Menopause Wellbeing Stamford

31/08/2026

22/08/2026

💙 Why can anxiety increase during menopause?

Many women notice changes in how they feel during perimenopause and menopause. You might find yourself feeling more anxious than usual, worrying about things that never used to bother you or feeling on edge for no obvious reason.

These feelings can be unsettling, particularly if you've never experienced anxiety before.

Changes in hormone levels can influence the body's stress response. Poor sleep, hot flushes and the pressures of everyday life can also contribute to feelings of anxiety.

Understanding what's happening won't make anxiety disappear overnight, but it can help you make sense of these changes and identify practical strategies to manage anxiety and support your overall wellbeing.

That's exactly why I wrote my Navigate Anxiety in Menopause bite-size guide.

It explains why anxiety can become more common during menopause, explores practical lifestyle strategies that may help support emotional wellbeing and includes a worksheet to help you build your own personalised plan.

To celebrate the launch of my new Etsy shop, I'm offering 50% off all my digital menopause guides until 31st August to you, my Facebook followers, and your friends.

That means each guide is just £1.90 (usually £3.80).

🛍️ Shop here: https://kkmenopausewellbeing.etsy.com?coupon=50OFF

Each guide has been written and fact-checked by me and is designed to be informative, practical and easy to dip into whenever you need it.

I've deliberately prioritised content over decoration, so apart from the cover there are no filler graphics or images – just clear, straightforward information that I hope you'll find genuinely useful.

Every guide follows the same simple format:

📖 Cover page
📚 A full page explaining the topic – helping you understand what's happening and why.
💡 Three full pages of practical information, ideas and evidence-based guidance to help you navigate that particular aspect of perimenopause or menopause.
📝 A worksheet or tracker page where you can reflect on your own symptoms, habits or experiences.

You can read them on your phone, tablet or computer, print the whole guide, or just the worksheet/tracker page. You can also complete the worksheet digitally using a note-taking app.

21/08/2026

The strategic nap 😴

If you're in perimenopause or menopause and your nights aren't what they used to be, you may know that particular feeling.

You get to the afternoon and suddenly your brain seems to have gone on strike.

You're tired, you're struggling to concentrate and the simplest task feels like it's requiring far more effort than it should.

A nap might be exactly what your brain needs.

And I'm not talking about disappearing under the duvet for two hours at 2pm and then wondering why you're wide awake at midnight.

I'm talking about a strategic nap.

Research into daytime napping suggests that a short nap can improve alertness, attention and aspects of cognitive performance. It can also help with memory consolidation – giving your brain a chance to process and store what you've taken in during the day.

That could be particularly welcome when you're dealing with the brain fog that can accompany perimenopause and menopause.

The trick, though, is getting the timing and length right.

For most people, 15–20 minutes is the sweet spot. It's long enough to give you a mental reset without dropping too deeply into sleep, which means you're less likely to wake feeling groggy.

And if you have the luxury of more time, there's another option: around 90 minutes, which gives you the opportunity to complete a full sleep cycle.

But I wouldn't suggest making a habit of long daytime sleeps if they're interfering with your night-time sleep. The whole point of the strategic nap is to support your sleep and energy rather than make the night even more difficult.

And when should you do it?

For most people, early to mid-afternoon is the best time, when there's a natural dip in alertness. A nap much later in the afternoon is more likely to interfere with your sleep that night.

Of course, I realise that "just have a 20-minute nap" isn't exactly practical advice when you're at work, looking after children, caring for someone else or simply have a list of things to do as long as your arm.

And that's where weekends might come in.

If your week has left you exhausted, allowing yourself 20 minutes to lie down on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon isn't laziness. It's rest.

One thing I would say, though: don't use naps to paper over persistent sleep problems.

If you're regularly exhausted during the day because you're barely sleeping at night, that's something worth addressing rather than simply trying to catch up with naps.

But for the occasional afternoon slump?

A short, well-timed nap might be just what you need.

I'm very happy to put "strategic nap" on the list of legitimate menopause wellbeing strategies. 😴💜

💬Are you a good napper, or does a daytime snooze leave you feeling worse?

19/08/2026

A menopause appointment is a little different from seeing your GP about a single, specific symptom.

You may be experiencing changes in your sleep, mood, periods, concentration, anxiety, energy or something physical – sometimes several of them at once.

And trying to explain all of that in a short appointment can be challenging.

So a little preparation can make a big difference.

Before you go, spend a few minutes thinking about what you actually want from the appointment.

Are you trying to understand whether your symptoms could be related to perimenopause? Do you want to discuss treatment options? Are you concerned about a particular symptom? Or do you simply want someone to listen and help you work out what to do next?

Write it down.

And don't just make a list of symptoms. Think about how they are affecting your life.

"I can't concentrate at work."

"I'm waking several times a night and I'm exhausted."

"I'm finding my anxiety much harder to manage."

"These symptoms are affecting my relationship."

That gives your GP a much clearer picture than simply saying you're experiencing brain fog, anxiety or poor sleep.

It's also worth taking a note of any medication you're taking, your relevant medical history and, if you know it, what's been happening with your periods.

If you have time, looking at the relevant NHS and NICE information beforehand can help you understand the options and think about what you'd like to ask.

And don't be afraid to ask questions during the appointment.

"What else could be causing these symptoms?"

"What are my options?"

"What would you recommend and why?"

"What happens if this doesn't help?"

If you don't understand something, ask your GP to explain it.

And if you feel your concerns are being dismissed, you can say so calmly:

"I don't feel we're getting to the bottom of how much this is affecting my everyday life. Can we talk about what we can do next?"

Remember, one appointment doesn't have to solve everything.

You may need to go back, try something and review how you're getting on, or see another GP. Women's healthcare is sometimes a process rather than a single conversation.

