The last two weeks have been interesting.

Last week I went on a media deprivation week. I found that it gave my nervous system a break and kept me busy doing other things, like taking my Spanish lessons and working on my chess skills. I’m doing these things to help my mind with brain fog and to keep my brain from aging, although I’ve heard women reach peak brain power between 55 and 60. Something to be said about being a crone.

I will officially be in menopause at the end of this week, and I’m excited about it. Perimenopause will be a thing of the past, and I can look forward to symptoms eventually fading, although I have a host of symptoms right now. I highly recommend HRT; it has made a difference for me. The brain fog from menopause and POTS was horrible, but once I started doing microlearning and being more outgoing with friends, having that interaction, I noticed it wasn’t so bad.

I had a major flare-up last week, which is one of the reasons I didn’t write. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and was completely exhausted. I let myself sleep it off and took extra-special care of myself, and it passed after about three days.

Lately, I’ve been having feelings of burnout. Despite shorter workdays, I’ve had moments of “what’s the use?” It can feel like what I’m doing isn’t moving me forward, even when it actually is, I just can’t see it yet. I decided to go on Instagram, which isn’t a platform I know very well, but it’s where the customers are, so I decided to go for it. When I let myself sleep as long as I wanted, the feeling of burnout went away.

The challenge is short workdays. I only have the energy for about three hours a day. I’m hoping the CHOP protocol will help me with conditioning so I can do more. For now, I have to do what I can with what I have.

I’m grateful to have good business coaches through the SCORE Business Center. They volunteer their time to help new entrepreneurs like me succeed, and I feel blessed. I’m also blessed to have a strong team at school, my regular advisor, who is also the chair of my dissertation committee, and my new disability advisor, both dedicated to my success. I also have a good therapist who works with people 40 and over, so she understands what it’s like to deal with aging. Sometimes it’s hard to cope with a body that’s aging alongside chronic health issues. Some days, just surviving feels tough.

I’m working through The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, and the past few weeks have focused on goal setting, visualization and affirmations, and belief in yourself. Goals are important to speak, write down, and share with others so you commit to actions toward them each week. I’ve found someone I can work on my goals with, and I’m excited about that. I also recorded my goals and affirmations with calming music to listen to at night and uplifting music to listen to in the morning and at midday.

This week’s lesson is all about believing in yourself. Belief matters, and one thing that helps is reading inspiring stories, books and listening to podcasts from people like you who have made their lives a success. I bought several books about women entrepreneurs and late-blooming women, and I’m really excited to read them at night as the last thing I do before bed.

This week I’ll start doing visualizations morning and night, and I’ll let you know how it goes. I’ve found that when I’m struggling with my health, doing something inspirational, like working through Jack Canfield or The Artist’s Way, is especially helpful for me. The Artist’s Way is a morning practice for me, and Jack Canfield is more of a weekend focus. Both have been very helpful.

That was my week. I’m hoping to have more energy this coming week, but even if I don’t, I know I’ll still make progress toward my goals, even if it’s just a little bit.

Sending love and good energy to everyone who reads this.