Are you setting up and running your business while experiencing the peri-menopause or menopause? Menopause has become big business now with celebrities talking endlessly about their menopause but still there is a divide between the way men and women are viewed. Men in their fifties are considered to be silver foxes – experienced, wise, heavyweight operators.
By contrast, women in their fifties are, unfairly, all too often treated as over-emotional, past-it, flakey, at the mercy of their hormones. The menopause and out dated society norms have given us women a bad press. But it’s not just us that suffer, society does too. According to The Telegraph The cost to the UK economy of not supporting female entrepreneurs has been calculated as £250 billion.
The Menopause statistics
Do you know that the average age for a woman in the western world to experience the menopause is 51? And that 1 in 4 women currently going through the menopause has considered leaving their job because of their experiences. The changes that happen to our bodies during this time are perfectly normal and yet in my 30-year corporate HR career and I can honestly say it was only mentioned openly twice that I can remember! How shocking is that?
When I reflect back on when my mother was in her 40s and 50s the menopause was rarely discussed, or maybe it was that the term was rarely used! I do remember her discussing ‘The Change of Life’ and wondering what on earth that might be. By her early 50’s she had retired and I wish that I could ask her how much her menopause played in her decision to remove herself from the workforce at such an early age.
Power Surges & Tropical Moments
When I was experiencing my menopause my friends and I would talk openly about our symptoms and use amusing terms such as ‘power surges’ or tropical moments’ are to lighten the mood when discussing hot flushes. But don’t be fooled by this, into thinking that it is something to be taken lightly because it is not, for many women it is a nightmare that lasts for between 4 and 8 years! The symptoms are not just hot flushes but also can be muscle and joint pain, night sweats, weight gain, anxiety and depression. It is great that we talk about postnatal depression and now we need to start talking about menopausal depression.
Still, in society, there are still some negative connotations. DJ Chris Evans actually discussed some research that was questioning why postmenopausal women were still alive as Biologically our reason for existing has passed! Now I know that we are one of the few mammals that survive beyond our reproductive years and that this is an interesting subject for some research but is it helpful to those women who are currently suffering from low self-esteem and irritability due to their menopausal symptoms to hear this with their morning cuppa?
There is no doubt that there is a mixture of emotions associated with this change in our biology. Some women do feel a sense of loss as they move into another phase in their lives and this frequently occurs around the time of a big birthday. For many of us, it is a liberation from a monthly cycle that has dictated our lives for too many years.
I’d love you to be able to embrace the changes going on and to be able to build a beautiful business you love that whilst sticking a finger in the air to anyone who implies that you’re past it.
However this might mean you being brave enough to get support.
Menopause Support for small business owners.
Fortunately, there is more support available now and there is no need to go through it alone.
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Coaching & Menopause Support
Coaching can be beneficial and be available face to face or via Skype. It provides a sounding board and a safe place to explore your feelings about what is happening and make plans for the future.
The time can be used in a number of different ways. It can
- help you decide what you need to do to cope better at home and at work
- help you plan any conversations you need to have about the support that you need, (I know we don’t always like to ask for help!)
- help to reduce your stress levels and build your resilience
- teach you new ways of coping with your symptoms.
- help you come to terms with this new phase in your life
- change your perspective on this transition
- set some positive exciting goals for the future
Three wonderful women I’ve got to know as clients who I’d highly recommend who work in this space are
- Siobhan Elliot. Siobhan is a wonderful coach and self care expert with a bottomless toolkit for helping women to feel fantastically empowered, with the right self care for them.
- Nikki Durnford. If you are a business professional woman and want to minimise your menopause symptoms then I highly recommend Nikki at Green Dene Nutrition .
- Julia Witherspoon. If it’s brain fog and memory loss that’s worrying you then my former client Julia Witherspoon of Julia Nutrition has a wonderful membership The Brain Health Hub which I highly recommend
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Online support
The NHS has a number of resources available on their website which are aimed at supporting women experiencing the menopause. Plus the British Menopause Society has a toolkit available on their website and a list of menopause specialists.
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Medical support
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be very helpful for some women. If you need to go down the medical route then start with your GP, if you want a medically qualified expert then look at Dr Louise Newson www.menopausedoctor.co.uk
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Support for companies.
Menopause in The Workplace provides consultancy support to companies who appreciate the contribution provided by the midlife women in their organisation and want to ensure that they do not lose out on this talented population and that the individuals remain in their jobs. You can find out more here: www.menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk
Plus my lovely client Nikki Durnford from Green Dene Nutrition runs some fabulous workshops for business that
Top tips if you are peri-menopausal or menopausal
- Try to take some exercise daily, I know you probably don’t feel like it. Exercise releases endorphins that will help you feel better.
- Increase your water intake. It is easy to become dehydrated and if you are dehydrated you will be less able to think clearly and might feel more muddled.
- Examine your diet. What you eat and drink can make a huge difference to your hormone levels and to the symptoms you experience.
- Learn to say ‘No’ to demands that are beyond what you can give.
- Relax and try to make your life simpler during this time.
- Get help. You do not need to go through this alone. Start by chatting with your friends and family about what you are experiencing. Seek out support online and if it is right for you to make an appointment with your doctor to see what help is available.
If you are a midlife woman and are building your business during your menopause then hats off to you. However, I want you to know that you can do this, even if it feels more difficult due to your menopause. Nearly all my clients are either experiencing peri-menopause or are menopausal so I have extensive experience of providing business support tailored to this time of life.
Book a call to find out more.
Suzanne