Happy Friday, {{ first_name | friend }}!
It’s been a little while, and I hope you’ve been doing well!
Summer is almost here, and many of us are looking forward to a slower, more relaxed pace. The days are longer, the evenings stay lighter, and there’s something about that extra daylight that can make a real difference in how we feel.
As May comes to a close, I’ve spent much of Mental Health Awareness Month sharing content about mental health during perimenopause and menopause. The response has been incredible. So many of you have reached out to tell me how reassuring it has been to learn that you’re not alone in what you’re experiencing during this season of life. Whether it's anxiety, mood changes, brain fog, overwhelm, or simply feeling unlike yourself, these challenges are more common than many women realize—and they deserve to be talked about openly.
So I will keep sharing about mental health during this stage of life and please do share this newsletter with others you know experiencing the same.
NOT SLEEPING?
The number one symptom that I like to address in my therapy sessions with women in midlife is SLEEP. We gotta sleep, and the 3 AM wake-ups are not ok. Although I am on hormone replacement therapy, and the progesterone did help, it was not enough on its own to keep me sleeping. What made a difference was a specific type of magnesium— magnesium glycinate*. This type is not hard on your stomach and has made a difference in sleep for many of my patients. This is the type that I use nightly:
*As with any treatment, start with the lowest dose and increase as needed as recommended by your medical provider.
NO PLAN FOR SUMMER? That’s ok!
Summer without routines and kids home all the time can be overwhelming. Yesterday on the TODAY show, I shared some tips for a more relaxed summer so we don’t reach Labor Day exhausted. You can find the segment here.
I also talked about the mental load that parents carry constantly, especially in MAY. I do believe it is too much for any one human to take on successfully. If you are feeling that way, take a look at my solution—the collaborative note. If your kids are old enough to have a cell phone, they are old enough to keep track of what they need done.
This post received over half a million views in a short time, with many women agreeing that they needed a solution. The comments are also hysterical—check them out here.
Lastly, summer can also bring difficult interactions with family and friends we haven’t seen in a while. Here are a few tips I shared in Oprah Daily for handling hurtful or insensitive comments.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
I also spoke to Paula Faris about just how much our mental health can change in midlife. It’s a conversation we don’t have often enough.
If you are feeling overwhelmed that summer is just around the corner, I hope these tips have helped you feel a little calmer. Remember, some of the most memorable moments of the summer happen in the unplanned, spontaneous moments. That’s often where the magic is. Be well.
If this letter brought you a little more perspective and joy today, please share it with someone you care about. And if this email was shared with you, please subscribe! Each month I share a dose of calm, connection, and clarity rooted in science.
Why 3 Good Things?
Wellness isn’t one big thing—it’s three good things, or two good things, or five. It’s noticing the gifts of the life we have.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about “3 Good Things.” It’s the question I often ask my kids and one of my favorite gratitude practices.
Research shows that identifying three good things each day can actually rewire your brain from negativity to optimism in just 30 days. Follow along for my 3GT each month! And send me yours! I want to hear from you.
