148: Burnout in Midlife Women and How to Recover with Dr Zarya Rubin

About Katie Farinas Katie Farinas is a midlife coach, yoga teacher, and spiritual guide who helps women navigate midlife with clarity, peace, purpose, and empowerment. Through yoga philosophy, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and energy-based practices, Katie supports women in reconnecting with themselves and stepping fully into their most aligned and authentic lives. 📆 Schedule a Clarity Call to see if my coaching is right for you Other Ways To Connect 🪷 Join the Monthly Satsang. A space to reflect and grow together in community. 🌐 Visit Katie’s website to see all her services. 💌 Join the newsletter for soulful insights and to receive weekly practices ➡ Follow me on Substack 📆 Book a reflective Insight Seat to come on the show and receive live coaching 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube or Substack Have a question you would like answered about coming home to yourself in midlife? Record your question here and I will answer it on the show!! https://www.speakpipe.com/KatieFarinas Burnout in midlife isn’t just about doing too much—it may be a signal that your body, hormones, and nervous system can no longer sustain the way you’ve been living. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, or not like yourself—even when you’re doing everything “right”—this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, Katie is joined by Dr. Zarya Rubin to explore how burnout in midlife is deeply connected to perimenopause, hormonal shifts, and nervous system dysregulation—and how understanding the root cause can help you move toward healing, clarity, and alignment. You’ll learn: what burnout in midlife really is and how to recognize it early the three key signs of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness how perimenopause impacts mood, sleep, and anxiety why hormones like progesterone and cortisol affect your nervous system how lifestyle factors like sleep, alcohol, caffeine, and stress influence hormone balance practical ways to regulate your nervous system through movement, meditation, and daily habits why burnout in midlife can be a turning point for change, purpose, and realignment In this episode, Katie is joined by Dr. Zarya Rubin, a former neurologist turned integrative nutrition health coach, for a deeply informative conversation on burnout in midlife women and the powerful connection between perimenopause, hormones, and nervous system health. Dr. Rubin shares her personal journey through burnout in medicine and how it led her to shift into functional and integrative health, where she now helps women navigate the complex challenges of midlife. Together, Katie and Dr. Rubin explore why so many women experience exhaustion, anxiety, brain fog, and overwhelm in their 40s—and why these symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed. This episode breaks down the root causes of burnout in midlife, including hormonal fluctuations, chronic stress, sleep disruption, and the cumulative pressure of balancing work, family, and personal identity. You’ll learn: What burnout in midlife actually is—and how to recognize it early The three key signs of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness How perimenopause (which can begin in your early 40s) impacts mood, sleep, and anxiety Why progesterone, cortisol, and nervous system dysregulation play a major role The difference between conventional and functional medicine approaches to women’s health How lifestyle factors like sleep, alcohol, caffeine, and stress affect hormone balance Practical ways to regulate the nervous system through meditation, movement, nature, and connection Dr. Rubin also explains why perimenopause can act as a wake-up call for change, often prompting women to reevaluate their careers, priorities, and sense of purpose. Rather than something to fear, this phase can become an opportunity for healing, clarity, and realignment. This conversation is especially relevant for women experiencing: midlife burnout anxiety or emotional overwhelm sleep disturbances or fatigue hormone-related symptoms a loss of purpose or identity increased stress with work and family responsibilities If you’ve been feeling exhausted, disconnected, or unlike yourself, this episode offers both validation and actionable insight—reminding you that burnout is not a personal failure, but a signal your body and life are asking for change. Dr. Zarya Rubin is a Harvard-educated functional physician, TEDx speaker, and burnout expert. She helps high-achieving women in midlife break free from burnout to reclaim their passion, purpose and joy. Combining expertise in neurology, functional medicine, mindfulness and nervous system healing, she creates a multidisciplinary approach to breaking the burnout cycle. She is also the host of the podcast, “Outsmart Burnout.” Connect with Dr. Rubin below! Website: www.drzarya.com IG: @drzaryarubin FB: @drzarya FREE download - Your Outsmart Burnout Toolkit!