Perimenopause Led Me To A Second Act Career Change

I was a lawyer. I had been a lawyer for 20 years. I thought I would be a lawyer until I retired. Then perimenopause happened and I realized I could not continue in my career. The stress, the hours, the constant pressure were making my symptoms worse. Instead of just suffering through, I asked myself a dangerous question. What if I did something different? What if I actually pursued what I wanted to do instead of what I thought I should do? Six months later, I had started a new career. It was terrifying and it was the best decision I ever made.

How I got here

I had gone to law school because my parents wanted me to. I had become a lawyer because it was respectable and paid well. But I had never really loved it. I had spent 20 years doing something I did not love because I thought that was what I was supposed to do. When perimenopause started, I realized how much my work was affecting my health. The stress was making my symptoms worse. The long hours meant I did not have time to exercise or cook healthy food. The pressure meant I was constantly anxious. I was unhappy. And I realized that I only had maybe 20 more years until retirement. Did I really want to spend those years doing something I did not love?

What I actually did

I started researching other careers. What did I actually want to do? What made me happy? I realized I loved writing. I loved connecting with people. I realized I wanted to do something meaningful, not just lucrative. I decided to become a career coach. I took a course. I got certified. I started small, seeing clients part-time while I was still working as a lawyer. My perimenopause symptoms actually improved because I had something to look forward to. Six months later, I had enough clients that I could leave law and transition to full-time career coaching. It was scary and it was exhilarating.

What actually changed

My stress decreased. My symptoms improved. I was actually excited about my work again. I was helping people instead of helping corporations. I made less money but I needed less money because my stress-related expenses decreased. My health improved. My relationships improved. My mood improved. My energy improved. The decision to change careers during perimenopause was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What my routine looks like now

I work as a career coach. I see clients both in person and via video call. I set my own schedule. I have flexibility for my perimenopause management. I track my satisfaction and wellbeing using PeriPlan and I can see clearly that my wellbeing is much better when I am doing work I love. Career change during perimenopause was the best gift I could have given myself.

If you are wondering if you could do something different, the answer is yes. Perimenopause might be the push you need to make a change you have been thinking about. You do not have to keep doing something you do not love. It is never too late to pursue your second act. This is not career advice and career change involves many considerations. Talk to a career coach or therapist about your specific situation.