The Menopause Reality Check
Have you ever thought "I used to be sharper, more confident, more in control at work"? and now you’re not quite sure where that version of you has gone? You’re not imagining it, and no, it’s not just part of “getting older.”
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and wondering why everything suddenly feels harder, menopause could be playing a bigger role in your finances than you realise. You're not alone, and it's not just in your head.
All women at some point will go through the menopause transition. This 'hormonal shit show' transition has various stages and impacts how we perform—not just at work, but in all our relationships and daily life.
Menopause isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. Some women sail through what we call perimenopause—that hormonal rollercoaster when symptoms are typically at their worst. Once things calm down, we then enter postmenopause, which continues until the end of our lives.
The amount of disruption you'll encounter is entirely unique to you. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to prevent it—it's simply part of being female.
How Menopause Affects Your Work Performance
We focus a lot on periods stopping, but that's just one aspect. They don't simply disappear overnight—they might become heavier, more painful, or sporadic before finally ceasing.
Then let us not forget there's a myriad of other symptoms: there's brain fog, increased anxiety, mood swings, and plummeting self-confidence to name but a few. All these symptoms vary from woman to woman.
In the workplace, these changes can be devastating. You might find yourself:
Avoiding new opportunities because you're unsure if you can handle added pressure
Making mistakes you wouldn't normally make
Forgetting processes you've followed flawlessly for decades
Feeling so fatigued that simply showing up to work feels like a massive achievement
The Financial Ripple Effect
These workplace struggles create a domino effect on your finances that many women don't anticipate.
Most pensions are based on your final years' contributions. If you step back from work, reduce your hours, or miss out on promotions during what should be your peak earning years, your pension will inevitably be affected.
Let's not forget that women typically shoulder the majority of caring responsibilities within families. This can further reduce time available for work, creating a double financial burden precisely when our hormones are making work more challenging.
The modern world adds another complication—tolerance levels have decreased. When things aren't working out, people tend to walk away from relationships. This has created a growing demographic of women in their fifties suddenly finding themselves on their own, facing a financial future they hadn't planned for.
Taking Back Control of Your Financial Future
First things first: acknowledge that you're in this menopausal transition. None of it is your fault. You can't predict how severe it will be, how long it will last, or how much it will affect your daily functioning.
The Power of Awareness
Make those you work with aware of what you're experiencing. Awareness is incredibly powerful—explaining how you're feeling and how your behaviour might change gives you back your power. You may find that there are others within your workplace experiencing similar but are unsure how to address it. Acknowledging and externalising prevents menopause from controlling your professional life.
Honour Your Energy
Look at ways to conserve your energy. Your wisdom and experience are still valuable assets—you've simply got to find ways to utilise them that work with your changing body, not against it.
Remember, it's perfectly acceptable to put yourself first sometimes. Anyone who's done first aid training knows the first person you care for in an emergency is yourself—because if you're incapacitated, how can you help anyone else?
Reimagine Your Working Life
This might mean changing how you work or reconsidering your entire working environment. Yes, we want more money, but we may have less energy because of this hormonal transition.
The challenge becomes finding ways to increase our finances without exhausting ourselves. We need sustainable solutions that work with our changing bodies and circumstances.
Finding Your Path Forward
If any of this resonates with you—if you're nodding along thinking "this is exactly what I'm experiencing"—then perhaps it's time to make a shift.
We're fortunate to live in an era with countless opportunities. The key is finding one what fits your specific situation, skills, and energy levels.
You can begin exploring alternatives alongside your current job until your new venture generates enough income to take over. This approach allows you to transition gradually without financial panic, while also benefiting from a supportive community of women facing similar challenges.
Taking the Next Step
Don't let menopause derail your financial future. With the right strategies and support, you can find ways to thrive professionally during this transition—creating income streams that work with your changing energy levels rather than against them.
You've spent decades building your skills and wisdom. Now it's time to package and utilise them in ways that serve both your financial needs and your wellbeing.
Ready to explore how you can transform your relationship with work during menopause? Let's chat. Reach out today to discuss strategies that you can implement easily without compromising who you are.
Continuation of Your Menopause Success Journey:
So there you have it—hot flashes, cold cash, and everything in between. If you want to dive deeper into these topics, join me in my Facebook group Menopause Midlife and all the ****. We’re a supportive community of women going through the same thing, and we’re here to help each other through it. The menopause journey is a continuum. From perimenopause and on through into postmenopause, having people who understand and support you is essential. It's not the end of your life's journey; it's a phase, and having the right community can make all the difference.
I make it my mission to support women with their transition along the menopause journey and to signpost to the best financial opportunities for their circumstances. To talk further please use this link to book a call and discuss further support.
If you would like to join a supportive community, please drop me a line here. I love hearing from midlife women going through the menopausal transition.
Pssst, you can also check out my Menopause Midlife and all the ****. It includes a community of women at the same life stage as you.
Click here to take a look at our membership to make every day just that little bit easier.
Are you experiencing financial challenges related to menopause? Drop a message below to learn about our supportive membership community and discover strategies to transform your available time into financial gain while maintaining your lifestyle and wellbeing.
