Women Are Leaving the Workforce... Here’s Why

News: Over 212,000 women in the U.S. have left the workforce this year. And it’s not because ambition disappeared overnight. It’s because the cost of showing up financially, mentally, and physically has climbed higher than the paycheck makes sense for.

Childcare is more expensive than ever. Pandemic-era subsidies have ended. And big companies like Amazon and JPMorgan are cutting back remote work, forcing parents and caregivers into choices that just don’t work for real life.

For many women, stepping back isn’t about “quitting.” It’s about protecting health, time, and energy. Some are freelancing. Others are starting their own thing. Others are just taking a pause. Either way, the message is clear: the old work model isn’t working for us anymore.

Health: Millennials aren’t pretending digestive issues don’t exist anymore and that’s a good thing. Nearly half say they’ve dealt with a gut health diagnosis, and instead of quietly struggling, they’re talking about it and finding solutions.

That means probiotics on the counter, more fiber in the pantry, squatty potties in the bathroom, and fewer ultra-processed “meals” on the go. It also means being open about how digestion affects mood, energy, and overall health.

It’s not oversharing, it’s taking care of yourself. The more we normalize these conversations, the easier it is to make changes that actually make you feel better.

Recipe: Looking for a dinner that feels fresh, effortless, and a little unexpected? Food Network’s Chicken-Watermelon Tacos deliver just that: shredded rotisserie chicken warmed in a tangy tomatillo, onion, and lime sauté, then tucked into corn tortillas and topped with a zingy watermelon salsa, avocado, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Ready in about 30 minutes for a weeknight that doesn’t compromise on flavor or ease.

Podcast Rec: On We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon Doyle, her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle do the only thing they’ve found that has ever made life easier: Drop the fake and talk honestly about the hard things including sex, gender, parenting, blended families, bodies, anxiety, addiction, justice, boundaries, fun, quitting, overwhelm . . . all of it.

Finance: According to a new survey, Americans are spending nearly five hours a day thinking about money. That’s worrying about bills, checking balances, mentally adding up the cost of dinner, and asking yourself if you really need that new skincare serum.

Over half say money stress has gone up in the last year. But here’s the shift more people are taking action. We’re setting budgets, automating savings, finding ways to bring in extra income, and focusing less on “get rich” and more on “get stable.”

Finance tip: If you’ve already got an emergency fund started (3–6 months of expenses), think about putting a little extra into a low-cost, diversified ETF like Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). It gives you exposure to the entire U.S. stock market without needing to pick individual winners, and it’s a long-term move that can quietly grow while you focus on life outside your bank account.

Financial peace doesn’t come from ignoring the numbers. It comes from knowing them and making moves that actually align with your life.