Is Hustle Culture Making Women Forget Their Bodies?

Let’s be honest, being busy has become a badge of honour. Somewhere along the way, exhaustion became glamorous. And women? They’ve taken on the hustle like pros. Work meetings, deadlines, school runs, grocery lists, Zoom calls done. But in the middle of doing everything, many women have stopped noticing one important thing: their bodies.

They’re skipping meals, sleeping less, running on caffeine, ignoring cramps, mood swings, fatigue because there’s just no time. Or at least, that’s the story they tell themselves.

But the body keeps score, writes Dr Prof Deepak Jumani (Sexologist) & Vaibhav Garg (Clinical Nutritionist, Co-Founder, In You.

What Burnout Looks Like

When you’re always in “go” mode, your body flips into survival gear. That means cortisol, your stress hormone, is working overtime. And when that happens every single day, it’s not just burnout you’re flirting with. It’s blood sugar issues, stubborn belly fat, brain fog, irregular cycles, low libido—and a general feeling of being “off”.

In fact, a 2022 study found that women aged 25 to 45 in Indian cities are seeing a sharp rise in early-onset metabolic syndrome. That’s a fancy way of saying: our systems are under siege. Insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, PCOS, and chronic fatigue are creeping in—and they’re not just “women’s issues”. They’re warning signs.

But who’s got time to listen?

The Quiet Disconnect

In all this chasing and striving, many women are losing touch with their bodies. Skipping breakfast is normal. Popping painkillers for period cramps is routine. Drinking coffee instead of eating lunch? Happens every day.

What gets sacrificed? Energy. Hormonal balance. Digestion. Desire.

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Dr Shweta Rao, a women’s health expert, puts it bluntly: “I meet women who are doing amazing things—launching companies, managing teams—but they haven’t eaten a full meal in days or had a regular period in months. They’ve become strangers to their own bodies.”

Let’s Talk About Intimacy (No, Really)

Here’s something that doesn’t get said enough: hustle culture messes with your sex life too.

When your body’s exhausted and stressed, libido goes missing. It’s not you, it’s biology. Chronic stress reduces dopamine and other hormones linked to arousal and connection. You feel emotionally flat. Tired. Touched out. And maybe even disconnected from your partner—or from yourself.

A study from The Journal of Psychosomatic Research even found that job stress is strongly linked to sexual dysfunction in women. And it had nothing to do with age or relationship status. Stress kills desire.

So no it’s not “just in your head.”

How Do Women Come Back to Themselves?

Start small. Start with awareness. What is your body asking for today, rest, food, movement, stillness? Listen. Eat real food. Sit down for meals. Breathe slowly. Go for that walk. Say no to that one extra thing. Don’t wait for your body to scream.

Reconnecting with your body is not a luxury. It’s survival.

And yes, that includes your sexual well-being too. Desire, energy, pleasure are not “nice-to-haves”. They are part of being alive and whole.

The Bottom Line

You can still be ambitious. Still chase your dreams. But let it be a sustainable chase. One where your body isn’t left behind.

Because if hustle means slowly breaking down from the inside, what’s the point?

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