We so often fall into the trap of waiting to feel motivated to get started. Waiting for motivation to start something is tough. Research and anecdotal evidence has shown that motivation typically follows action. 

If you’re following the (peri)menopause content, you’re hearing about the importance of nutrition and exercise, mindfulness, prioritizing sleep, social connections, and the ever ambiguous “self-care.” If you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and exhausted (as so many of us are), it can feel impossible to put one more thing on your plate. 

Eating nutrient rich foods and moving your body isn’t about trying to look younger or live up to unrealistic beauty standards. It’s about caring for your body and mind and aging with as much health, brain functioning, and strength as you can. 

There is thankfully a growing body of content out there about the physical changes associated with perimenopause and menopause and it’s great that doctors and women are talking about this. And It’s also important to talk about mental health during this transition. I’ve done a lot of reading and research in this area and have been working with women in the menopause transition and it’s time to highlight mental health from perimenopause through postmenopause.

I am in perimenopause and have been educating myself about it. The more I learn about it the more I find myself working with it clinically and educating women about the (MANY!) symptoms that can be attributed to perimenopause (seriously, itchy ears?!). And then (because I’m also human) I find myself struggling with the very things that I talk with women about every day.

There is a surge in popularity of memes about not giving a f@ck, and groups and podcasts such as “We do not care” and “Gen X women are sick of this shit.” I enjoy these groups and the lighthearted banter of women feeling more free and caring less about what other people think as they age. I also hear this a lot in therapy and among my friends. It can be one of the upsides that occur around the time of moving into menopause.