Hormones, Headspace & Hitting the Wall: When the Momentum Disappears

Last week, I felt unstoppable.

Ideas came at me faster than I could write them down. I filled up my notepad, created posters, updated my website, scheduled out bookings, even mapped out a full social media strategy that actually made sense. I was clear. Confident. Firing on all cylinders.

But this week?

This week, it’s like someone hijacked my brain.

Brick wall after brick wall.
Brain fog.
A rising tide of uncertainty.
And that sharp sting of insecurity that whispers: “Why did I think I could do this in the first place?”

Even though everything’s ready — the posts, the graphics, the plan — suddenly I’m reluctant to share any of it. The light that burned so brightly just days ago feels like it’s dimmed. The version of me who was confidently building her business feels miles away from the one staring at the screen today, wondering what went wrong.

But here’s the thing I’ve come to learn (and am still learning to honour):
This isn’t failure. This is fluctuation. This is being human.
And very often, this is hormonal.

The Invisible Rollercoaster

So many of us – especially women – experience this invisible rollercoaster of energy, creativity, and confidence. One week we’re riding a high, making plans, leading meetings, showing up online, setting goals. The next, we’re second-guessing our entire direction.

If this resonates with you, you’re not imagining it.

We’re cyclical beings living in a very linear world.

From the ebb and flow of our menstrual cycle, to the natural rise and fall of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol — our energy, clarity, and confidence will shift. Sometimes subtly. Sometimes dramatically. And it doesn’t mean we’re unprofessional, inconsistent, or “too emotional.”

It means we’re wired in a way that deserves understanding — not shame.

What I’m Learning to Do Instead

This week, instead of trying to force myself back into last week’s mindset, I’m trying something new:

💬 Posting one thing I’ve already created – without editing it to death.
🚶‍♀️Going for a walk before sitting down at my laptop.
🧘‍♀️Reframing insecurity as a cue to pause, not a signal to quit.
🌀 Reminding myself that creativity isn’t linear – it’s seasonal, cyclical, and deeply personal.
🤍 Trusting that next week will bring a new wave — because it always does.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is just keep going gently.

For Anyone Feeling the Same

If you’re in this space too — staring at your to-do list and wondering where that bold, buzzing version of you disappeared to — please know: you’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just feeling what it means to be human in a body that feels and shifts and changes.

Maybe you’re in your luteal phase.
Maybe your cortisol’s off because you’ve been pushing too hard.
Maybe your nervous system is begging for calm after days of dopamine-fuelled productivity.

Whatever the reason, it’s okay.
You’re allowed to pause.
You’re allowed to recalibrate.
You’re allowed to show up at 20% without pretending you’re at 100.

Let’s Talk About This More

I want to build a space — and a business — that honours the whole cycle, not just the highlight reel.

✨ One that recognises the rush of momentum and the moments of stillness.
✨ One where we can say “I feel low today” without guilt or performance.
✨ One where we create space for others to say “me too.”

Because what if those dips weren’t a problem to solve — but a message to listen to?

So if you’re reading this with brain fog in your head and a lump in your throat, take this as a sign: You’re not alone. You’re not failing. And your magic hasn’t left you — it’s just resting.

And when it’s ready, it will rise again.

With warmth always,
Studio Nine x

Want to explore how hormones impact your productivity, mindset, and mood?

Here are a few brilliant resources:

• 🎧 The Period Whisperer Podcast — real, relatable talks on energy cycles and work.
• 📖 Clue’s Articles on Cycle Syncing — science-based, easy to digest.
• 📱 @DrMindyPelz on Instagram — tons of hormone education, especially for women in business.