Are you melting too...?
Praise be…the mercury is dropping, what sweet, sweet relief!
How have you been coping (or not) with the heat? Melting? Hiding with the curtains drawn and the fan on like me, half working, one quarter throwing snacks at children on half term and one quarter Googling what temperature our brains actually stop functioning normally?
One thing that did make the heat a little more bearable (apart from the many, many Soleros) was this stupendously comfortable bra top from Alexander Clementine (which was gifted for me to review, but hand on heart is THE softest and most comfortable bra ever, so comfortable I essentially forgot I was wearing one, and trust me that never, ever happens…).
I recently interviewed Alex, the founder of Alexander Clementine over on the podcast about:
How they pivoted from a sustainable fashion focus into women’s health after customer reviews and his own mum’s breast cancer journey revealed an unmet need
Why use seaweed (and specifically Icelandic seaweed harvested every four years) to make a fabric naturally antibacterial, anti-odour, temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, hypoallergenic and rich in antioxidants
The environmental case against synthetic underwear, and why fibres made from petrochemicals are particularly concerning in a menopause context (carcinogens, hormone disruptors, trapped heat and moisture)
“Menopause-washing” — how to read the label and spot brands cashing in without using fabrics that actually help
How the underwear helps with external-facing symptoms of menopause — hot flushes, heightened sensitivity, dry and itchy skin, vulval discomfort — and where it fits in breast cancer recovery (two-to-four weeks post-surgery, not as an immediate post-surgical compression bra)
Why Alex believes men need to be part of the menopause conversation — and the response he’s had from men his own age…
At the start of this year I set out to read 40 books in 2026…thus far I’m up to 16 (see the list and To Be Read pile here if you’re curious…) and just finished Prioritise This by Lily Silverton, in time to interview her next week for a forthcoming podcast episode. (she has some great resources over at https://www.prioritisethis.com/practices if you want a sneak preview!)
Given chapter one is on Stress, it was comforting to learn this week that reading for just six minutes reduced stress levels by 68% (research from University of Sussex)…making it more effective than listening to music, having a cup of tea, or going for a walk… Another study of 3,600 adults aged 50 and older that lasted 12 years found that book readers had a 20% lower risk of dying during the follow up period compared to non-readers, after adjusting for health, wealth, and education…it also builds our cognitive reserve, a great protection against dementia…
So stick your feet up, find that novel you’ve been meaning to read for a while, and work on your longevity my loves!
Oh, and I love discovering new books to add to my list, so if you have one to recommend, please let me know!
Until next time…
Emma
www.thetripleshift.org/starthere
PS: don’t forget paid subscribers get access to monthly coaching prompts and special discounts…you can upgrade/cancel at any time…