I am sure some of you have all seen little girls who are happy, sassy and full of confidence, they will not think twice about performing in front of others, they wear their mismatched outfits with pride and never worry about what other people think about them. Then puberty strikes and this once confident little girl becomes shy, introverted, quiet, moody, and almost a shell of the little girl that would have been larger than life and full of confidence. We all know that hormones affect girls in puberty but what about the rest of our lives and how much do our hormones affect our confidence? It’s a topic that’s often overlooked yet profoundly impacts our lives: The delicate relationship between hormones and women’s confidence. The Hormonal Symphony Hormones are powerful chemical messengers in our bodies, orchestrating various physical and emotional responses. For women, the interplay of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone is not just about reproductive health; it significantly influences our mood, energy levels, and, yes, confidence. Here is a breakdown of each of the hormones and how they can affect our confidence. Estrogen: The Confidence Booster Estrogen, often hailed as the quintessential female hormone, plays a crucial role in modulating mood and cognition. Research indicates that when estrogen levels are high, women generally feel more confident, articulate, and assertive. This uptick typically occurs during the first half of the menstrual cycle, leading to a surge in self-assurance and positivity. Progesterone: The Mood Moderator In contrast, progesterone, which rises in the second half of the cycle, can have a calming effect. However, for some, this increase can lead to feelings of anxiety or mood swings, which might temporarily dampen confidence. Testosterone: The Assertiveness Ally Though often associated with men, testosterone is also essential in women. It bolsters energy, motivation, and, crucially, confidence. A woman’s testosterone levels can influence her assertiveness and sense of empowerment. The Rollercoaster Ride of Hormonal Fluctuations The ebb and flow of these hormones throughout the menstrual cycle means that many women experience fluctuations in their confidence levels. It’s not just your imagination if you feel unstoppable some days and more hesitant on others! Menopause: A Hormonal Paradigm Shift Menopause marks a significant hormonal shift, often leading to a decline in estrogen and progesterone. This change can affect self-confidence, with some women experiencing a decrease in their sense of self-assurance. Beyond Biology: The Psychological and Social Angle It’s crucial to acknowledge that while hormones play a role, confidence is also shaped by psychological and social factors. Past experiences, societal expectations, and individual personality traits intertwine with biological aspects to influence how we feel about ourselves. Embracing the Waves Understanding the hormonal influences on confidence empowers us to be more compassionate towards ourselves. It’s about riding the waves of our hormonal cycles with awareness and grace, not letting them define us but learning to adapt our strategies for self-care and confidence-building. A Holistic Approach to Confidence As a life coach, I advocate for a holistic approach and empowering women to take back control of their health. I help you navigate life’s ups and downs with a touch of grace and a lot of science-backed wisdom. I believe in tackling well-being from every angle – from the science of our bodies to the strength of our minds and the support of the community around us. Together, we’ll smooth out those hormonal waves and build a confidence that’s not just strong, it’s lasting. If you’re feeling like your confidence could use a boost, you’re not on your own. Whether it’s mastering your hormonal health or finding that inner spark of self-assurance, I’m here with you, step by step. Let’s work together towards a happier, healthier, and more self-aware you. Because when we understand ourselves better, we become unstoppable. Here’s to our health, happiness, and the power of knowing more!”

Women make up 50% of the population and while we have made great strides in equality and closing the gender pay gap, there is still one area that as women we are massively underrepresented and that is health. For centuries the focus and research have always been on the male body and after years of campaigning in 1993, the FDA and the NIH made it mandatory to include women in clinical trials. Up until this point it was deemed too risky to include women in medical research and preclinical trials because their hormones might interfere with the results. This has since been proven incorrect and in fact, they have now found that women have more stable results than men according to a study Current Biology. Women face a considerable historical deficit in medical research, as it’s only in the last two decades that their health issues have begun to gain focused attention. This is a stark contrast to the centuries of accumulated data on men, which forms the foundation of countless medical texts and informs most of the medical knowledge. As a result, much of our existing medical literature is predicated on male-centric findings, presenting a significant challenge in closing the gender gap in health research. Whilst including women in clinical trials did change it took until 2014 for the NIH to begin to acknowledge the problem of male bias in preclinical trials, and until 2016 for it to mandate that any research money it granted must include female animals. For over 50 years, researchers have preferentially used male mice in experiments, in part due to concern that the hormone cycle in females would cause behavioural variation that could negatively impact results. Over time, this practice has resulted in a poorer understanding of the female brain, likely contributing to the misdiagnosis of mental and neurological conditions in women, as well as the development of drugs that have more side effects for women. Now, a new study led by Dana Levy a research fellow in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) who looked at the behaviour of male and female mice, has not only turned the long-held, sexist assumption on its head but has demonstrated the opposite—male mice are the ones that exhibit excessive behavioural variation that can harm research results. “I think this is really powerful evidence that if you’re studying naturalistic, spontaneous exploratory behaviour, you should include both sexes in your experiments. It leads to the argument that in this setting—if you can only pick one sex to work on—you should actually be working on females,” said Sandeep Robert Datta, professor of neurobiology at HMS, who co-led the study. It may also surprise you to know that it was only in 2023 that the manufacturers of sanitary products decided to stop testing their products with water!!! Yes, you read that correctly! In all the years that these products have been on the store shelves they have never been tested on the liquid they were designed to absorb! No wonder if like me, you found they often did not do the job you thought they were designed to do. Which in turn made you think that it was a YOU problem and not a product design/testing problem. This bias continues today, and a series of papers published in the Lancet about menopause and that Women should learn to accept and embrace the changes they face with menopause. The article sadly showed the misogyny that women face daily when it comes to their health.  