What happens when menopause, burnout, career dissatisfaction, and a loss of confidence all start to feel like the same thing?

In this episode, Sarah talks to Debbie Taylor, the Messy Life Coach, about why menopause is much more than a health and wellbeing issue. It can affect how women experience their careers, confidence, identity and performance at work.

Debbie shares her own experience of perimenopause, workplace challenges, and ultimately leaving a role when she didn't feel supported. She explains why she believes menopause can be a catalyst for reflection and change – and how women can use this stage of life to reconsider what really matters to them.

They also explore what managers and organisations can do to create more supportive, menopause-friendly workplaces where women don't feel that leaving is their only option.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why menopause can be a career and leadership issue, not just a health issue
• How to tell the difference between menopause symptoms, burnout, stress and career dissatisfaction
• Why brain fog, poor sleep and anxiety can have such a big impact on confidence at work
• How menopause can challenge your identity when so much of your self-worth has been tied to your career
• What managers need to understand about supporting women experiencing menopause
• How to have more effective conversations about workplace adjustments
• Why values, boundaries, and self-reflection become particularly important during midlife
• How journaling can help
• Debbie's Menopause Dashboard for understanding what's really going on
• Her EMBERS framework for helping organisations become more menopause-ready
• Why creating the right workplace culture can help talented women stay and thrive

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Debbie's career journey

Debbie shares her 25-year leadership and management career and explains how her own experience of menopause, long COVID, fatigue and brain fog ultimately led her to become the Messy Life Coach.

01:00 – When health challenges collide with work

Debbie explains what happened when increasing stress led her to request a reasonable adjustment at work – and why the response ultimately led her to resign.

03:00 – Why menopause is a career and leadership issue

Debbie explains why she sees menopause as much more than a health and wellbeing issue, and introduces the idea of the "double life" many women are living.

05:00 – The tangled knot: menopause, burnout or career dissatisfaction?

Why it can be so difficult to understand what's really happening when symptoms develop gradually and affect confidence, energy and how you feel about work.

06:00 – What happens during perimenopause?

Debbie discusses hormonal changes, chronic stress and the impact of modern lifestyles on the way women experience perimenopause.

08:00 – The impact of stress and nervous system overload

Why the demands of work, family and caring responsibilities can leave women with very little space to rest, reflect and work out what they actually need.

10:00 – The workplace symptoms managers might notice

Sleep disruption, anxiety, depleted energy, memory problems, brain fog and changes in performance – and why these can easily be misunderstood.

13:00 – Why workplaces need more human conversations

Debbie explains why managers can struggle to know what to say and why creating a culture where people can simply ask, "Are you okay?" matters.

14:00 – When your workplace culture isn't menopause-friendly

Sarah and Debbie explore the challenge women face when they don't feel safe being open about what they're experiencing.

15:00 – Menopause policies, workplace support and legislation

Debbie explains why women should understand what menopause support their organisation provides and how HR can be an important starting point.

18:00 – How to ask your manager for what you need

Practical advice on being specific about the adjustments and support that would make a difference.

20:00 – "Got meno" and the case for more compassionate workplaces

Why we need to stop expecting employees to perform at their peak every single day and create cultures where people can be human.

21:00 – When menopause affects your confidence

How poor sleep, anxiety and brain fog can knock confidence – and why this can sometimes lead women to question their careers.

22:00 – Using menopause as an opportunity for reflection

Debbie shares how reconnecting with her values helped her understand what was and wasn't working in her life and career.

23:00 – Too many tabs open: clearing mental bandwidth

Practical ideas including journaling, getting things out of your head and creating more space for your brain to function.

24:00 – What actually nourishes you?

Why midlife can be an opportunity to let go of things that drain your energy and reconnect with the things that matter.

25:00 – Boundaries and filling your own cup

Why you can't keep pouring from an empty cup – and why boundaries are essential if you want to create space to look after yourself.

26:00 – Debbie's Menopause Dashboard

An introduction to Debbie's seven-dial dashboard for understanding symptoms, sleep, bandwidth, nutrition and how much like yourself you feel.

27:00 – The EMBERS framework for organisations

Debbie explains how she helps businesses become more menopause-ready and create cultures that help women stay, thrive and progress.

29:00 – Where to find Debbie Taylor

Find out more about Debbie, her work, masterclasses and the No BS Menopause Club.

A few things to reflect on after listening

• Are you experiencing symptoms that you've been attributing solely to stress, burnout or getting older?
• Has your confidence at work changed – and could there be more going on underneath it?
• What does your current career and lifestyle give you energy for, and what drains you?
• Are you living in line with your values?
• What do you need to ask for at work to make things more sustainable?
• Where might you need stronger boundaries?

A note from Sarah

If this episode has made you question whether what you're experiencing is menopause, burnout, career dissatisfaction – or a mixture of all three – don't feel that you have to work it all out at once.

Sometimes the first step is simply to pause, pay attention and get curious about what's really going on.

Useful Links

Episode 89 Learning to Set Boundaries will Change the Way You Live and Work

Connect with Debbie on LinkedIn

The Messy Life Coach

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

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If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]