If women in the past thought of menopause as the beginning of the end, more and more women today are seizing upon this time of transition as an opportunity to make important changes in their lifestyles and behavior. As mentioned earlier, many women devote their pre-menopausal adult years to focusing outward, on the demands of family, finances, and careers. As a woman approaches menopause, however, her life may offer her many new opportunities for personal freedom and growth. Many postmenopausal women find that their family and home lives actually improve at this time and that they have a greater sense of personal fulfillment.

From “Reproductive” to “Productive”

With less time spent caring for young children, or developing first-time relationships with husbands or partners, or gaining a foothold in the workplace, postmenopausal women can devote more time to their personal interests. Women find new energy and interest in returning to pursuits they abandoned in their twenties and thirties, including creative outlets such as painting, writing, and photography. Many women at the age of menopause find themselves able to devote time and energy to travel, finishing an abandoned academic degree, or starting a new business.

Menopause is a time when many women make important lifestyle changes. During most of your life, you may not have worried much about issues such as nutrition and exercise or the health-threatening impact of smoking, living with stress, or inadequate sleep. But as you approach the age of menopause, you may find that you're ready to make changes in your habits in order to ensure a happier, healthier future. In fact, though the stereotype of age may be that it's a time of reminiscence and living in the past, many women find themselves contemplating the future more than ever as they approach menopause. Though you may be nearing the end of your reproductive years, your productivity may achieve levels you've never known.