Thrive over 40

30/11/2021

Over the last few years wellbeing has become a real concern for organisations. But how do we support wellbeing in a meaningful way without being tokenistic?

I often hear organisations offering wellbeing solutions for their colleagues but are they really hitting the mark or ticking a box?

Wellbeing is a topic of strategic importance. It affects mental and physical health and, if not supported in a connected way, results in increased absenteeism, employee turnover, plummeting engagement and negative impacts to diversity & inclusion.

It is important to consider:
Mental health
Men’s health
Women’s health
Work-life balance
Successful dynamic working

The pandemic has changed our well-being reality forever and creating meaningful solutions that support our leaders to navigate this new landscape is critical.

At Thrive we bring together experience in leadership, employee engagement and wellness to develop meaningful solutions for your leaders and colleagues. We know the power of a joined up approach that connects policy and leadership readiness.

Would you like to explore what a proactive and strategic approach would look like for your organization? If so, get in touch.

23/11/2021

This is an interesting article about some of the myths of remote working.

This subject is close to my heart and I know it is one that my clients are trying to navigate currently.

How much time is ok to be remote from the office? How do we stay connected as a team? How do we make people feel passionate and connected about what they do? How do we safeguard colleague well-being and career development?

These are real issues and they cannot be solved by the latest software. Leaders have a huge role in creating the right culture for success and striking a balance between remote and in-office connection time.

Leaders still need to know their people, what makes them tick and how to engage them. If anything, this is even more important in our virtual world.

What do you think about getting this balance right?

www.forbes.com/sites/mural/2021/11/08/common-remote-work-myths-debunked/?sh=3fb2a0a4604e

Despite all the benefits surrounding remote work, 44% of companies still don’t allow their employees to work remotely, according to Owl Labs.

17/11/2021

I had an inspiring day with leaders and menopause champions within Lowell yesterday, piloting their new leadership program, 'Let's Talk About the Menopause'.

The program is aimed at raising menopause awareness and helping leaders think about what behaviour is required when serving and supporting colleagues at this time.

Lowell clearly get the link between colleague well-being and leadership skills and I feel fortunate to be partnering on this important work.

10/11/2021

I had to share this article about the upcoming 'S*x And The City' series.

Why do people feel the need to comment on women, their appearance and whether their behaviour is 'appropriate'? We don't see the same yardstick being applied to men and neither should we.

The best way to look and behave? However you want to. Be whoever you want to be.

It's time to start appreciating the wisdom, strength and sass of 50+ women in our society.

"What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?" Parker said to critics of her appearance ahead of the new revival series.

08/11/2021

Okay, so I said all posts in October would be dedicated to the menopause, as it was Menopause Awareness Month. I know it is now November, but I had a chat with a client the other day that just made me want to post one more thing…

We often think that the menopause only affects women over a certain age. We know this isn’t the case and women can have menopause at any age, due to medical treatment, illness or even their genetics.

We also know that others colleagues are dealing with symptoms very similar to the menopause.

Women undergoing IVF treatment often encounter symptoms very similar to the menopause that are challenging to deal with.

Trans and non-binary people can experience menopausal symptoms due to changes in hormones. These can fluctuate, as treatments can often stop and start again. And it’s important for employers to understand that for those undergoing a medical transition, the whole process takes up to seven years.

Supporting colleagues dealing with hormone changes is a huge diversity and inclusion imperative. Helping our leaders and colleagues to have these crucial conversations is critical if we are to offer the support all our colleagues need to thrive.

21/10/2021

💥💥HOT OFF THE PRESS 💥💥

This month it's Menopause Awareness Month and we are dedicating all of our posts to this important topic.

The latest blog "Not Feeling Myself" talks about how this time is a defining moment for women. We can either let it take us or we can create the next chapter, our way.

www.thriveover40.co.uk/blog/not-feeling-myself/

18/10/2021

It's World Menopause Day.

Is anything going on in your organisation today to raise awareness and get this important topic on the agenda?

We know that many women feel like they can't talk to other people about the menopause as they feel shame and embarrassment.

Why should we feel this way about something that is a natural transition in our lives?

Women over 50 are the largest growing segment of the workforce. We have skills, experience and wisdom, that the world needs.

If you are struggling right now, who can you talk to and how do you get the support you need? You deserve this. You are not alone.

14/10/2021

Did you know that the change in hormones that happen around the menopause can affect your bone health, heart health, weight and mood?

Eating a well ­balanced diet has loads of health benefits during and after the menopause.

Eating healthy foods can lift your mood 😊, combat fatigue 😩and give your energy levels a boost🍓.
Foods high in essential fats such as Omega 3 oils, and those rich in B vitamins and calcium can also help
improve your mood.

