Phew...it's a bit warm out there...
It’s only 9am as I sit at my laptop and already scorchio out there…I’m hiding inside to write this whilst watching Glasto highlights on the telly (Self Esteem…saving Pulp as a treat for this evening!).
How are we all keeping cool out there? A friend recommended a bowl of ice cubes in front of the fan…might need to break that out in the next 24h! My fav is a can of Evian water spray in the fridge (though wondering if I can replicate that with plain old ‘eau de tap’ in a spray bottle when it runs out, for financial and planetary reasons…
Stay tuned for holiday tips, a slew of new surveys, and the link between legs and longevity…
Here are this week’s Three Things:
Going away on holiday this summer…? Here’s what you need to know…
Did you know that if you are taking HRT you should (probably) declare it to your travel insurer? (see here for what could happen if you don’t!)
There is a good rundown here of tips to ‘menopause-proof’ your summer holiday. I’d add mine:
keep Oestrogel cool by wrapping a wet flannel around the outside of the bottle - don’t keep in the fridge!
make sure you apply any gel at least an hour before swimming or applying sun cream.
take any HRT in original packaging with your prescription printed on the labels
Have your say and contribute to improving data on menopause…
Not one but two surveys for you - though the second may not apply to many (though even more reason to help publicise it).
The first is the 2025 Menopause Mandate survey - last year it included 20,000 individuals, this year they are gunning for 30,000! You can find it here.
The second survey aims to find out more about people’s experience of menopause in relation to cancer treatment. The survey is conducted by Menopause and Cancer (the only non-profit organisation dedicated solely to supporting people navigating menopause after cancer) and will give them valuable information that will help them better understand current experiences of individuals who have experienced cancer and menopause and how best they can offer support and advice in future.
If you have been impacted, or know someone who has been, please do fill out this important survey here.
The links between leg strength and longevity…
Do you have a health pension? Five times a week I make a deposit into mine, with a 30 minute strength training session. It’s not easy to be consistent day after day, month after month, year after year, but on the days I feel my motivation flagging, I think about this…
Between them my parents have just about every chronic disease of old age going (including type 2 diabetes, heart problems, osteoporosis, dementia, hypertension…) and it breaks my heart to see how much that limits their quality of life.
I can’t do much about my genetics, but given our risks for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and bone health change dramatically in midlife and post-menopause, I can make an impact on future me through investing now, in my health pension. [Don't get me wrong, I'm far from perfect, but I know the cumulative impact of each positive change I make looking at the long view.]
I want to be independent in my old age. I want to be able to walk to town in my 80s (heck I want to be able to walk up hills and down valleys), carry my own shopping, swim…
For a full breakdown of why strength (and in particular leg strength) is so important to ageing well, click through and listen to Louisa Nicola…
When we are busy and overwhelmed sometimes it can be hard to start, and hard to be consistent, but no one is coming to do it for you.
If you need a gentle (or not so gentle) kick up the backside to make some changes in your life, I am here to help (and if you'd like me to run a session for your company on lifestyle changes for better longevity and health in Q3 of our lives, please get in touch: emma@thetripleshift.org).
That’s all for this week - between bingeing Glastonbury, watching Wimbledon, more solo parenting and work, it’s going to be full on!
Hit me up in the Comments with your top tips for keeping COOL!
Emma
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