6: The Real Reason You're So Exhausted

How does that title land? It’s not as grim as it sounds! You aren’t tired because of everything you are ‘doing.’ You are tired because you are ignoring your body’s requests.

Most of us have been taught that pushing through is maturity. That hunger can wait. Rest can wait. Grief can wait. Joy can wait. We override our body’s requests in the name of productivity, responsibility, and being a "good" and likeable and flexible person—and eventually we wonder why we're exhausted, disconnected, or burned out.

In this episode, Molly explores the hidden cost of chronic override and why it's become one of the defining patterns of modern life. Because override isn’t simply ignoring your body—it's a learned survival strategy that made (and makes) sense in the short term. We modern folks, however, have made it a way of life.

Here we dive into a hopeful alternative: learning to notice the body's signals, consciously choosing when to respond and when to override, and becoming skilled at discerning which consequences you are willing to bear. Not an invitation to abandon responsibility or follow every impulse. Instead, we are rebuilding trust with your body. That sounds like a bumper sticker, but it’s a practice that is possible if you choose it.

You'll Learn What "override" really means and why it's so common in modern life How chronic override contributes to burnout, fatigue, and disconnection Why override is an adaptive survival strategy—but not a sustainable lifestyle The surprising difference between listening to your body and following every impulse How to recognize the subtle ways you override hunger, rest, grief, fear, and joy Why every choice has consequences—and how to choose the ones worth bearing Simple ways to begin meeting your body's needs, even in small moments How chronic override affects creativity, intimacy, spontaneity, and self-trust

Why This Episode Matters In a culture that rewards productivity over presence, learning to recognize and soften chronic override may be one of the most important skills of our time. It offers a new lens on burnout, self-trust, nervous system health, and what it means to truly care for ourselves and one another.

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Welcome to The Modern Mammal! Molly Caro May bridges neuroscience, story-weaving, and the relational field to support people to inhabit their full body mammal intelligence despite (and because of) the Modern Digital Era. Known for her warmth, straight-talk and emphatic expression, she is here to shine a light on what is possible for humans as we stand at this shared crossroads. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, author of two acclaimed literary memoirs, devotee of attention, creator of The Modern Mammal Framework and had led thousands of people through her transformational workshops and retreats for two decades. No, she isn't anti-tech, but she is pro-responsibility and believes in the importance of developing sacred discernment. The Modern Mammal Podcast is a combination of WEEKLY raw Solo episodes that offer real-time practicing and clear ways to reclaim yourself in this era plus unscripted, lively interviews with thinkers, makers, and practitioners who are asking the same question: how do we stay human in a world moving too fast?