Managing menopause at work
Understanding menopause at work and how to handle symptoms
Although menopause is a natural part of hormonal transition as a woman, is can be a hugely stressful time that impacts all aspects of your life. This includes life in the workplace. From hot flushes to the impacts of lack of sleep, handling menopause at work is an added challenge for menopausal women. Many women are discovering the menopause struggling at work connection, and realising how menopause is impacting their work attendance and performance.
Fortunately, an increasing number of workplaces are including menopause at work in their health and wellbeing policies. With over 4.3 million employed women in the UK aged 45-60, these policies are essential for female employees.
These conversations around topics that have long been taboo like mental health and menopause are gradually becoming normalised, with policies being put in place to protect and support employees. Women should be comfortable discussing menopause at work and not feel embarrassed if their struggling at work due to symptoms.
However, many women are reluctant to talk about menopause at work. Discussing women's health can traditionally be seen as a weakness, especially for women in senior positions in the workforce. Male and younger managers are amongst the groups that women feel the most uncomfortable with approaching about menopause and struggling at work.
However, there are slight modifications women can make to their environment to facilitate a smoother work day, after consulting any relevant managers to ensure they’re receiving the best possible support while experiencing menopause at work.
Managers can support you if you’re struggling at work with menopause, and many companies offer alternative line access, so you can speak to someone other than your line manager if it makes you more comfortable. These conversations can still be challenging to have, and it’s important to know that you’re not alone.
Be open and honest during your conversation, don’t forget you can always speak to another manager or the HR department about what you're experiencing, whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. Ensure you already have answers in mind for why you’re struggling at work and solutions and modifications you need to help support you.
The menopause struggling at work connection is very common and this might not be the first time your manager is having this conversation! Typically the solutions you need will just be basic modifications to ensure you are no longer struggling at work and you are happier and more productive in the workplace.
Some symptoms may impact you more than others, below are some tips for managing menopause at work and what to do if you’re struggling at work because of your menopause symptoms.
HOT FLUSHES
These can happen suddenly and without warning. Unfortunately these can often occur at work since they can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety. However, there are ways you can reduce these feelings, which may also reduce the hot flushes and you struggling at work with the sudden increase in body temperature.
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Don’t Rush. When experiencing menopause at work, you may need to amend the usual pace you operate at. Take your time.
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Set Mini Deadlines. Even if you’re used to working hard right up until a final deadline, you may now need to shift your ways of working to adapt to your symptoms. Setting early deadlines ahead of any hard deadlines can help decrease your stress levels.
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Hydrate. Even in the winter months when you might not think of it, it's still very important to drink plenty of water.
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Adapt Your Clothing. Adjusting the clothes or uniform you wear to work can help you keep cool and reduce chances of hot flushes.
INSOMNIA
Hot flushes may be impacting your ability to sleep, which can lead to tiredness and difficulty focusing during the day. This may lead to you struggling at work by forgetting tasks or missing deadlines. Here are some strategies to help you handle the impacts of menopause at work.
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A To-Do List. This old-fashioned trick can help you remember tasks if you’re struggling at work to remember them.
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Break It Down. To prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed, break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. This can help relieve the stress you may already be feeling while handling menopause at work.
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Take Breaks. Get out and stretch your legs to take a break from the screen. This will get the blood pumping and give you sharper focus when you return to your desk.
It’s important you feel supported and understood while managing your symptoms. Make sure you understand your symptoms yourself and always seek advice from a medical professional, especially if you’re struggling at work.
If you’re looking for a non-hormonal menopause supplement, look no further than Sérélys® Meno. Scientifically proven to improve hot flushes and help women feel less tired, this supplement could help you managing your menopause at work.* Lachowsky M. et al., Evaluation of the quality and tolerance of Serelys ® in women during perimenopause and menopause. Genesis, 2015. Volume 183, 10-13.
