Every year, the last weeks of August bring a mix of excitement and exhaustion. There’s the energy of fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils, but also the early mornings, the jam-packed calendars, the school emails already piling up. If you’re a mom, you know what I mean. It’s go-time, whether you’re ready or not.

And if you’re also going through perimenopause or menopause, that ramp-up can feel like a lot more than just a schedule shift. I see it every year in my practice. Women come in saying things like, “I’m snapping at everyone,” “I can’t sleep,” “I feel anxious for no reason,” or “I’m so tired, and I haven’t even done anything yet.”

You’re not imagining it. This time of year can disrupt your body, especially if your hormones are already trying to find a new balance.

The Cortisol Creep

There’s this hormone called cortisol. It’s your stress hormone, and it’s actually pretty helpful in small doses. But during back-to-school season, many of us are riding a cortisol rollercoaster: too many tasks, too little sleep, and no downtime. When cortisol stays elevated for too long, everything else, especially your hormones, gets thrown off.

During perimenopause and menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels are already shifting. Those hormones are used to help regulate your stress response. Now, they’re less predictable, and your body doesn’t bounce back as easily. So what used to be a manageable kind of chaos? It suddenly feels overwhelming.

You might find yourself crying over school forms, losing your patience with your partner, and waking up at 3 a.m. with your mind racing. Eating whatever’s in arm’s reach at 4 p.m. just to get through the rest of the day.

It’s not a personal failing. It’s your body’s way of asking for a reset.

This Is Where Routines Can Help

Not more routines, necessarily. Not the color-coded schedule taped to the fridge or the perfect lunch-prep lineup. I’m talking about small, daily things that help bring your nervous system out of overdrive and give your hormones a chance to catch their breath.

Start with your morning. Can you take ten minutes for yourself before the house gets loud? Maybe that means waking up a little earlier, maybe it doesn’t. Sit outside with coffee. Stretch. Just don’t grab your phone the second your eyes open. That moment of calm can shape your whole day.

Try not to skip meals. I know it sounds obvious. But I’ve seen too many women running on caffeine and scraps until dinner. Stable blood sugar helps stabilize your mood. Eat real food, with protein, every few hours. Not for weight loss. For energy. For your brain. For your sanity.

Move your body. It doesn’t have to be a full workout. A walk around the block. A few yoga poses. Just enough to release some of the tension that’s building up hour by hour. Bonus points if you can get outside while you do it.

Give yourself a cutoff. The day doesn’t need to stretch until 11 p.m. every night. Screens off. Lights low. Do something that actually feels like winding down. A bath. A book. A hot cup of tea. Whatever slows your system.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being steady.

This Season Isn’t Just for the Kids

So often, women push through this time of life because they think they’re supposed to. They write off the anxiety. The fatigue. The brain fog. The irritability. They assume this is just what it means to age, to parent, to manage.

But there’s a better way. Hormonal shifts are real, but they aren’t something you have to suffer through. And the kind of care we offer here - longer visits, direct access, space to actually talk about what’s going on, that can make all the difference.

If you’ve been feeling off, like you’ve lost your footing before the school year even starts, you don’t have to wait until it gets worse. Let’s talk now. Let’s look at your hormones. Let’s figure out what you need. Whether it’s testing, treatment, coaching, or just a conversation with someone who gets it.

You’ve taken care of everyone else. Make this the season you take care of yourself.

To learn more or schedule a visit, call our office at 267-207-3100 or visit www.jenniferkostacosmd.com. We’re here when you’re ready.

Let’s Get You Back to You

You’re allowed to feel good in your body. You’re allowed to want more than just survival mode. And you’re allowed to ask for help. This season is busy, but it doesn’t have to break you. Let’s create a version of your routine that supports your health, hormones, and peace of mind.