Charlie Reid

11/25/2025

Every company wants high performance… but very few understand what quietly eats away at productivity, drives presenteeism, and spikes turnover, or how much it’s actually costing them.

Most executives don’t lose their edge because they’ve lost ambition. They lose it because their physiology shifts long before their drive does. Stress, hormones, and metabolism changes hit performance first, yet workplaces keep misdiagnosing it as burnout or “motivation issues.”

This video breaks down:
• The hidden cost of midlife decline
• Why these biological shifts matter to your bottom line
• And how companies that get it now will dominate the market in 2025

Comment CARE if you want the invite to our Executive Roundtable on Dec 4 or Dec 11, where we go deeper and give you the tools to tackle the Midlife Performance Crisis before it tackles you

11/22/2025

It’s Not Burnout, It’s Biology
Midlife performance changes aren’t just a “women’s menopause issue.” They affect everyone, men and women, because stress physiology, hormones, and metabolism all shift between the ages of 40–60.

For women, changes in estrogen and progesterone impact cognition, sleep, stress tolerance, and metabolic regulation.
For men, declining testosterone affects confidence, motivation, energy, and recovery.

Layer decades of chronic stress on top of that, and both genders can get caught in the Midlife Performance Decline Loop:
stress → hormonal shifts → metabolic changes → sleep disruption → cognitive + emotional strain → even more stress.

This isn’t burnout. It’s biology, and it shows up in performance, leadership, team dynamics, and the bottom line.

Key takeaway for employers: High performers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are impacted, and most workplace wellness programs aren’t built to address it.

Have you noticed these shifts in yourself or in your leadership team? Comment below. This is the performance conversation companies need to be having.

Supporting data:

▪️Chronic stress shifts the body toward cortisol dominance, reducing prefrontal cortex activation, which lowers working memory, emotional regulation, and strategic decision-making. (MITPerspective - Neuroscience and Psychiatry, 2024)
▪️2022 McKinsey study: executives cite chronic stress as the #1 contributor to declining performance after age 45.

11/19/2025

Ladies, if the thought of holiday stress makes your cortisol start singing “All I Want for Christmas Is… a Nap,” you are not alone.

Between travel, family, sugar temptations, and endless to-do lists, the season can feel like a full-contact sport, especially for women in perimenopause or menopause. But here’s the secret: thriving doesn’t mean running faster. It means going smarter.

Slow down to go fast:
▪️Pause before panic. Five slow breaths can reset your nervous system.
▪️Eat protein before parties to avoid sugar crashes.
▪️Protect your sleep, it’s the unsung hero of hormonal balance.
▪️Guard your joy and boundaries like precious gifts; your hormones are listening.

This isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. About choosing what you can control, even when everything else feels chaotic.

Want the full roadmap to navigate cortisol, cravings, and chaos without losing your mind, or your holiday joy? Check out my latest blog: The Holiday Survival Guide for Hormones. https://thejoyofmenopause.com/holiday-hormone-survival-guide/

This season, strength isn’t about pushing through. It’s about moving with intention, pacing yourself, and letting your body and hormones lead the way.

11/17/2025

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year, and for women navigating hormonal transitions, that stress can have a measurable impact on health, sleep, and overall well-being.

Our latest blog, The Holiday Survival Guide for Hormones, explores how cortisol, serotonin, and estrogen shifts influence energy levels, cravings, and emotional resilience during high-stress seasons.

Inside, you’ll find practical, science-backed strategies to help women maintain balance, physically and emotionally, through the busiest time of year.

Read the full article: https://thejoyofmenopause.com/holiday-hormone-survival-guide/

11/14/2025

The FDA just removed the black-box warning from most hormone-therapy products, a move making headlines across women’s health.

But what does it really mean?
No new studies. Just a re-evaluation of existing data and a long-overdue shift toward balanced, evidence-based context.

Watch the video for a quick breakdown of what this update actually means for women and for the workplace.

11/11/2025

The FDA Just Changed Hormone Therapy Warnings: What It Means for Women and Work

This week, the FDA removed the long-standing black-box warning from most hormone-therapy products used in menopause care, a move that’s been met with equal parts celebration and skepticism.
And that reaction is justified.

It’s progress! because it finally reflects what science has been telling us for years: When hormone therapy is started within about 10 years of menopause onset, it’s associated with significant benefits, including lower risks of cardiovascular disease, bone loss, and cognitive decline.

But it’s also a reminder that women’s health decisions still too often come from systems built by people who don’t live in women’s bodies.

At The Joy of Menopause, we believe in bridging both worlds, evidence-based science and lived experience.

Hormone therapy can be a powerful tool. But it’s not the whole answer. The truth is that Menopause is a natural stage of life, not a disease. But the symptoms, 34+ are the problem. And, hormone therapy is just one tool to support women in their evolving journey. Nutrition, sleep, stress, gut and liver health, and emotional resilience are equally vital to thriving in midlife and beyond.

And this isn’t just about personal health, it’s about workplace health.

Women make up the most experienced, skilled segment of today’s workforce. Yet 95 % of U.S. companies have no structured menopause support, leaving women to struggle silently while businesses lose leadership, creativity, and institutional knowledge.

