Are you a woman in your late 40s or older who loves to travel? If so, you may be wondering how perimenopause and menopause will impact your adventures. The good news is that menopause doesn't have to be a barrier to travel. In fact, many women find that traveling during this time can be a transformative experience.
Adventure and travel are often thought of as activities for the young and carefree, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, perimenopause and menopause can be an ideal time for women to embark on new adventures and explore the world.
Let me give you a sense of what I am talking about because I feel your skepticism through the vibes of the wireless. Super Olivia!
I know I am a dork sometimes, but my blog is called Vibrant for a reason. 😅 In all seriousness, with age, we gain security, which ultimately stimulates curiosity and wondering. Traveling leverages those emotions and opportunities at once. Picture this:
- Breaking free from routines: Stepping away from the usual daily grind allows women to rediscover themselves and break free from self-imposed or societal expectations. Imagine swapping the morning commute for a sunrise camel trek across the Sahara or trading grocery shopping for exploring bustling Moroccan markets.
- Embracing new experiences: Travel exposes women to diverse cultures, customs, and perspectives, broadening their horizons and challenging their own beliefs. Picture yourself learning to cook traditional pasta in an Italian village or meditating amidst the serene silence of a Japanese temple.
- Connecting with oneself: Solo travel, in particular, offers a unique opportunity for introspection and self-discovery. Imagine journaling under the Northern Lights in Iceland or finding inner peace during a silent retreat in Thailand.
- Redefining priorities: Travel can help women re-evaluate what truly matters in life. Witnessing the simple joy of children playing in a Bolivian village or the resilience of women in developing countries can shift perspectives and inspire purpose.
Of course, life is all about trade-offs and as we gain in something there's something else that tips the scale.
Embracing Change
Understanding the transition, as you enter perimenopause and menopause, it's important to understand the changes your body is going through. Let’s go through a little bit about perimenopause, which is defined as the point when you have gone 12 months without a period. During this time, your hormone levels fluctuate, which can cause a range of symptoms.
I have touched on this subject before; if you missed it, you have two options.
- Rest on the bed and listen to my podcast on the matter.
- Or grab a cup of tea and read that article.
You could do both, but that would be overkill. But who am I to judge? While I write this post, I am listening in the background to a TikTok story of a lady who has traveled to Morocco to learn how to use a Tagine Pot. So far, there's a lot about the pot and no food in that story! In the words of Walt Whitman: there were two roads in the woods and I... oh wait, that is a different quote. 😅
Symptoms and Self-Care
Back to the core of what's at stake with traveling while our body is evolving. Some of the most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Fortunately, you can use many self-care strategies to manage these symptoms and feel your best.
Stay active: Regular exercise can help reduce hot flashes and improve your mood.
Eat a healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help support your overall health.
Practice stress management: Meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
Consider hormone therapy: Hormone therapy can help alleviate some symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, but it's important to discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.
By embracing the changes that come with perimenopause and menopause, you can embark on a new and exciting journey. With the right self-care strategies and support, you can navigate this transition with confidence and grace.
While traveling, you can continue to focus on self-care strategies, but it is important that your destination is aligned with what your body is going through.
Choosing Destinations Wisely
Whether it's hiking through rugged terrain, exploring exotic cultures, or simply relaxing on a beach, there are countless travel options available to women in perimenopause and menopause. With the right planning and preparation, these adventures can be safe and enjoyable, allowing women to embrace this exciting new chapter of their lives confidently and enthusiastically.
When planning a trip during perimenopause or menopause, it is important to consider the destination carefully. Hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms can be exacerbated by extreme temperatures or high humidity. For this reason, it may be wise to avoid destinations with hot and humid climates, such as tropical locations or desert regions. Instead, consider cooler destinations with milder temperatures, such as mountainous areas or coastal regions with a temperate climate.
In addition to climate considerations, choosing destinations that offer activities and experiences that align with your interests and energy levels may be helpful. This may mean opting for traveling options that expose your body to fewer external factors.
You can still enjoy the culture and the foreign experience, even if you move from one Spa to the next until the time comes to fly back. And if you don't travel to a foreign country, you may find that you are more interested in taking a leisurely tour of a new city. Just don't pick Phonix if you normally live in Montana because, temperature-wise, your internal sensors are going to fire up.
Travel can be empowering at any age, but for women in this stage of life, it often holds a unique significance. With more time and freedom, they can truly embrace the transformative and empowering qualities of travel, returning home with a renewed sense of self, newfound confidence, and a treasure trove of unforgettable experiences.
Managing Symptoms on the Go
Traveling during perimenopause or menopause can present unique challenges when it comes to managing symptoms. However, with some planning and preparation, minimizing the impact of symptoms and enjoying your trip to the fullest is possible.
One key strategy is to pack carefully, bringing along items that can help alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. This may include lightweight, breathable clothing made from natural fibers, such as cotton or linen, as well as a portable fan or cooling towel. Additionally, it may be helpful to bring along herbal supplements or essential oils that have been shown to help reduce symptoms.
As I mentioned, prioritize self-care during your trip. This may mean taking regular breaks to rest and recharge, scheduling time for exercise or yoga, and making sure to get plenty of sleep. It may also be helpful to plan for healthy meals and snacks that can help support your overall well-being.
For women traveling solo, don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and connect with local women. Join a cooking class, volunteer at a community project, or strike up a conversation in a market. These authentic connections can enrich your experience and provide unique insights into different cultures.
Remember that during these transformational times of our lives, we tend to close up and fuel our mood swings; engaging with others and experiencing life, even with perfect strangers, allows us to mitigate many of those symptoms that otherwise put a weight on our shoulders.
If you are a bit of a techie like me, I have a blog, but you know what I mean. You can give Reddit a go and read other women's experiences like you. Here is my most traveled digital destination on the subject.
- r/menopause: This is a dedicated subreddit for women in menopause, with over 220,000 members!
- r/menopausehotflash: This subreddit focuses specifically on hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.
- r/midlife: This subreddit is for women in midlife, including those experiencing menopause.
- r/AskWomenOver30: This subreddit is a broad community for women over 30, where you can ask questions about any topic related to menopause.
There you will find the life hacks of travelling women, some for business and many other for leisure, so pick your poison because you are not alone in the journey of life.
That's it for today; I hope I stimulated your mind and your curiosity, and remember, stay Vibrant and keep it healthy; the best is yet to come.
BREAKING: The Tangine pot story took a sudden twist. The lady is getting married to a local pot maker!!!
