Chronic Fatigue & Perimenopause

“Menopause is like autumn leaves falling; it's a natural shedding of the old to make way for the new.” - Patricia Akins, author

During the COVID lockdown (which was really short for me), I was forced to slow down. It was truly a blessing in disguise in some ways. I was so exhausted that all I did was sleep. I needed the rest but just didn't know it.

Most likely, shortly after that, I began my perimenopause journey.

Our hormones naturally start to decline in our mid- 30's, slowly preparing us for our Autumn years. Perimenopause doesn't mean our life is ending- it just means we have this amazing opportunity to really start to take care of ourselves & get to know who we truly are. It's a more introspective phase. It's there to shake up our life, as 1 of the 3 major transitions we can have (the other 2 being menstruation & child birth).

Resisting the change and trying to hold on to our old way of living is a natural phase, but eventually we have to let go, embrace the shift, and surrender. This allows us to move into our new life with grace & presence.

Having chronic fatigue at this point in my life, in some ways, is a blessing. When I'm too exhausted to do anything (don't even get me started on insomnia!!) I naturally slow down to prevent burnout. I'm already trying to decrease my stress levels (which is super important for fatigue, burnout, & perimenopause!)

Too much energy output makes my peri symptoms worse, which sidelines me even further. If you've ever experienced a hormonal migraine or near panic attack- you know they're not fun!

I give myself permission to do less and step back when I need to. Sometimes that means I don't teach as much & I turn down sub jobs. Sometimes that means not cleaning if I'm worn out (aargh!). Sometimes it's not writing a post about perimenopause & fatigue (haha) or posting less on social media. It truly is about honoring where my energy is at that time.

This is also one of the reasons I love cycle syncing my movement practices. 

I'm in a more Yang phase right now, though it's more late Autumn... so starting to really slow it down. This morning, I took a 20 minute hip mobility & strengthening class (slow paced w/ ankle weights) and rolled out on the foam roller during my lunch break. Yesterday, I took a morning moon salutations practice & 20 minutes of weights after work.

A big part of this transition is self care (again- that inward focus- tuning into what you truly need). Eating healthier, learning to love & accept yourself as you are, moving your body- without depletion, decreasing stress, and sleeping better.

Yes, I want to age gracefully and be able to lift things overhead or pick things up off the floor. I want to hike & enjoy nature. To do all of this, I have to change how I move my body.

Fatigue & cycle syncing have been a blessing here too. For many many years, I constantly pushed my body- power vinyasa (heated), sometimes 2 classes a day. I practiced everyday- no matter what (Yoga every damn day- right?). I was teaching 8-18 classes a week too (yoga teacher burnout is legit).

After the pandemic started and my fatigue took center stage, I couldn't do it anymore. I was still extremely stressed (on top of having an already severely dysregulated nervous system) and burnt out. I spent close to 2 years with just gentle yoga, yin & restorative as my practices.

Now I'm adding in cardio & weights (both of which I resisted strongly at first). Cardio for heart health (and to decrease bloating), weights to support bone health (and so I can keep lifting things). There are definitely times when I feel overwhelmed- trying to fit everything in... and I do miss my daily yoga practices. I try to give myself grace- I'm doing the best I can, even if I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Most mornings, my movement practices are 15-30 minutes (maybe a little longer on my days off). If I have the energy, I may add in weights or stretching or MFR at night (though I do usually skip anything that would boost energy at that hour).

Just like everything else, it's a practice. We're always moving forward, even if it feels like we took a step back. Every day is another opportunity to show up for ourselves- however it looks that day.

Though both chronic fatigue & perimenopause can be difficult to navigate and are exhausting in their own ways, I am grateful for the lessons they continue to provide.