Your bone density 🏋️‍♀️ (a measure of bone strength and health) usually starts to decrease naturally in
your late thirties, and this speeds up in the years around the menopause when your oestrogen drops. Your bone
breaks down faster than new bone tissue can grow, making them weaker and more susceptible to breaking.
Calcium and vitamin D are particularly important for bone strength and many other vitamins and minerals, such
as iron and magnesium, are vital too.

Maintaining a healthy weight ⚖ is crucially important for your health in the future, especially for
the health of your heart and blood vessels.

For your gut health. Many women suffer from bloating, cramps and other IBS-­like symptoms during the
perimenopause and menopause. There are friendly bacteria in your gut, and what you eat helps maintain them and keep harmful bacteria at bay. A healthy gut can improve your emotional wellbeing, increase production of
the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, reduce inflammation and improve your general health and wellbeing. 💝

14/10/2021

To help organisations understand the menopause and it's impacts, I thought I would share some of the most common myths that exist, according to those amazing folks at : menopause in the workplace

1. Menopause is all about hot flushes
2. Menopause happens only to those over 45
3. Menopause affects only half the population
4. Menopause is a ‘natural’ transition for all
5. Menopause is a time where you just have to get on with it
6. Everyone’s experience of menopause is the same
7. Women know what to expect

These myths are not helpful and dispelling them will go a long way in helping us support our colleagues, family and friends.

Are you surprised by any of these myths? Read on if you want to know more.

www.menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk/menopause-at-work/the-menopause-myths-organisations-are-helping-to-bust/

5* rated, CPD accredited menopause in the workplace training, e-learning and videos for employers and employees

12/10/2021

I was speaking to a brilliant colleague the other day and she said, "It seems like everyone is talking about the menopause at the moment. It's everywhere."

She's right, that there is a lot of "noise" in the media currently as it's Menopause Awareness Month. But does that mean people are really talking about it? I think not.

Recently, I have been conducting a lot of interviews with women regarding their menopause experience and many of them say they don't talk about it, to each other, or anyone. Some can't even talk to their partners about what they are going through and feel mortified about having a conversation with their manager. Most have told me that they just "crack on".

The challenge with this is that women are ultimately suffering physical and psychological symptoms alone, in silence. This can outwardly impact their effectiveness and, unless the leader understands, they can assume other reasons for impacted performance.

I have attached this article from Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace as they outline "What this Means for line managers". Nobody expects a leader to be an expert in the medical aspects of the menopause. The leader's role is to create the open and supportive culture where a woman has trust and feels able to share her needs. This means:

- Being attentive and 'present' and available.
- Empathising with strains, challenges and anxieties.
- Being open to understanding the situation.
- Helping find support and resources.

A.K.A good leadership. If we make time for our colleagues, listen and value them, the trust will come.

www.menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk/articles/menopause-and-work-its-important/

Menopause and work can be directly related, with some women suffering a host of symptoms that can affect them at work. Here's what employers can do.

12/10/2021

Do you know much about the menopause?

There are lots of myths that exist and it's important that we know the fact from fiction on this important topic.

1. Menopause is all about hot flushes. There are over 40 known symptoms of the menopause, some physical, some psychological.
2. Menopause happens only to those over 45. The menopause can happen to younger women, either naturally or, as a result of an operation, illness or medication.
3. Menopause affects only half the population. Anyone going through hormone treatments can have symptoms very similar to the menopause.
4. Menopause is a ‘natural’ transition for all. Sometimes, if a woman undergoes treatment that instigates an early menopause, this doesn't feel 'natural'.
5. Menopause is a time where you just have to get on with it. Find someone you can talk to and get the help you need.
6. Everyone’s experience of menopause is the same. Every woman is different. Some sail through the menopause, whilst others have horrific physical and mental symptoms.
7. Women know what to expect. Most women are totally unaware of what the perimenopause and menopause will bring. They often do not 'connect the dots' when it starts.

These myths are not helpful and dispelling them will go a long way in helping us support our loved ones, family and friends.

Are you surprised by any of these myths?

05/10/2021

Did you know that it is Menopause Awareness Month? So, this month, all of our posts will be dedicated to menopause.

I was talking to a colleague the other day and they said "why do we need to talk about it? We don't have a problem with the menopause?" I explained that the menopause is a natural stage of life for all, or most women. We need to understand it in order to support out colleagues. The menopause is not a problem. It is a reality. Being able to support women going through the menopause is key to engagement, retention, talent pipeline development and diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Did you know that:

✔ Currently, there are approximately 4.4 million women aged 50 -64 are in work.
✔ Three out of five (59%) working women between the ages of 45 and 55 who are experiencing menopause symptoms say it has a negative impact on them at work.
✔ 1 in 4 women consider leaving their role due to negative impacts of the menopause.
✔ Women over 50 are the fastest growing segment of the workforce.

So, yes we do need to talk about the menopause. It's about time.