The Adventures of a Perimenopausal Businesswoman

"Hot Flushes, Hustles, and Hustling Clients: The Adventures of a Perimenopausal Businesswoman"

Running a small business is like juggling flaming swords while balancing on a unicycle. Now, sprinkle in perimenopause, and you've just signed up for the Olympics of multitasking, complete with bonus hot flushes, memory lapses, and random mood swings. Welcome to the wild ride of being a perimenopausal woman running a small business! Spoiler alert: it's both hilarious and downright exhausting.

The Great Hormonal Rollercoaster: Buckle Up!
There’s no sugar coating it: perimenopause can feel like an unpredictable rollercoaster where you’re never sure if the next loop-de-loop will leave you exhilarated or completely unhinged. One moment you’re on fire—both figuratively and literally—designing with clients like a boss, and the next, you’re googling “What’s my business again?” because your brain decided to take a quick sabbatical.

Pro tip: Keep a notebook handy. Not for top business ideas, but to remember why you walked into the room.

Hot Flashes: The Uninvited Business Partner
Forget about looking polished and professional 24/7. In perimenopause, your body’s internal thermostat is that unreliable assistant who either cranks the heat or shuts down completely at the worst times. Picture this: you're sat with a client on a fabric/design consultation, and suddenly your face turns the colour of a ripe tomato, sweat beads up like you’re in a sauna, not great!

But hey, you can spin it! Just say you’re so passionate about what you do that it literally sets you on fire.

Mood Swings: Navigating Emotions while dealing with clients.
Perimenopause is like having an emotional weather system permanently parked over your studio. One minute, you’re teary-eyed because you ran out of Dacron (why is this happening to me?!), and the next, you’re ready to karate-chop anyone who asks, “Is everything okay?”

Navigating business relationships during this time can be tricky. Tip: schedule important meetings during your "good mood windows." And if the window suddenly slams shut, excuse yourself for a “brainstorming break” (code for grabbing chocolate and screaming into a pillow).

Brain Fog: The Hilarious Downside of Forgetting…Everything
Ah, brain fog. That delightful condition where your to-do list feels like it’s written in invisible ink, and you find yourself trying to remember what you were doing just ten seconds ago. It’s not that you’re losing it; it’s just that your brain has decided it’s time for a little holiday.

Embracing the Chaos: Perimenopausal Superpowers
Here’s the thing: despite the occasional meltdowns, memory lapses, and impromptu hot yoga sessions (aka, the hot flushes), there’s a unique strength that perimenopausal businesswomen bring to the table. You’ve survived life’s curveballs, balanced work and home, and adapted to the changes over the years. Now, you’re navigating new territory with a sense of humour and a glass of wine (or two) because, really, what else can you do?

Plus, let’s be honest: after years of managing everything under the sun, a little hormonal chaos is just another day at the studio. If you can handle clients, suppliers, taxes, and deadlines, you can handle a few mood swings and the occasional forgotten password (again).

The Secret Weapon: Humour
If you’re a perimenopausal businesswoman, here’s your real superpower: laughing at the absurdity of it all. When life hands you a hot flush in the middle of a client meeting, laugh it off and own it. When you forget an important piece of information, make a joke about being too busy planning world domination to sweat the small stuff.
The reality is, running a small business is challenging no matter what stage of life you’re in. But adding a bit of humor—especially when it’s fueled by a hormonal cocktail—turns the whole experience into an adventure. You’ll not only survive it, but you’ll also thrive with the kind of resilience only years of experience (and some hormonal surges) can give.

So, here’s to all the perimenopausal queens out there, running your empires with sass, sarcasm, and a fan nearby. You’ve got this—heat waves, foggy brains, and all.

"The Hustle is REAL"

Betty X