Today we respond to a powerful listener question that so many people silently struggle with: why does rest feel lazy, selfish, or wrong… even when we know we need it?

A working mum of three writes in to share her guilt around slowing down, filling her own cup, and prioritising self-care without feeling like she’s letting everyone else down. Tess and Layne unpack why this guilt is so common, how it’s wired into our nervous system, and why constantly putting ourselves last can quietly lead to burnout, emotional overload, and disconnection.

This conversation dives deep into nervous system regulation, boundaries, breathwork, and the small daily practices that help us move out of fight-or-flight and back into presence, clarity and energy.

It’s practical, compassionate, and deeply relatable, especially if you’re feeling fried, wired, overwhelmed, or stuck on the hamster wheel.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why guilt around rest and self-care is so common, especially for women
• How constantly putting others first can actually sabotage your wellbeing
• The difference between the sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (rest) nervous systems
• Early signs of burnout and nervous system overload
• Why multitasking during rest stops it from being restorative
• Creating clear work-life and role-based boundaries to show up more fully
• Simple daily rituals that genuinely refill your cup
• Why silence, stillness and micro-breaks matter more than productivity hacks
• Breathwork as the fastest way to regulate your nervous system
• Box breathing, physiological sighs, and slow exhales explained simply
• Why eating lunch away from your desk is one of the bravest acts of self-care
• The role of awe, nature and “touching green” in nervous system recovery
• How moments of awe help you step off the hamster wheel
• Creating a “love-to-do” list to reconnect with joy and energy
• Why rest isn’t selfish, it’s what allows you to show up better for everyone

We also explore:

• How to recognise when your nervous system is fried
• Practical boundaries you can put in place today
• Why scheduling and guarding rest is non-negotiable
• How small, consistent resets prevent burnout long-term

If you’ve been feeling tired, overstimulated, guilty for resting, or like you’re constantly pushing through, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your body and give you real tools to reset.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I need support with this,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, accountability, community, and practical tools to keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

• Sign up for A Wake Up Call for your weekly wake-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one is a must-listen.

Today we’re joined by one of the most requested women in the world of female performance and health, Dr Stacy Sims, who is changing the conversation around perimenopause, menopause, women’s training, and energy with science-backed tools that actually work in real life.

This episode is deeply personal for Layne, as Stacy’s work helped her feel like herself again, and brought her back to feeling strong, vital, energised and present.

We cover the practical tools, the science, and the mindset shifts that help women stop guessing and start understanding what their body actually needs, especially in the perimenopause and menopause years.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why women’s health has been misunderstood for decades and why data matters
• The biggest myths women have been taught about training and nutrition
• Why fasting can be a problem for women (and what it can do to sleep and hormones)
• How to eat to stabilise energy and reduce the afternoon crash
• The truth about “belly fat” and why the obsession with a perfect body is cultural conditioning
• Ozempic/GLP-1s: what we know, what we don’t, and why vanity use is risky
• Adaptogens (and what they actually do)
• Creatine: why it matters for women, brain function, and energy
• Sauna vs infrared: what works, how long to stay in, and the mental health benefits
• Strength training for women: power, performance, and how to train without “getting bulky”
• Practical weekly strength structure (and why power is a predictor of healthspan)
• How partners can support women through menopause: real tools, real conversations, real support

We also answer listener questions including:

• How can I support my wife through menopause?
• How do I prepare for perimenopause without feeling afraid?

If you’ve been feeling tired, foggy, flat, not like yourself, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this episode will help you feel informed, empowered, and supported.

And if you’re listening thinking, “mic drop… I need support with this,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, accountability, community, and practical tools to keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself, grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call

• Sponsor our podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year comes to a close, we’re slowing things down and doing something a little different.

In this episode, Tess and Layne reflect on the year that was, unpack what it really means to reflect rather than rush into resolutions, and explore how intention setting can create more ownership, clarity, and agency in our lives.

Layne shares openly about a year defined by growth and frustration, energy and stagnation, and the permission it’s taken to allow contradictions to coexist. Tess reflects on resilience, compassion, and what it means to keep showing up without burning out.

Together, we talk about:

• Why reflection gives us clarity, not avoidance
• The difference between burying emotions and actually processing them
• How writing things down creates space and accountability
• Allowing pride and frustration to exist at the same time
• Compassion without the need for change
• Why work and rest are not enemies
• Letting go of old stories that no longer serve us
• Choosing a word of the year and what it anchors us to
• 
  

We also share our words for 2026, how we’re carrying these practices forward, and why intention setting is something best done with people you love.

At the end of the episode, we walk you through a reflection and intention-setting framework you can use to create clarity, confidence, and direction for the year ahead.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you care about. The best gift you can give a loved one is your self-growth.

🎧 Download the Year of Reflection & Intention Toolkit

A guided framework to help you reflect, reset, and step into 2026 with purpose.

Available now for our New Year campaign.

We’ll see you next week and into 2026 as the best version of yourself, no matter where you’re starting from.

Happy New Year.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.