A clear example of this is when you take a paragraph from the article and replace the words Menopause with Erectile Dysfunction and Women with Men, you get a very different outcome and one I would guess that no man would willingly choose if it could be cured with a simple prescription. See what you think… Adapted paragraph; Men with erectile Dysfunction can be strong, healthy, and happy—as highlighted by the selection of inspirational images of older men that accompany the Series. Age related erectile dysfunction can also be a time for men to reassess their identities, to embrace this next phase in their lives and the freedom from unwanted erection and desire, and to challenge negative perceptions of older men, which are prevalent in some societies. We need to send a realistic, balanced message to men and to society: testosterone decline, and erectile dysfunction does not herald the start of a period of decay and decline but is a developmental life stage that can be negotiated successfully with access to evidence-based information as well as appropriate social and medical support. Men deserve nothing less. Original paragraph; Menopausal women can be strong, healthy, and happy—as highlighted by the selection of inspirational images of older women that accompany the Series. Menopause can also be a time for women to reassess their identities, to embrace this next phase in their lives and the freedom from menstruation and menstrual pain, and to challenge negative perceptions of older women, which are prevalent in some societies. We need to send a realistic, balanced message to women and to society: menopause does not herald the start of a period of decay and decline but is a developmental life stage that can be negotiated successfully with access to evidence-based information as well as appropriate social and medical support. Women deserve nothing less. The full article can be found here… https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00462-8/fulltext Women today more than ever need to be aware of how their health can be treated differently to men and know that they have the power to take back control of their health, as a Women’s wellness and success coach, I work closely with women to help them navigate the complicated medical path and have the confidence to challenge health professionals and to be seen, heard and taken seriously when it comes to their health. Because Women deserve to be treated the same as men when it comes to their health. If you are struggling with navigating a health issue and would like to know more

In our fast-paced world, where deadlines loom and schedules overflow, effectively managing time is crucial. However, for individuals grappling with time blindness, this seemingly straightforward task becomes an uphill battle. Time blindness—a term often linked to ADHD—describes a person’s struggle to accurately perceive and manage time, affecting their daily life and well-being significantly. Recognising Time Blindness Understanding whether you’re facing time blindness involves observing your daily habits and reactions to time-related tasks. Here are some signs that might indicate you’re struggling with this issue:  1. Procrastination: The uncertainty around how long tasks will take prompts you to delay starting them, not out of laziness, but due to a genuine struggle with time assessment. 2. Meeting Deadlines: Keeping up with deadlines becomes a maze of confusion, with calendars feeling more like puzzles than organisational tools. 3. Chronic Tardiness: Despite your best intentions, you often find yourself running late for appointments, meetings, or social gatherings, causing stress and potential strain on relationships. 4. Difficulty with Task Transitions: Moving from one activity to another feels particularly challenging, with your mind resisting the shift, thereby disrupting focus and productivity. 5. Inconsistent Time Estimation: You frequently misjudge the time required for tasks, either underestimating or overestimating significantly, leading to poor time management. 6. Impulsivity: You sometimes find yourself acting on your impulses and making choices without thinking of their long-term consequences. You tend to dive into your ideas headfirst without thinking about what happens before, during or after.   Strategies to Overcome Time Blindness If these signs resonate with you, here are some practical steps to improve your relationship with time and enhance your daily productivity: 1. Leverage Digital Tools: Utilise digital calendars and to-do lists to track your commitments and deadlines. Set frequent reminders to keep you informed and prepared for upcoming tasks. 2. Employ Timers and Alarms: Use alarms to maintain awareness of time, especially when engrossed in tasks. The Pomodoro technique, which alternates focused work sessions with short breaks, can help manage time effectively without burnout. 3. Break Down Tasks: Divide larger tasks into smaller, manageable segments. Set specific, timed goals for these smaller tasks to prevent procrastination and ensure steady progress. Embracing a Structured Approach Adopting these strategies can transform how you interact with time, shifting from a source of stress to a structured framework that supports your goals and well-being. By acknowledging the challenges of time blindness and actively seeking solutions, you can navigate your days with greater confidence and efficiency. In conclusion, time blindness need not take over and dominate your life. With awareness and the right tools, you can reclaim control over your time, leading to improved productivity, reduced stress, and a more fulfilling daily experience.