Most importantly, don't convince yourself that you're being a nuisance by asking for help.

You know what has changed in your body and your life.

You deserve to be part of the conversation about what happens next. 💜

17/08/2026

Can menopause make you feel sick? 🤢

It's not one of the symptoms we hear much about when we talk about menopause.

But some women do experience it, particularly during perimenopause, and it can be surprisingly unsettling when you can't work out why you're feeling nauseous.

Hormonal fluctuations are the most likely explanation.

During perimenopause, oestrogen and progesterone don't simply decline in a nice, steady line. They can rise and fall unpredictably. Those changes can affect the gastrointestinal system and the way the brain communicates with the gut.

And there's another connection here. Oestrogen and progesterone receptors are found throughout the digestive system, and changes in these hormones can influence gut motility – essentially, how quickly food moves through your digestive tract.

That can mean nausea for some women, along with bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or changes in appetite.

There's also the rather unhelpful relationship between menopause, stress and nausea.

If you're anxious, overwhelmed or not sleeping well, your digestive system can certainly know about it. The gut and brain are in constant communication, so what is happening emotionally can affect what is happening physically – and vice versa.

Nausea may also appear alongside a migraine. Hormonal fluctuations are a well-established trigger for migraine in some people, and nausea can be part of a migraine even when the headache isn't particularly obvious.

Then there are the everyday things that can make it more noticeable.

Going too long without eating.

Dehydration.

Too much caffeine.

Poor sleep.

None of these necessarily causes menopause nausea, but they can add another layer when your body is already dealing with hormonal change.

So if you've suddenly started experiencing nausea during perimenopause, you're not imagining the possibility of a connection.

But – and this is important – don't automatically assume every bout of nausea is menopause.

Persistent or unexplained nausea can have many causes. If it's new, ongoing, severe or accompanied by other worrying symptoms, it's worth getting it checked rather than simply putting it down to hormones.

And if you're wondering what you can do about feeling sick, start with the boring things: eat regularly, drink enough water, notice whether particular foods or drinks seem to trigger it and pay attention to the relationship between your nausea, sleep and stress.

Menopause has a remarkable ability to produce symptoms that make you think, "Surely that can't be hormones?"

Sometimes, it can.

Nausea is one of them. 💜

15/08/2026

🌿 Why does self-care matter during menopause?

Self-care is a phrase we hear a lot, but during perimenopause and menopause it can mean much more than occasional treats or taking time out.

Changes in hormone levels can affect both physical and emotional wellbeing. Looking after yourself through everyday habits can help support your energy levels, mood, sleep and overall health.

Self-care doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive. Often, it's about making small, realistic choices that fit into everyday life and recognising that your needs may have changed.

Understanding what self-care means for you can help you build habits that support your wellbeing over the long term.

That's exactly why I wrote my Everyday Self-Care in Menopause bite-size guide.

It explores why self-care matters during menopause, looks at different aspects of self-care, includes practical ideas you can incorporate into daily life and finishes with a worksheet to help you reflect on your own wellbeing.

To celebrate the launch of my new Etsy shop, I'm offering 50% off all my digital menopause guides until 31st August to you, my Facebook followers, and your friends.

That means each guide is just £1.90 (usually £3.80).

🛍️ Shop here: https://kkmenopausewellbeing.etsy.com?coupon=50OFF

Each guide has been written and fact-checked by me and is designed to be informative, practical and easy to dip into whenever you need it.

I've deliberately prioritised content over decoration, so apart from the cover there are no filler graphics or images – just clear, straightforward information that I hope you'll find genuinely useful.

Every guide follows the same simple format:

📖 Cover page
📚 A full page explaining the topic – helping you understand what's happening and why.
💡 Three full pages of practical information, ideas and evidence-based guidance to help you navigate that particular aspect of perimenopause or menopause.
📝 A worksheet or tracker page where you can reflect on your own symptoms, habits or experiences.

You can read them on your phone, tablet or computer, print the whole guide, or just the worksheet/tracker page. You can also complete the worksheet digitally using a note-taking app.

15/08/2026

Why every menopausal woman should practise standing on one leg. ⚖️

Go on… give it a try.

Stand on one leg for as long as you can.

It sounds almost too simple to be useful, doesn't it?

But this little test can tell us something quite important about our balance, strength and how well our body is working together.

Balance is one of those things we rarely think about until it starts to change.

We take it for granted when we're younger. We walk on uneven ground, climb stairs, get up from the floor and move around without giving our body a second thought.

But balance is a skill. And like many skills, it can be improved with practice.

As we move through menopause and beyond, looking after our balance becomes increasingly important. Changes in muscle mass, strength and bone health mean that maintaining stability and confidence in our movement matters.

The good news is that you don't need complicated equipment or hours of exercise to start working on it.

Standing on one leg challenges your muscles, your brain and your body's ability to make tiny adjustments to keep you upright.

Your legs and core are working.

Your brain is processing information from your eyes and inner ear.

Your body is constantly making small corrections to help you stay steady.

It’s a surprisingly clever process.

Try it while you're brushing your teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil. Stand near a surface you can use for support if needed, lift one foot slightly off the floor and see how long you can comfortably hold it.

And don't worry if you wobble.

That’s actually the point.

Your body learns by being challenged.

Balance is just one piece of the bigger picture of looking after ourselves through menopause. Strength, movement, nourishing food, sleep and staying connected all contribute to how we feel now and how we age well.

But sometimes the most valuable habits are the simple ones we can weave into everyday life.

So… how long can you stand on one leg?

You may notice one side feels more stable than the other. That's completely normal - our bodies are rarely perfectly symmetrical, and differences in strength, coordination and balance between sides are common. ⚖️