Executive summary
Existing research suggests that women spend a greater portion of their lives in poor health compared to men, highlighting substantial unmet needs in how women's health is understood and addressed (McKinsey Health Institute, 2024). Conditions associated with hormonal and physiological changes, including premenstrual symptoms, migraine, and depressive symptoms, contribute significantly to this burden.
This study focuses specifically on everyday fluctuations in wellbeing. In particular, it examines how women interpret and respond to periods of "not feeling their best," with an emphasis on daily experiences rather than clinical diagnosis.
of participants report feeling physically or cognitively "not quite their best" for some, most, or nearly all of a typical day.
Findings suggest that women are already trying to manage how they feel, frequently reflecting on possible causes and practicing a range of coping strategies such as journaling, talking to others, searching for information, and lifestyle adjustments. Over half of participants reported taking action within the past week. However, effort does not consistently translate into understanding, predictability, or reliable relief.
Structured approaches that support pattern recognition, such as tracking tools, were associated with relatively favorable perceived effectiveness but remain underutilized. Participants frequently describe wanting clearer explanations for why they feel the way they do, as well as greater confidence in anticipating changes.
About this research
In February 2026, Saela conducted a structured consumer survey of 250 women in the United States to better understand how individual women experience, interpret, and respond to everyday fluctuations in their physical and mental state. The survey was distributed through Pollfish, a consumer research platform backed by Prodege's first-party audience panel, and targeted female respondents aged 18 and older.
The survey consisted of 16 questions examining frequency of fluctuations in how participants feel, how participants interpret these fluctuations, what actions they take to improve or understand how they feel, perceived effectiveness of the strategies they used, thoughts on anticipating future fluctuations, and what they would want to be different in order to better support them.
Limitations. The sample size of 250 corresponds to an estimated margin of error of approximately ±6.2% at the 95% confidence level. Participants were recruited through a mobile-based Pollfish panel and consist of U.S.-based women aged 25 to 39 who are digitally active, predominantly urban, and English-speaking. Findings should be interpreted as representative of this specific segment rather than women more broadly.
Key findings
Fluctuations in wellbeing are common and prompt active reflection. Participants who report more frequent experiences of not feeling their best are also more likely to reflect on why.
Over half of participants (50.8%) report taking action within the past week to improve or better understand how they feel. Among those who reason very often, 74.19% report taking action within the past week.
Individuals use a wide range of coping strategies, most informal and self-directed: journaling (52%), talking to someone (52%), pushing through (44%), online search (38%), AI tools like ChatGPT (36.4%).
Trying more coping strategies is not necessarily associated with better perceived outcomes. Increased effort alone may not translate into greater clarity or reliable relief.
Structured approaches show relatively higher effectiveness but remain underutilized. Only 11.6% of participants report using tracking tools.
Effort is consistent across demographics, but outcomes vary across life stages and contexts.
43.6% of participants report feeling dismissed or misunderstood when not feeling their best, and 37.6% take things day by day rather than planning ahead.
Fluctuations in wellbeing are common and prompt active reflection
67% of participants report feeling physically or cognitively "not quite their best" for some, most, or nearly all of a typical day. A chi-square test shows a strong and statistically significant association between the frequency of feeling unwell and the frequency of wondering why (χ² = 118.6, df = 16, p < 0.001).
Approximate share of participants in each frequency-of-discomfort group who report reflecting "sometimes," "often," or "very often."
Reasoning is often followed by taking action
Over half of participants (50.8%) reported taking action within the past week. A chi-square test indicates a statistically significant association between reflection frequency and recency of action-taking (χ² = 36.2, df = 12, p < 0.001).
Among those who took action in the past week, the proportion who sometimes, often, or very often wonder about why they feel the way they feel.
Individuals use a wide range of coping strategies
Reflective and social approaches are the most commonly reported strategies. Structured approaches, such as tracking tools, show low adoption (11.6%) despite relatively positive feedback among users.
Trying more coping strategies is not necessarily associated with better perceived outcomes
| Number of strategies | Average effectiveness |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 strategies | Relatively better outcomes |
| 3 to 4 strategies | Similar outcomes |
| 5+ strategies | Slightly worse outcomes |
Participants who reported trying more approaches did not consistently report better outcomes. Effort alone is not associated with clarity or consistent relief when individuals lack sufficient support for understanding the underlying patterns.
Structured approaches show relatively higher effectiveness but remain underutilized
| Strategy | Usage | CI (±) | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journaling | 51.6% | ±6.2% | Most effective |
| Talking to someone | 52.4% | ±6.2% | Most effective |
| App / Tracker | 11.6% | ±4.0% | Most effective |
| Supplements / lifestyle | 28.4% | ±5.5% | Moderate |
| Saw a professional | 23.6% | ±5.2% | Moderate |
| Online search | 38.0% | ±6.0% | Less effective |
| AI tools | 36.4% | ±5.9% | Less effective |
| Push through | 43.6% | ±6.1% | Least effective |
An independent-samples t-test showed that participants who reported "pushing through discomfort" had significantly worse perceived outcomes (M = 3.17) compared to those who did not (M = 2.52), t = 5.42, p < .001.
Coping strategies vary across life stages, but effort levels remain similar
| Age | Tendency | Approaches |
|---|---|---|
| 25 to 29 | Reactive | Search online, use trackers, push through more |
| 30 to 34 | Reflective | Journal, talk to trusted people, use AI/ChatGPT more |
| 35 to 39 | Structured | Seek professional help, take supplements or make lifestyle changes more |
Many individuals report ongoing frustration and unmet needs
The challenge is not limited to the experience of discomfort itself, but also relates to difficulty interpreting and communicating that experience.
Participants report ongoing gaps in understanding and predictability
"I wish I could figure out what is causing it."
"Nothing has actually worked."
"It helped, but only a little."
"I need someone to talk to."
"I want a professional opinion."
"I need a non-judgmental environment."
"It's hard to stay consistent."
"It's easy for me to stop."
of participants report taking things day by day rather than planning ahead, suggesting limited confidence in anticipating how they may feel.
Effort alone does not produce clarity
Across findings, women are actively engaged in trying to manage fluctuations in how they feel. However, this effort does not consistently translate into clearer understanding or greater predictability.
Without a clearer sense of what influences how they feel, it can be difficult to anticipate changes or select responses with confidence. These findings align with broader evidence highlighting persistent gaps in women's health outcomes (McKinsey Health Institute, 2024).
Importantly, the findings do not suggest a lack of motivation. Rather, women appear to be investing substantial effort in managing their wellbeing, often without access to tools that help translate experience into clear understanding and consistently effective responses.
References
Brashers, D. E. (2001). Communication and uncertainty management. Journal of Communication, 51(3), 477 to 497.
Deloitte. (2024). Women @ Work 2024: A global outlook.
Deloitte. (2025). Women @ Work 2025.
Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., & Sanders, L. (2012). The challenge of defining wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(3), 222 to 235.
Leventhal, H., Meyer, D., & Nerenz, D. (1980). The common sense representation of illness danger.
McKinsey Health Institute. (2024). Closing the women's health gap.
About Saela
Saela is building a predictive biological model for women: translating daily biological signals into personal clarity, pattern recognition, and actionable support.
Saela interprets a woman's biology, lifestyle, and lived experience to explain why she feels the way she does and what to do about it. Built on privacy-first architecture that separates personal health data from identity.
For inquiries about this report, methodology, or collaboration: maggielusk@saelasync.com