Post November Hormone Hangover
Is anyone else feeling that weird November-to-December whiplash? One minute we’re running around doing Black Friday everything, the next minute the house is quiet, the cookies are in the oven, and our bodies are like: “Oh. So NOW you want to relax?” This time of year hits differently for women in perimenopause.The stress, the sugar, the late nights, the mental load… it all lands way harder than it used to. And nothing’s wrong with you — it’s literally your hormones trying to keep up with the pace of your life. Here’s what I notice every December (in my own body and from conversations with so many of you): • The 3pm energy crash • The “why am I craving bread and wine like it’s oxygen?” feeling • The tense jaw / tight chest / shallow breath • The blood sugar rollercoaster that turns you into a different person by dinner • The exhaustion that feels emotional as much as physical You’re in a hormonal season that needs support. What is at play here is biological. It has NOTHING to do with you. So here are three simple resets I swear by right now — totally doable even in the chaos: 1️⃣ The simplest nervous system hack: Exhale twice as long as you inhale. That’s it. No candles, no crystals, no sitting on a cushion for 45 minutes. Just try it: Inhale for 3.Exhale for 6.Do it 4–6 times. Lengthen the inhale to 4 if you can, and the exhale to 8. Your whole body will shift gears. This is how I pull myself out of that wired-but-tired December spiral — in the car, at the sink, walking the dog, hiding from my to-do list. 2️⃣ A blood sugar stabilizer that actually works: Protein + fiber before the carbs. It’s not sexy, but it’s basically magic. If you want your energy to stay even (and your mood… and your cravings… and your patience), try this order of eating:• protein first• veggies/fiber next• carbs last You can still eat all the holiday things — just don’t start with the shortbread. 😉 I also aim for 25–30g protein at breakfast, because it completely changes how steady I feel the rest of the day. Oh, and try having a savoury breakfast for a few days and let me know how it affects your cravings.