Navigating Perimenopause as a business founder and what I wish I’d known

By Lydia Hoye , founder of Creative PR agency Bound to Prosper

Two years ago, I had no idea what perimenopause was. I’d heard about the menopause, but that was years away. I wasn’t grey, my youngest had just started school, I didn’t need to think about that yet. Two years ago, I set out as a new, eager entrepreneur – I bagged up all my expertise from 20 years in comms and fresh from running a medium sized agency for 12 years, I embarked on setting up my own agency. Two years ago, I was also starting? perimenopause, but I didn’t know it.

The signs were there but I was clueless

Looking back now I had the signs of being in peri. My memory was patchy, I’d be mid-presentation and I’d forget my words and my mental health was suffering as I experienced bouts of anxiety from one day to the next. My superpower was always being ‘sharp’ but I felt dull, and I was plagued by headaches, no energy and poor sleep.? I had no idea what was happening to me and so I put it down to simply not being able to cope as well as I thought I would with building a business from scratch.?

It all makes sense

The lightbulb moment came when I received a client brief which focused on perimenopause. I started to piece it all together. Then I found out from a blood test that I had raised cholesterol and triglycerides levels due to reducing oestrogen levels. The changes in hormone levels of perimenopause were having a direct impact on my cardiovascular health - a shock to someone like me who has always eaten well and considered myself healthy. Again, I’d had a sign, the occasional heart palpitations but I’d put it down to stress – now it made sense.

I needed to take action, I’ve never been someone who relied on medical prescriptions so I’ve gone down a more natural route to help my cardio vascular health:

1. Supplementing. After speaking with a nutritionist, I found out that Omega 3 fatty acid plays a role in oestrogen and progesterone. I’m vegetarian so I’ve started taking plant algae derived omega - I’m cutting out the ‘middleman’ (the fish) so to speak and going directly to the source of their Omega, the algae! In addition, I’ve started supplementing with magnesium to calm my body and I’ve started taking a perimenopause supplement that includes saffron, which helps with HRV (heart rate viability) which is associated with a healthy cardiovascular system.?????
2. When I knew I was in perimenopause I started doing weights to improve my bone density - it’s probably the most common advice found on the internet. But in doing so I’d neglecting cardio exercise which meant I wasn't increasing my heart’s capacity. I’ve now added cardio to my weekly schedule to get my heart rate going.
3. As cardiovascular health is linked to diabetes, I’ve also been watching what I eat. Trying to eat as much fruit, veg and non processed foods as possible which means foregoing my addiction to Popchips!??
4. Supporting my stress levels with mindfulness and relaxation moments. If you are anything like me, you’ll be well aware that moments of stillness and mindfulness are essential, but you rarely get round to doing them. I now do yoga nidra, a type of meditation I do at bedtime to help me wind down and relax.

A silver lining?

We hear so many doom and gloom stories in the press about perimenopause and menopause but as an optimist I’m driven to look at the positive impact perimenopause has had on me in the past 2 years.?

It’s made me understand my hormones and other people’s hormones so I can objectively talk about how these things in our bodies might impact the way we are feeling at any given moment in time. So, whether a member of the team is talking to me about their own hormonal headaches or anxiety I can actively listen with empathy.??

It’s also made me slow down. I now review things in a more considered way. And perhaps most importantly it’s taught me not to sweat the small stuff.??

Tangibly, for my business, being at this perimenopause life stage has meant I have set up robust period policies to support our all women team so they can be as open about whichever stage their lives are at and feel heard.?

And finally, it’s also led me to become part of the Bloom community and in particularly the MPower committee, which has helped me to feel supported, inspired and heard.