Reclaiming Your Flow in an Effed Up World: A Guide for Midlife Women Feeling Foggy and Disconnected
Ever have one of those weeks where everything feels just slightly (or wildly) off, even though you’re doing all the “right” things? In Episode 164 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil unpack what it really means to feel “off”—especially during perimenopause, when hormonal shifts can bring on brain fog, energetic overwhelm, and a deep sense of disconnection.
From differentiating routine from rhythm to navigating the disorienting fog of midlife, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with what truly sustains you.
They share personal insights, embodied practices, and mindset shifts that help redefine progress—not as constant output, but as presence. Whether you're feeling burnt out, foggy, or just vaguely “not yourself,” this episode is a breath of fresh air.
Let’s dive in.
From Routine to Rhythm: Finding Your Energetic Flow
Kim reframes routine as more than habit—it’s a nervous system stabilizer. But what many of us are truly craving isn’t just a schedule; it’s rhythm. Rhythm, as Kim describes it, is a current. It’s what brings coherence, momentum, and ease.
Louise likens rhythm to music—something predictable enough to follow, but dynamic enough to flow with real life. Together, they explore how rhythm helps us feel anchored without being rigid, especially when life gets loud.
Recognizing the Subtle Signs of Disconnection
It’s easy to miss the signs when you’re drifting from yourself. Louise speaks candidly about that hazy feeling where you’re functioning—but not quite fully present.
“It’s not always dramatic, but it is disorienting.” – Louise Neil
By slowing down, Louise discovered that presence in nature—a walk, fresh air, hearing her footsteps—became a quiet portal back to herself. She models that reconnection doesn’t have to be effortful; it just has to be honest.
Energetic Overwhelm, Menopausal Fog & Feeling “Not Quite Right”
The episode gets real about how overwhelming life can feel—even when things are technically “fine.” Kim names a sensation many midlife women will recognize: an energetic fog that lingers despite all the “right” wellness practices. It’s not just emotional—it’s hormonal, collective, and often tied to the invisible weight of perimenopause.
“What’s left is this residue of energy… and not all of it is mine.”
Louise connects the dots to perimenopause too, noting that brain fog and subtle disconnection are some of the most disorienting, least talked about symptoms.
Together, they reframe these foggy, flattened seasons not as personal failings, but as calls for compassion, curiosity, and nervous system care. When the world feels too loud and you can’t hear yourself—it might not be you. It might be your hormones, your pace, your load. And you’re allowed to slow down.
Movement, Sound & Nature as Pathways Back
Both Kim and Louise turn to the body to reconnect: primal movement, walking, sound, even jazz music as a metaphor for chaotic beauty. Kim’s practices invite release through voice and somatics. Louise’s dog walks become sacred reconnection.
These are more than self-care routines—they are acts of remembering.
“It’s the rhythm of my footsteps… I can feel it in my body”
Redefining Progress, Presence & “Enough”
This episode also takes on the cultural obsession with constant progress and achievement. Kim reframes the idea that we always need to be striving toward something by suggesting that simply arriving in the present—fully and authentically—can be its own form of success.
Louise invites us to rethink traditional definitions of success, moving away from climbing ladders and chasing external milestones, and instead tuning into how we actually feel.
Together, they explore the idea that “enough” isn’t something you reach—it’s something you recognize. And perhaps the most meaningful kind of progress isn’t about moving forward at all, but about moving inward—toward alignment, ease, and self-trust.
Key Takeaways from Episode 164
Routine vs. Rhythm: Rhythm is deeper—it's the pulse that sustains and connects you.
Disconnection: Recognize it not as a failure, but as a season.
Energetic Overwhelm: The “fog” might not be yours—discernment is key.
Reconnection Practices: Use movement, nature, and sound to return to yourself.
Redefining Enough: Let go of performative productivity and embrace presence.
Key Moments:
[00:00] Welcome + Episode intro
[01:55] Weekly check-in: “Fugged up” and frenzied energy
[04:10] Big energy, introvert fatigue, and the need to come back to self
[07:40] The realization: I need rhythm, not just routine
[11:14] What rhythm feels like in the body—and why it’s so needed
[16:49] The world feels loud: Why we can't hear ourselves anymore
[22:22] Naming the disconnect: “I don’t feel like myself”
[27:09] Holding what’s not yours + the difference between emotion and energy
[31:38] Where are we going—and is just being enough?
[41:27] Experimenting your way into alignment
[42:17] Final reflections: Who are you having this conversation with?
[44:44] Closing thoughts and listener invitation
Final Thoughts
This episode is a full-body permission slip to slow down and stop striving. Instead of pushing through, what if you paused to listen? Instead of climbing, what if you were grounded?
If you’re in a season that feels off—and you’re ready to move differently—this one’s for you.
🎙 Listen to Episode 164: “Reclaiming Your Flow in an Effed Up World” wherever you get your podcasts.
Are you ready to reclaim your power and live (and work) with more ease? Discover your unique blueprint to do just that with Kim's Strengthscape Self-Mastery Profile.
Feeling off and not sure why? This (Peri)Menopause Clarity Tracker helps you gently tune into your symptoms, cycle, and daily rhythms—so you can start making sense of what’s really going on. It’s simple, empowering, and designed to help you feel more like yourself again. Start tracking. Start understanding. Start thriving.
