Are We Overcomplicating Perimenopause?

Have you ever found yourself thinking…

I feel so overwhelmed.

I wish I had more time.

How am I supposed to get everything done?

I'm already exhausted. When am I supposed to fit all of this in?

And then there's the ever-growing list of things we're told we should be doing for our health during perimenopause:

Walk more.

Strength train.

Eat more protein.

Eat more fiber.

Drink more water.

Get enough sleep.

Manage your stress.

Practice mindfulness.

Take care of your mental health.

Prioritize your relationships.

Take time for yourself.

And don't forget to work on your pelvic floor!

Whew.

Anyone else need a nap just reading that list? 😂

Maybe We're Making This Harder Than It Needs to Be

Here's the thing.

None of those things are necessarily bad ideas.

Movement matters.

Nutrition matters.

Sleep matters.

Stress management matters.

Connection matters.

Taking care of yourself matters.

But somewhere along the way, taking care of ourselves can start to feel like another job.

And if your wellness routine requires a spreadsheet, three hours of meal prep, six different apps, and a color-coded calendar…

Maybe it's time to pause and ask:

Are we overcomplicating things?

Perimenopause Is a Good Time to Reevaluate

One of the things I find fascinating about perimenopause is that it often makes us realize that what worked before doesn't necessarily work forever.

Maybe you used to be able to push through a busy week with very little sleep.

Maybe you could skip meals and barely notice.

Maybe you had the energy to work, take care of your family, exercise, maintain your home, volunteer, socialize, and somehow still have energy left over.

And now?

Your body might be saying:

“Yeah…we're not doing all that anymore.”

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Perimenopause can be an opportunity to stop and ask:

What do I actually need in this next chapter of my life?

Not what worked when you were 25.

Not what your friend is doing.

Not what an influencer on Instagram says you must do.

What is sustainable for you now?

Maybe Your Body Is Asking You to Simplify

Sometimes we assume that when something isn't working, we need to try harder.

More exercise.

More restriction.

More supplements.

More tracking.

More routines.

More discipline.

But what if the answer isn't more?

What if your body is asking for less—but better?

Less rushing.

Less pressure.

Less multitasking.

Less perfectionism.

Less saying yes when you really mean no.

Less trying to do everything yourself.

Time for a Little Personal Check-In

This month, I want to encourage you to do something that doesn't require a new app, a new planner, or a new 30-day challenge.

Pause and take inventory.

Ask yourself:

Where am I trying too hard?

Is there something you're forcing because you think you should be able to do it?

What am I overcomplicating?

Is there a simpler way to accomplish the same thing?

What am I taking on that doesn't actually belong to me?

Are you automatically volunteering, fixing, organizing, or managing everything?

Where am I spending my time and energy?

Are those things actually important to you?

What isn't sustainable anymore?

Maybe something worked beautifully for you five years ago.

That doesn't mean you have to keep doing it if it no longer fits your life or your body.

And perhaps the most important question:

What could I make easier?

This Isn't About Giving Everything Up

I want to be really clear about something.

Simplifying doesn't mean giving up on your health.

It doesn't mean deciding, “Well, I can't do everything, so I'm not going to do anything.”

It's about finding the something that works for you.

Maybe you don't have an hour for exercise.

Could you take a 20-minute walk?

Maybe meal prepping an entire week's worth of meals makes you crazy.

Could you prep a few ingredients instead?

Maybe you can't meditate for 30 minutes every morning.

Could you take five intentional breaths before you start your day?

Maybe you can't get eight hours of sleep every night.

Could you start protecting the hour before bed?

This is where all or something comes in.

You don't have to do everything perfectly to support yourself.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

I think we're often taught that taking care of ourselves means adding things to our lives.

Another habit.

Another workout.

Another goal.

Another health recommendation.

But sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is step back and reevaluate.

What is actually helping?

What isn't?

What matters most?

What can be simplified?

What can be delegated?

What can be let go?

Because your time and energy are valuable resources.

And you don't have an unlimited supply of either one.

💋 Let's KISS Our Way Through October

This idea of simplifying is actually what inspired our theme inside The Pause Party this month:

KISS — Keep It Simple, Sister!

We're heading into a season that can get busy really quickly, so instead of adding more to our plates, we're going to look at what we can simplify.

Throughout October, we'll be taking a closer look at four areas of our lives:

🕐 Time & Energy — Where is your time and energy actually going? We'll start with an audit and a little reflection before deciding what, if anything, needs to change.

🍽️ Nutrition — How can we make nourishing ourselves easier and more realistic, especially when life gets busy?

🌿 Wellness — What actually supports you? And how can you create a wellness routine that works with your life instead of becoming another thing on your to-do list?

💛 Expectations & Mental Load — What are you carrying that you don't necessarily need to carry? We'll look at perfectionism, people-pleasing, the “shoulds,” and the expectations that can make life feel heavier than it needs to.

The goal isn't to give everything up.

It's not about doing less because you don't care.

It's about working smarter, not necessarily harder.

And throughout the month, we'll keep coming back to one simple question: