Sage Advice Live: Wellbeing expert Thea O’Connor’s healthy habits for Second 50 women

Respected wellbeing expert and Second 50 member, Thea O'Connor, shared some sobering health trends about women in mid-life during our March Sage Advice Live session on “Healthy habits for Second 50 Women.”

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that potentially detrimental health habits – such as excessive drinking, neglecting physical activity and even starting smoking – can creep up on women during their 'peak-demand' phase of life - when many juggle significant work and caring duties and life transitions.

So, while Thea noted that population trends may not mirror your own experience, she explained why understanding broader norms, and mapping our own personal trajectories against them, is a useful way to consciously self-reflect and – if we need to - make positive lifestyle changes over time.

Thea shared several practical ideas that even busy women can use to track our own health behaviours and symptoms, start to address issues, and make a little space for self-care to sustain a better level of overall wellbeing. 

Menopause is one area of women’s health that Thea has been a long-time coach and educator for. She’s an advocate for ‘preparedness over fear’ and believes this natural transition often gets misrepresented as a ‘terrifying list of symptoms’.

“When it comes to perimenopausal symptoms like anxiety or brain fog, for example, I think it helps to think of menopause like reverse puberty,” Thea said. “If we put all the symptoms of puberty up there, they wouldn’t look too good either!”

She said symptoms of puberty, like the start of menstrual bleeding, body odour, hair in the wrong places, monosyllabic conversation, a lack of risk assessment and voice-changes are widely accepted as a normal part of a transition that is taking us somewhere. “Menopause might not be fun but we can apply that same mindset to think of it as a natural transition that is taking us deeper into our authority than we've ever experienced in our life before,” Thea says. “It can be a rocky road, but there is a purpose to menopause.”

During a wide-ranging Q&A on the topic, one take-away was about the importance of distinguishing between the health impacts caused by life challenges versus menopausal symptoms.

“Fixing your hormones isn’t going to help a bad marriage,” quipped Thea. "Well, MHT (also known as HRT) might make you shout less, but it can't address the underlying source of conflict for you."  

She went on to explain ways to ask ourselves better questions, where to find appropriate medical assistance and how to be more holistic about managing menopause and overall wellness. Thea also covered some practical ways women can take small steps towards healthier habits, including reducing stimulants.  

High on her list was setting boundaries, delegating and learning to say ‘no’ to create more space for self-awareness and self-care.

As mum of a teenager still at home, 57-year old Thea understands the daily struggle.

“Deciding not to pick up towels on the bathroom floor for your teenagers anymore, or not doing the washing for your 20-year-old is critical if you want to make a bit of time for you,” she says. “You’ve got to tell your kids to step up.”

Likewise, if you've been a ‘yes’ person, Thea advises to learn to press the pause button.

“Rather than automatically saying ‘yes’, buy yourself some time by saying, ‘I’ll get back to you’. Then think about whether you have the space or not and if you really need to do what’s being asked.”

Most of us know what we ‘should’ be doing for better health – if only we had the time! Well, this Sage Advice Live will help you do a quick assessment of how well you are tracking and is packed with practical information to adopt healthier long-term habits.

Second 50 members can watch a recording of Thea’s Sage Advice Live session on-demand

About Thea O’Connor

Thea O’Connor is a keynote speaker, wellbeing and productivity advisor and coach and menopause in the workplace specialist. At the heart of all Thea’s work is the vision of creating body-honouring cultures at work, at school and at home, so we can all flourish. thea.com.au

If you’re keen to hear more, watch Thea’s 2022 TEDx talk: What Killer Whales can teach us about menopause (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abxcO2ur_m4) Ever wondered what killer whales can teach us about menopause? In this entertaining and insightful 2022 TEDx talk on menopause in the workplace, Thea explains the role of female orca whales after menopause as well as some key facets of the transition, which is 'as natural as sneezing'.