It hit me in the middle of the grocery store—one moment, I was comparing overfrickenpriced avocados ($6ea!!), and the next, I was gripped by a wave of exhaustion so deep it felt cellular. My body wasn’t just tired; it was done.

For years, I had ignored the subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages my body sent me. The restless nights, the creeping anxiety over nothing in particular, the strange, simmering anger that had no clear source. I chalked it up to stress, to “being busy,” to needing more coffee. But the truth was, I was deep in perimenopause, and my body was demanding I listen.

The Myth of ‘Pushing Through’

For most of my life, I believed that rest was something you earned. You worked hard, checked off all the to-do lists, met everyone’s expectations—and then, if you were lucky, you got to rest.

Perimenopause shattered that illusion. My body was rewriting the rules, and the biggest lesson was this: self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a survival strategy. I had two choices: keep pushing through until I crashed—or learn how to listen.

The Art of Listening to Yourself

That day in the grocery store, I abandoned my cart, drove home, and took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. No apology. No guilt. Just the radical act of letting my body take what it needed.

It felt revolutionary. And that one small act opened the door to a new kind of self-care—one that wasn’t about bubble baths or spa days (though those are nice) but about deep, daily nourishment for my nervous system.

Here’s what I learned:

✅ Your energy is your guide. If you wake up feeling like you’ve run a marathon in your sleep, it’s not “just getting older.” It’s a message. Adjust your pace.

✅ Food is fuel, not punishment. No more skipping meals or eating in a rush. I started eating to support my hormones—protein, healthy fats, and fiber at every meal. 

✅ Movement should feel good. Gone are the days of punishing workouts. Now, it’s about strength, flexibility, and movement that energizes, not depletes.

✅ Cannabis and plant medicine are allies, not crutches. Studies suggest that CBD may help with perimenopausal sleep disturbances (source) and THC can support relaxation without relying on alcohol. Adaptogens like ashwagandha and magnesium made their way into my routine. 

✅ Boundaries are a self-care tool. Saying “no” got easier when I realized every “yes” to someone else was a potential “no” to myself. 

The Permission Slip You Might Need

If you’re in perimenopause and you’ve been trying to push through, consider this your permission slip to stop.

✨ Rest when you need to.
✨ Eat foods that nourish.
✨ Move in ways that feel good.
✨ Try the plants that call to you.
✨ Set boundaries that protect your peace.

Most of all, stop apologizing for needing what you need.

📌 Related Reads:

• Navigating Overwhelm in Perimenopause: A Guide for Mums in flux.

• The Power of Journaling your CBD and Menstrual Cycle in Perimenopause