YOUR VOICE MATTERS FOR MENOPAUSE AWARENESS MONTH
At Happy Place, we’re so proud of the amazing community that we have built over the years- did you know that we launched the Happy Place podcast nearly 7 and a half years ago?!
Since then, we’ve been on quite the journey together and one thing that we LOVE, is how ready you all are to offer tips, tricks, advice and support. A topic which we are no stranger to of course, is the menopause and all the challenges that come with it.
The menopause has been discussed many times on the Happy Place podcast, at the festivals and with some of our wonderful brand partners and what is clear from all those conversations, is that everyone’s journey is different. So, we thought, in honour of menopause awareness month, we want to tap into this community of ours and ask you to share one piece of advice that may help someone through their menopause journey.
For every piece of advice shared, an entry was added into a giveaway to win ‘The Full She-bang’, skin saving superhero set from our incredible Market brand, Made of More. To shop their full range, visit them on the Happy Place Market here.
The advice that was shared was too good not to have permanently displayed on the Happy Place Website and we hope that this can be shared far and wide and revisited as many times as you might need.
MY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE IS…
‘Remember to be kind to yourself. This is such a challenging period of time that you are navigating, some days are so hard you wonder if you will ever feel like ‘you’ ever again… but you will (she’s just waiting for you to find her again!)’
‘Start tracking early!! I used to think menopause was something you would start to consider in your 50s, so I was amazed to discover changes to my hormone patterns in my late 30s and now early 40s. Tracking helps me to make sense of these changes.’
‘Never be afraid to ask for help during perimenopause, you will not only help yourself but others who come after us.’
‘Buy a beautiful hand fan that makes you smile when you use it, so you’re more willing to use it when you need it. Additional tip: use a facial spritz (I really like the RAW by Fill, Rose Water Hydrolat that I first bought at Happy Place Gunnersbury Park this year). Use that and then a hand fan and it really speeds up cooling!’
‘I don’t put off going to see a professional if you think you may be in perimenopause. I put it off for a couple of years when I could have just gone to see someone.’
‘Talk about what you are going through with friends, family, colleagues, even start up a menopause group like I did. This way we can feel a little less alone, we have some support, we can normalise what we are going through, and it gives us the knowledge and power to go to our GP armed with the tools to confidently tell them what we want.’
‘Do listen to your body, nurturing and being kind to yourself is not a weakness’
'Keep moving! Through hot flushes, mood dips, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains and whatever else you experience, find a way to move that brings you enjoyment and calm and joy. Walk, swim, yoga, run, cycle and dance… it doesn’t matter what, or how much, just move’
‘Be proud- it’s another phase of your life that has its challenges and that 50% of the planet has experienced and will continue to experience- it proves how amazing you are.’
‘If you have hot flushes, try changing things in your diet e.g. less sugar/biscuits/cake etc. Reduce or stop caffeine especially coffee. Swap from drinking wine to e.g. Gin or Vodka with sparkling water.’
‘Be kinder to yourself.’
‘Keep talking- don’t go through it all alone. If you share how you are feeling, people will understand.’
‘Say what you’re feeling, don’t be scared to speak up.’
‘Talk to your friends through informed awareness and a sense of community; this is the beginning of the wise and fabulous you.’
‘My advice is to take a good quality magnesium supplement in the evening to help with sleep and restless legs. I’ve found it really does help!’
‘Find space for you.’
‘Prioritise self-care. My ‘pillars’ of good diet, movement, sleep hygiene, hydration and meditation definitely keep me balanced.’
‘Give HRT a try, so many of my friends and colleagues use it too, I don’t feel so alone!’
‘Be kind to yourself, honour the old version of you, whilst you allow the new you to flow in and get to know her. Remember it normal that you are changing, embrace it rather than trying to stay the same.’
‘Create a group chat with ladies / friends going through the perimenopause/ menopause. I have one it’s been the most valuable & comforting community of course hilarious too!!’
‘Balance movement with stillness. My daily routine is now 6-10,000 steps in the day and reading a good book at night. I know I need to move my body now I'm in my forties but I'm not one for the gym, so I get my steps in at work instead. Walking is a great stress-buster.
The phone goes away at 9:30pm every night and the book comes out, to help switch off from the 50+ things in my head (most of which I forget due to brain fog anyway, so they can't be that important).’
SHOP PRODUCTS FOR THE MENOPAUSE ON THE HAPPY PLACE MARKET
The Happy Place market stocks some wonderful brands that have designed products specifically for those who are on the (peri)menopause journey, that have quite often been crafted based on lived experience and endless research into planet friendly options to help you on your journey.
Checkout some of our favourites below.
Made Of More- A clinically backed skincare brand which is formulated to steady the ride when fluctuating hormones are sending your skin into chaos. Shop the range here.
Dr Seaweed- The trusted source of seaweed-based wellness who specialise in making seaweed simple, accessible and effective- empowering people to feel their best naturally. Check out their menopause+ product here.
Dr Vegan- Lead by science, formulated by specialists and expert nutritionists, Dr Vegan provide you with scientifically studied nutrients to meet your health goals. Check out their award-winning formula, MenoFriend here.
MPOWDER- Small batch blends born out of a passion for the brilliance of female biochemistry and the potential of botanicals to support our bodies and minds during life’s biggest transitions. Shop the range here.