’m not alive” fatigue. And it’s not imaginary—studies show women in their 40s and 50s are twice as likely to experience chronic fatigue compared to men. Why? Because hormonal fluctuation disrupts deep sleep phases, cortisol stays elevated from years of caretaking stress, and iron levels drop silently—1 in 5 midlife women is iron deficient without knowing it. If your fatigue feels bigger than your life, it probably is. Check ferritin (not just hemoglobin). Stabilize blood sugar with protein in your first meal. Add 10–20 minutes of morning sunlight to reset cortisol. And remember: exhaustion is a signal, not a personality trait. You’re not lazy. You’re depleted in ways the world rarely acknowledges. Tags: #WomensHealth #Fatigue