Your gut feels tax season too

For my readers in the United States, this past week was tax week — one of the most stressful administrative periods of the year.

Deadlines. Financial documents. Last-minute calculations.

Even if you work with an accountant, it usually means several days of reviewing numbers, paperwork, and decisions.

For my international readers, tax season may occur at different times of the year — but the physiology of stress is universal.

And interestingly, many people notice the same thing during intense work weeks like this: Their digestion changes. The stomach feels tight. Bloating appears. Bowel habits shift. Mental clarity drops.

Most people assume it's something they ate. But often the real reason is how stress changes gut chemistry.

Today, I'm going to show you how to support your gut during stressful weeks — so your digestion and mental clarity don't crash.

Why this matters more than what you eat

The digestive tract contains its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system, sometimes referred to as the body's "second brain"¹.

This system communicates constantly with the central nervous system through what scientists call the gut–brain axis.

What surprises many people is how much neurochemistry originates in the gut. About 90–95% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, primarily by specialized cells in the intestinal lining².

Serotonin helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and intestinal motility. The gut and its microbial ecosystem also influence other neuroactive compounds including dopamine, GABA, and short-chain fatty acids that affect brain signaling³.

In other words, your digestive system is not just processing food. It is also participating in neurochemical regulation.

Here's what you get when you support your gut during stressful periods:

• Clearer thinking without brain fog

• More stable mood

• Less bloating and digestive discomfort

• More predictable digestion

• Steadier energy throughout the day

Unfortunately, stress disrupts this system quickly

During stressful periods like tax deadlines, the body activates the sympathetic nervous system — the classic fight-or-flight response.

When this happens: cortisol rises, blood flow shifts away from digestion, gut motility can slow or become irregular, and microbial balance may change⁴.

This is why stressful work periods often bring both digestive symptoms and mental fatigue at the same time. Your gut chemistry and your brain chemistry are being affected simultaneously.

Here's why stress shows up in your gut:

Stress doesn't stay in your head. Because of the gut–brain axis, digestive physiology and emotional regulation are deeply intertwined.

During high-stress weeks, symptoms appear together. Bloating, irregular bowel movements, brain fog, irritability, and reduced stress tolerance aren't random.

These are physiological signals. They show that the gut–brain communication system is under load.

Your gut produces the chemicals that affect your brain. When digestion is disrupted, neurochemical regulation is disrupted too.

The real issue? Most people ignore digestive changes during stressful periods, assuming they'll resolve on their own.

But here's the good news: This connection works in both directions. Just as stress can disrupt digestion, supporting the gut and nervous system can help stabilize both digestion and mental clarity.

Here's how to support your gut during stressful weeks, step by step:

Step 1: Shift your nervous system before meals

This is where most people go wrong — they eat while stressed, answering emails, sitting at their desk, or rushing between tasks.

Don't make that mistake. Digestion functions best when the body is in the parasympathetic "rest-and-digest" state. When you eat while stressed, the nervous system remains in fight-or-flight mode.

A simple practice can change this. Before eating, pause for 60–90 seconds and take slow breaths through your nose.

Put the phone down. Step away from the computer. Allow the nervous system to settle.

This small reset helps activate the vagus nerve, which supports digestive coordination and enzyme signaling.

Even stepping outside for a minute before lunch can help shift the nervous system toward digestion. 🌿

Step 2: Protect your gut microbiome during stressful weeks

Here's what keeps people stuck — stressful periods change eating patterns. People drink more caffeine, skip meals, or rely on convenient foods.

Instead, try to keep meals predictable and microbiome-friendly during intense work weeks.

Practical examples include:

• Fiber-rich foods (vegetables, legumes, oats) 🥗

• Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut)

• Regular meal timing rather than skipping meals

These foods provide substrates for beneficial gut bacteria that produce metabolites supporting gut-brain communication³.

Step 3: Support gut motility with movement

This is where everything shifts. Long hours of sitting — which many people experience during tax preparation or administrative work — can slow intestinal movement.

Gentle physical activity helps stimulate gut motility and improve circulation⁵.

Simple strategies include:

• Taking a 10-minute walk after meals 🚶

• Standing up and stretching every hour

• Using walking meetings or brief outdoor breaks

Movement acts almost like a mechanical stimulus for the digestive system, helping restore rhythm to gut function.

Here's what happens when you complete all three steps:

• Clearer thinking without brain fog

• More stable mood during stressful periods

• Less bloating and digestive discomfort

• More predictable digestion

• Steadier energy

• You support the system that regulates brain chemistry

The bottom line

For my U.S. readers, tax week may be over.

But the physiology behind it is worth understanding.

Your gut doesn't just digest food. It helps regulate the chemistry that influences how you think and feel.

And during stressful periods, supporting the gut–brain axis may be one of the most effective ways to protect both digestion and mental clarity.

Disclaimer: This post is intended for inspirational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your routine.

References

¹ Carabotti M et al. The gut–brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015.

² Gershon MD. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal tract. Physiology. 2013.

³ Cryan JF & Dinan TG. Mind-altering microorganisms: the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2012.

⁴ Konturek PC et al. Stress and the gut: pathophysiology and clinical consequences. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011.

⁵ DiPietro L et al. Physical activity and gastrointestinal motility. Diabetes Care. 2013.