Ever felt like deciding what’s for dinner at 4 p.m. is the hardest thing you’ll do all day? That’s not a sign of laziness or poor planning — it’s decision fatigue. In this episode of The Superwoman Code, Dr. Ashley Margeson ND explains why your brain feels maxed out before noon, how hormones amplify that exhaustion, and the practical steps you can take to lighten the mental load.

From judges denying parole cases to the invisible mental labour of remembering bake sales and toilet paper runs, decision fatigue affects us all. But here’s the good news: there are ways to reduce its impact without moving off-grid or giving up joy in your life.

• What decision fatigue actually is — and why it’s not about laziness.

• How tiny, everyday choices drain your “burnout bank account.”

• Why hormones can make decision fatigue worse in the week before your period.

• The science behind irritability, procrastination, and brain fog when you’re decision-depleted.

• Practical strategies to reduce decision fatigue, from automating basics to cycle-aware planning.

• Three simple takeaways to start protecting your brain energy right now.

💬 “Decision fatigue isn’t about laziness. It’s your brain hitting overdraft fees before dinner.”
💬 “It’s not you. It’s your brain juggling decision fatigue on top of two hormones taking a nosedive.”
💬 “Every simplified decision is a deposit back into your bank account.”

• 🎟️ Tickets to the Hormone Intelligence Event — November 6, Halifax

• 📲 Follow Dr. Ashley on Instagram: @drashleymargeson

This week, pick one thing to automate, one micro-rule to try, and one decision to offload. Notice how your brain feels.

Ever caught yourself staring at the toaster, totally blank on whether you actually pressed the button? (Same.) That moment of mental buffering is a red flag that your burnout bank account might be in overdraft.

In this episode of The Superwoman Code, Dr. Ashley Margeson ND walks you through the four warning signs your energy reserves are running low: decision fatigue, irritability, brain fog, and emotional reactivity. With relatable stories (yes, even cold toast), science-backed explanations, and practical ways to refill your account, this conversation will help you recognize burnout signals early and respond with compassion instead of self-criticism.

• How the burnout bank account helps explain energy withdrawals and deposits.

• Why decision fatigue is your brain’s overdraft notice, not a character flaw.

• The chemistry behind irritability when you’re stressed and depleted.

• Why brain fog is your body rationing energy to survival mode.

• How emotional reactivity (snapping, crying, or feeling flat) is tied to capacity, not weakness.

• Simple ways to start making small daily deposits to rebuild your reserves.

💬 “Decision fatigue isn’t about laziness. It’s literally your brain’s version of overdraft fees.”
💬 “Brain fog isn’t a personality flaw — it’s your body budgeting energy.”
💬 “Small deposits compound. Thirty seconds here, five minutes there — they add up, just like pennies in a jar.”

• 🎟️ Tickets to the Hormone Intelligence Event — November 6, Halifax

• 👋 Connect with Dr. Lindsey & the Cornerstone Team at the Atlantic Menopause Show on October 17 in Halifax

• 📲 Follow Dr. Ashley on Instagram: @drashleymargeson

This week, notice the red flags: decision fatigue, irritability, brain fog, and emotional reactivity. Then choose one daily deposit — a walk, an earlier bedtime, a slow lunch away from your desk — and give your burnout bank account a boost.

Technology is incredible—until it starts running the show.

In this episode of The Superwoman Code, I’m joined by Jenna Poste, a tech expert, mom of two and co-founder of the Nova Scotia Chapter of Unplugged Canada, for a real, refreshing, and research-backed convo on how smartphones are impacting our kids, our brains, and our lives.

We dive into how smartphones are changing social development, attention spans, and even play, and offer practical strategies for parents navigating the "when do we give them a phone?" moment (spoiler alert: you're not alone if you're feeling overwhelmed).

This isn't about throwing tech out the window—it’s about conscious choices, setting boundaries, and giving ourselves (and our kids) the tools to grow with technology instead of against it.

Whether your kids are still in diapers or already in high school, this one’s for you. And if you’ve ever found yourself doomscrolling before bed… same. Welcome to the club.

• The difference between a phone and a smartphone

• Why we need to ask: What are we not doing when we’re on our screens?

• The Three C’s of tech: Create, Connect, Consume

• What the research says about smartphone use, anxiety, and attention

• How to delay giving your child a smartphone without feeling like the “mean parent”

• Why kids need risky play, awkward silence, and a little boredom

• How to approach screen time without guilt or constant battles

• A framework for parenting through tech with confidence and clarity

• Unplugged Canada – unpluggedcanada.org

• Books: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

• Devices/Tools:

  • Pinwheel — kid-safe smartphones

  • Garmin Bounce Watch

  • Fongo (for home phones)

• Other orgs: Wait Until 8th, Smartphone-Free Childhood

Next time you or your kiddos reach for a device, pause and ask: Am I creating? Am I connecting? Or am I just consuming?

Start there. It might just change everything.

Join Jenna and the Unplugged Canada NS Chapter at their next event!

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend, tag us in your tech boundary wins, or drop into my DMs to tell me your thoughts. Let’s keep the conversation going.

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A Cornerstone Naturopathic Inc. Production