Jennifer Jefferies: Resilience with grit, heart and a surfboard

If you want a living example of turning hard knocks into rocket fuel, meet Jennifer Jefferies. Discharged from the Australian Army at 19 for her sexual orientation, she made a decision that still shapes her today. Never be silenced. She built a career that blends science, soul and a no-nonsense style that cuts through the fluff. Three decades on she is a naturopath, speaker, author, TEDx voice, humanitarian, surfer and unapologetic champion for women who refuse to shrink.

From burnout to blueprint

Jennifer hit burnout in her twenties while working in pharmacy. A naturopath helped her rebuild, so she became one. She specialised in stress and adrenal health long before “burnout” hit the buzzword list. Her message is disarmingly simple. Prevention beats recovery. Your body can adapt for a while, then it stops, so build foundations now. She has delivered this message to boardrooms and community halls, always with straight talk and practical steps people actually use.

Midlife is not a decline, it is an upgrade

As her career evolved, so did her calling. Jennifer works closely with midlife and older women who sit in that awkward space where life is “fine” yet not fulfilling. Hormones shift. Roles change. The old rules stop making sense. She helps women reclaim energy, purpose and voice. Not by chasing trends, by returning to grounded habits that hold under pressure.

Her philosophy lands in four words. Bare arse minimum. Busy women still want to be healthy, so start with the basics that move the needle. Sleep that restores. Food that stabilises. Movement that strengthens. Boundaries that protect bandwidth. Then stack from there.

Grounded habits that actually stick

Jennifer is the antidote to performative wellness. She designs and uses her own aromatherapy blends for focus and calm. Think vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli. She oils the soles of her feet because skin is waterproof, not oil proof, and she wants the plant medicine where it can absorb fast.

She gets outside often. Gardening, sea swims, time in the sun. Not because it looks good on Instagram, because nature changes your nervous system. Negative ions in the ocean and the garden help counter the positive charge of stress. She also plays her ukulele, walks barefoot and practises walking meditation, which is brilliant for those who cannot sit still.

Pro tip from Jen. If anxiety spikes, wriggle your toes, put a hand on your heart and breathe. Get out of your head, back into your body, then take the next small step.

Intuition with discipline

Jennifer trusts the squirm before a breakthrough. When things feel chaotic, she gets curious. What is this nudging me to see? She opens every door, looks inside, then decides. Courage before confidence. Action before certainty. The more you listen to your intuition, the clearer it gets. The more you push, the more you repel what you want. She learned to shift from doing to being so the right work could land.

Corporate edge with human heart

Jennifer has spent 25 years translating “hippie” wisdom into results executives respect. Early on she wore suits to get a hearing. Now she is 64 and fully herself. Her latest book is called Fuck the Stress which tells you everything about the way she speaks truth to power. She is moving deeper into women’s leadership because bias is still real, and the room still too often talks over women. She wants women to be heard, healthy and unapologetically effective.

The client who changed the practitioner

One of Jennifer’s favourite stories is about an 82-year-old client who looked healthy on paper yet was shrinking under emotional stress. Family treated her like she was fragile, so she stopped using her voice. Jennifer moved slowly with her through kinesiology and practical change. The woman’s posture shifted first. Shoulders back. Head up. Same tiny frame, new power. That client taught Jennifer to pace transformation with compassion. Meet people where they are, then help them rise.

Service that outlives the workday

Impact is not just keynote applause or book sales. Jennifer founded the Q Foundation to support disadvantaged kids in Thailand with shelter, education and healthcare. She calls it a responsibility to widen the circle. The work travels with her, from the stage to the surf to the people who need it most.

What Jennifer wants every woman to know

Everything is possible. Thoughts shape feelings which drive actions which create results. Keep an open mind so possibility can get a word in. Find mentors who challenge you. Pay for support if you need to. Surround yourself with people who lift you, not just people who clap. You do not need to ask permission to want more. You need courage for the first step, confidence arrives after.

Start here: Jennifer’s BAM ebook for midlife women

If you are standing in the “what now” stage, Jennifer’s free “five things” ebook gives you the bare arse minimum to stabilise energy fast. It is boringly practical by design. Do the foundations first so you stop yo-yoing with internet band-aids. Then build momentum your future self will thank you for.

Work with Jennifer

Book Jennifer Jefferies to speak on stress, resilience and women’s leadership. Bring her into your organisation to help your teams shift from survival to sustainable performance. Engage her for private coaching if you want straight talk, tailored strategy and accountability that sticks. Download the ebook. Walk barefoot on the grass. Wriggle your toes. Open the next door.

Life is not asking you to be smaller. It is asking you to be present, grounded and brave. Jennifer Jefferies will meet you there.