💖 We are officially in February, heart month, birthday season for me 🎉, and somehow Southern California forgot it’s supposed to be cold… but I’ll allow it (for now). This episode is a mix of real life updates, heart health truth bombs, and some very doable tools you can actually use—no perfection required 🙌

I’m officially four years post–heart attack and wow… typing that still hits. I’m beyond grateful to still be here, still spreading this message, still riding this messy wave 🌊 Another trip around the sun is coming up and I’m soaking in every bit of gratitude. Life is wild, fragile, and beautiful all at once.

Since it’s heart month ❤️, we’re going deeper—starting a likely two-part series—into something most people aren’t talking about enough: HRV (heart rate variability) and how it reflects your nervous system. This is especially important for women, because yes… heart disease is still the number one killer of women, and chronic stress is wrecking our recovery.

Here’s the truth bomb: if your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight, your heart can’t recover properly. Low HRV means your body is stuck in stress mode, energy debt, poor sleep, slow recovery, mood swings, blood sugar chaos, inflammation… sound familiar? 😬 Been there. Lived it.

I break down why you can’t “out-sleep” a broken recovery system 😴 Why waking up tired, sore, foggy, and wired isn’t laziness—it’s your nervous system begging for help. And why working out harder isn’t the answer when your HRV is low (trust me, I learned this the hard way).

The good news? 🎉 HRV is trainable. You are NOT stuck. And no, this doesn’t require fancy supplements or extreme routines.

I walk you through three simple, powerful resets you can start immediately:
☀️ Morning sunlight within 30 minutes of waking (no sunglasses, no phone)
💧 Proper hydration with electrolytes or warm liquids (bone broth lovers, you’re winning)
🚫 Removing ONE hidden HRV drain—late-night screens, food, alcohol, or overstimulating conversations

This episode is about listening to your body, reducing pressure, and giving your heart and nervous system the tools they need to heal and thrive 💓 If all you take away is permission to be gentler with yourself and still make progress… that’s a win.

Try one thing. Let me know what you’re working on. DM me, message me, find me at @everythingsmessywellness—I want to hear from you 💬

Remember, messy warriors: perfection burns us out, but grace keeps us going ✨

*****As promised the episode mentioned with Dr. Huberman: Episode 112, "How to Breathe Correctly for Optimal Health, Mood, Learning & Performance"*******

#131 Your Heart Isn’t Broken—It’s Burned Out