Why You Feel Constantly On Edge And How to Break the Cycle

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty,  juggling work, home life, and the endless mental load you’re not imagining it. Studies show that being a mum is the equivalent of 2.5 full-time jobs, and with that comes constant stress, interrupted sleep, and little time to truly rest.

When we live in this constant “go mode,” our bodies produce more cortisol — the hormone that helps us handle stress. In small bursts, cortisol is useful; it gives us energy and focus. But when it stays high for too long, it can leave us feeling anxious, exhausted, foggy, and disconnected from ourselves.

The Hidden Toll of Constant Busyness

Between meetings, childcare, errands, and the unspoken pressure to keep everything together, many women never truly switch off. We wake up tired, go to bed wired, and in between, we’re ticking boxes rather than taking breaths.

This constant state of alertness keeps the body stuck in “fight or flight” — a survival mode that was never meant to last all day, every day. Over time, high cortisol levels can show up as fatigue, irritability, sugar cravings, or that heavy sense of being mentally and emotionally drained.

The hardest part? Even when we want to relax, we don’t know how anymore. We’ve forgotten what calm feels like.

The Power of Intentional Pauses

You don’t need hours in the day to feel better you just need moments that are intentional.

An intentional pause is a small act of presence. It’s the difference between rushing through your shower and turning it into a reset ritual. It’s choosing to breathe deeply while massaging in your body butter, rather than mentally planning tomorrow’s to-do list.

These sensory pauses, scent, touch, warmth — tell your body it’s safe to rest. Aromatherapy can be particularly powerful here. Scents like lavender, clary sage, and ylang ylang are known to soothe the nervous system and help rebalance mood. That’s why each Ametrine Skin blend is crafted not just for your skin, but for how you feel.

Simple Everyday Rituals to Help Lower Stress Naturally

• Start your morning slowly. Before checking your phone, take three deep breaths or mist your space with a grounding room spray.
• Turn skincare into a ritual. Massage your favourite body butter into your skin with intention, feel the texture, breathe in the scent, notice how your body responds.
• Add aromatherapy to your environment. A calming pillow spray before bed or a soothing bath soak can help signal to your body that the day is ending.
• Take mindful breaks. Even two minutes of stillness, sipping tea, stretching, or standing by an open window can help reduce cortisol levels.

These rituals don’t require more time. They simply ask you to be present in the time you already have.

Reclaiming Calm in the Chaos

If you’ve been living in survival mode, it’s not your fault, you’ve been doing what’s needed to keep everything running. But your wellbeing matters too. When you nurture your calm, you show up differently: softer, clearer, more connected to yourself and the people you love.

At Ametrine Skin, we believe self-care isn’t about doing more — it’s about being more intentional with the little moments that are already yours.

Because sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is simply stop, breathe, and begin again.