“I'm so busy” has quietly become a badge of honour. We say it like a flex — proof we're in demand, getting after it, doing the work. But as naturopath Holly Mayo lays out on the SHFT Pod, that constant busyness carries a hidden cost most high performers never stop to add up.
On episode 32 of the SHFT Pod, Dan and Erin sat down with Holly — a Gold Coast naturopath and nutritionist — to unpack what chronic stress is actually doing to the body behind the scenes.
The badge of honour that's costing you
So many driven people walk around bloated, exhausted and foggy, and quietly accept it as the price of ambition. Holly's point is simple but confronting: that's not just “how it is” when you're busy — it's your body telling you something. We've normalised running on empty, and called it hustle.
Your gut, your “second brain”
One of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation is Holly's explanation of the gut as our “second brain.” She talks through how ongoing, low-grade workplace stress can quietly disrupt the gut — and why that can show up as the bloating, fatigue and brain fog so many high performers simply push through. It reframes a lot of everyday symptoms that tend to get written off as normal.
It's not weakness — it's wiring
Holly also digs into the self-talk that keeps the whole cycle running. The constant “I have to” and “I'm so busy” narration, she explains, helps keep the nervous system stuck in fight or flight — switched on when it should be winding down. Understanding that wiring is the first step to doing something about it, rather than white-knuckling through.
Meet Holly Mayo
Holly runs Holly Mayo Naturopathy on the Gold Coast, working with clients as a naturopath and nutritionist to get to the root of how stress, nutrition and lifestyle are affecting how they feel and function. For anyone who's been running hot for a long time, her perspective is a timely reminder that performance and wellbeing aren't opposites.
Hear the full conversation
If “I'm so busy” is your default setting, this episode is worth a listen. Watch or hear Holly Mayo's SHFT Pod episode, and learn more about her work at Holly Mayo Naturopathy.
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