Radiant Midlife

There was a time when I could fly halfway around the world, lose a night's sleep, and still function the next day. Jet lag was an inconvenience, not something that lingered for days. This year, trips to South Korea and France told a different story. Instead of bouncing back quickly, the exhaustion seemed to follow me much longer than I remembered. It left me wondering whether menopause—not simply getting older—had changed the way my body handled long-distance travel. As it turns out, many women ask the same question. If you've found yourself struggling more with international travel than you did ten or twenty years ago, you're not imagining it. Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect sleep, body temperature, energy levels, and recovery—all of which influence how well we adapt to new time zones. Can Menopause Make Jet Lag Worse? The answer is: yes, it can. Our bodies rely on an internal 24-hour clock, known as the circadian rhythm, to regulate sleep, a...

If you had asked me ten years ago whether I'd ever willingly give up coffee or wine, I would have laughed. Coffee wasn't just caffeine. It was how my mornings began. The aroma. The warm mug in my hands. The quiet few minutes before the day became busy. Wine wasn't just alcohol. It was dinners with friends. Celebrations. Vacations. A way to unwind after a long week. Neither felt unhealthy. They simply felt like part of who I was. Then, little by little, something changed. My Body Started Saying "No" It didn't happen overnight. One day I noticed coffee made me feel unusually jittery. Another day I realized I couldn't fall asleep after my usual afternoon cup. Wine that once felt relaxing began disrupting my sleep. Even one or two glasses could leave me feeling dehydrated, sluggish, or strangely anxious the next day. At first, I blamed stress. Then work. Then getting older. Eventually, I began wondering whether menopause had something to do with it. It turns o...

Few topics in women's health create as much confusion as hormone therapy. Some women describe it as life-changing. Others worry about breast cancer, blood clots, or stories they've heard from friends. Some doctors recommend it. Others rarely discuss it. It's no wonder so many women feel unsure. If you're entering perimenopause or menopause, you don't need to decide immediately whether hormone therapy is right for you. But understanding what it is—and what it isn't—can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider. What Is Hormone Therapy? Hormone therapy (HRT), also called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) , replaces some of the estrogen your body naturally produces before menopause. Depending on your medical history, treatment may include: Estrogen alone Estrogen combined with progesterone (or a progestogen) Different doses Different delivery methods Hormones can be taken as: Skin patches Gels Sprays Pills Vaginal creams, tablets, or r...

Once I understood why my hair was changing, a new question quickly followed. (If you'd like to learn more about the causes, see my previous article Menopause Hair Loss: Why It Happens and What Actually Helps .) Now what? Like many women, I found myself scrolling through endless articles, advertisements, and social media videos promising thicker, fuller hair. One product claimed to "reactivate dormant follicles." Another promised dramatic regrowth in just a few months. Then there were supplements, scalp serums, laser helmets, platelet-rich plasma injections, collagen powders, and rosemary oil. The options felt endless. So I wanted to know one thing: Which treatments actually have good scientific evidence—and which ones are mostly marketing? Here's what I found. Before You Spend Money, Start Here One of the biggest mistakes is assuming every case of hair thinning is caused by menopause. Before investing in expensive treatments, it's worth making sure you've rul...

Looking back, I wish someone had warned me that perimenopause was coming. (Read more about the signs of perimenopause -  How Do I Know If I'm in Perimenopause? 15 Signs Most Women Miss ) But even more than that, I wish someone had told me that the habits I built in my forties would shape how I felt in my fifties. I wish someone had explained that healthy aging is less about one big decision and more about small choices that quietly compound over time. When we're younger, it's easy to believe our bodies will always recover. We bounce back after late nights. We eat whatever we want. We skip workouts and make up for them later. Our bodies are remarkably forgiving. Until, one day, they aren't. If I could go back and talk to my younger self—not to change who I was, but simply to prepare her for the years ahead—these are the investments I would encourage her to start making much sooner. 1. Build Muscle Before You Think You Need It I used to think strength training was mostly ...

For a long time, I assumed the changes I noticed in midlife were mostly hormonal. Like many women, I blamed menopause. Then one day I started thinking about how my daily life had changed. Before COVID, I worked in an office. Every morning began with a walk to the bus stop, followed by another walk from the station to my office—with a heavy laptop in my backpack. Sometimes in heels. At lunch, I almost always went outside. Some evenings I skipped the bus entirely and walked home. On weekends, I'd walk for miles along the marina simply because I enjoyed it. None of that felt like exercise. It was simply part of my life. Today, I work entirely from home. My commute is twenty steps from the bedroom to my desk. Without realizing it, I had removed nearly all of the natural movement that once filled my day. Maybe you've experienced something similar. We Didn't Just Lose Our Commute Remote work has given many of us tremendous flexibility. But it also quietly eliminated ...