Cortisol is essential for energy, focus, and resilience, but too much of it? That’s when things start to go sideways. When cortisol stays chronically high, it shifts from being your morning wake-up call to a full-time stress driver, throwing your body out of balance.

The Lowdown on High Cortisol

Increased stress and anxiety

Cortisol is your body’s ‘fight or flight’ hormone. If it stays elevated for too long, it keeps your nervous system in a state of stress, leading to anxiety, restlessness, and that ‘wired but tired’ feeling.

Poor sleep

High cortisol levels at night mess with melatonin production (your sleep hormone), making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Ever felt exhausted but unable to switch off? That’s cortisol overstaying its welcome.

Energy crashes and burnout

While cortisol helps keep you alert, too much for too long leads to fatigue. It’s like revving an engine non-stop—eventually, it burns out.

Cravings and weight gain

High cortisol tells your body you’re in ‘survival mode,’ making it hold onto fat (especially around the belly) and crave quick-energy foods like sugar and carbs.

Muscle loss and slow recovery

Chronically high cortisol breaks down muscle tissue, making it harder to build strength and recover from workouts. Not ideal if you want to stay strong and feel good.

How to Keep Your Cortisol in Check

> Wait 90 minutes before caffeine – Let cortisol peak naturally before adding stimulants like coffee or green tea.

> Prioritise morning light and movement – Sunlight and light exercise help regulate your natural cortisol rhythm.

> Get quality sleep – Poor sleep increases cortisol, creating a vicious cycle.

> Reduce stress triggers – Deep breathing, mindfulness, and unwinding at night help lower cortisol levels.

Less stress, better sleep, steady energy. When you keep cortisol in check, everything just works better.

Ready to break up with your stress hormone (just a little)?

You don’t need to quit cortisol, you just need to stop letting it run the whole show.

Start your day with the Brothee Before Coffee 7-Day Challenge to reset your rhythm, support steady energy, and help your body actually chill on the cortisol chaos for once.

It’s not a detox. It’s a strategy.