That’s why we created the Quiet Confidence Hub, a done-for-you menopause education and support portal for forward-thinking companies. It’s where employees learn how to become the CEO of their menopause journey, managers learn how to lead with empathy, and HR gets the tools and data to make better policy decisions, all while protecting employee privacy.

Because menopause isn’t just a women’s issue.
It’s a workplace advantage when handled right.

The Food and Drug Administration will remove the "black box" warning from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products for menopause.

11/10/2025

Let’s talk about that third cup of coffee you’re probably sipping right now. No judgment, I’ve been there.

Here’s the truth: caffeine doesn’t give you energy, it borrows it… with interest. That 3 p.m. crash? Blame your hormones and blood sugar, not age.

During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen and progesterone start taking longer lunch breaks. The result: energy dips, mood swings, and a coffee habit that’s doing more harm than good.

Good news, your energy isn’t gone, it’s just mismanaged. My latest blog, “How to Stay Energized & Skip that $7 Latte,” shows how to:

▪️Stop the “But First, Coffee” trap
▪️Eat with your hormones and skip the crashes
▪️Make small shifts for all-day energy

Read the full blog and reclaim your energy!
Tap the link to read the full blog: https://thejoyofmenopause.com/energy-boost-without-latte/

11/07/2025

Every company that invests in employee wellbeing gains something priceless: trust, retention, and real productivity.

The Quiet Confidence Hub™ helps HR teams integrate menopause education quietly and effectively, with no heavy rollout, no awkward conversations, and no need for personal disclosure.

It’s a simple, evidence-based shift that builds confidence, loyalty, and a culture where everyone feels supported and empowered to thrive.

Let’s make workplace wellbeing genuinely holistic.

Follow along to learn more, and find out what this quiet revolution could mean for you and your employees.

11/05/2025

Feeling like November is one long nap you can’t quite wake up from? There’s a reason, and it’s not just the weather.

As daylight fades, your hormones start doing their own version of daylight saving chaos. Serotonin drops, melatonin rises, and suddenly your body’s craving carbs, naps, and fuzzy socks on repeat.

But here’s where it gets interesting: women in the perimenopause transition feel this shift twice as hard. Why? Because fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that manage energy, mood, and metabolism, start dancing out of sync with your stress hormone, cortisol.

And when cortisol stays on high alert for too long (thanks to work stress, family schedules, and holiday overload), your body doesn’t just get tired, it burns out.

So no, it’s not “just stress.” It’s biology.
And once you understand what’s happening under the hood, you can finally stop pushing through and start working with your body instead of against it.

Read the full breakdown in my latest blog: “Why Women Hit a Wall in November”

Because when you know the science, you can rewrite the story.

11/03/2025

It’s not your imagination; November really does hit harder.
Less light, shifting hormones, and rising stress levels combine to create what I call Seasonal Stress Syndrome.

In this week’s blog, I break down why women feel the energy dip this time of year, and how small, science-backed shifts in light, movement, nourishment, boundaries, and gratitude can help you reset your focus and resilience.

Because thriving through November isn’t about “pushing through”, it’s about understanding your biology and working with it.

Read the full post here → https://thejoyofmenopause.com/seasonal-stress-syndrome-november-women/

10/29/2025

If you’ve been cutting calories or skipping meals to feel “in control,” here’s a better way.
Menopause nutrition isn’t about restriction; it’s about replenishment.

When you eat for balance, with enough protein, fiber, and healthy fats, your body starts to feel calmer, stronger, and more you.

Here’s why this matters:

Research shows women in the menopause transition benefit from higher-quality protein and balanced macronutrient intake. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that diets higher in protein and moderate in fat were associated with less weight gain after menopause (Gibson et al., 2018).

Fiber and healthy fats are key for hormone balance and gut health. Studies suggest fiber helps manage estrogen metabolism, while omega-3 fatty acids support brain and hormone function (Slavin, 2013; Giltay et al., 2004).

As estrogen declines, inflammation and abdominal fat can increase. Nutrient-rich foods, especially those high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, help reduce this risk and support long-term vitality (Zhao et al., 2022).

What’s your go-to hormone-friendly meal lately?
Share it below! Let’s build a thread full of real, nourishing meal ideas that help us all feel better, inside and out.

10/27/2025

Hormones shift during the menopause transition, but the right food can smooth the ride. In my new blog, “Food, Fuel, and Balance: Eating Well Through Menopause,” I’m breaking down how what’s on your plate can help balance mood, energy, and those unpredictable hormone swings.

Here’s why you don’t want to skip this one:
▪️You’ll learn how the right foods can calm the cortisol chaos and keep energy steady.
▪️You’ll discover which nutrients actually support estrogen and progesterone (and which ones mess with them).
▪️And you’ll finally understand why restriction backfires, and what to do instead.

Menopause affects millions of workers, but with knowledge, support, and smart nutrition, this change of life can become a time of strength, not struggle.

Read the full blog here → https://thejoyofmenopause.com/hormone-balance-nutrition-for-menopause/

Because when you eat for your hormones, you’re not just feeding your bodyyou’re fueling your power.