Emma's story

Menopause Inspiration

Making time for the garden has been life changing for Emma. She shares the ways it creates ‘pockets of joy’ and has supported during menopause.

Around a year ago, Emma started noticing unusual symptoms. She was having sleepless nights, heart palpitations and feeling anxious – in general, feeling unlike herself.

“I started wondering if this was menopause. It was not expected, as I’d experienced medical menopause more than 10 years earlier. But, I consulted with a specialist at Newson Health and they confirmed it was.”

Following discussions with Newson Health, who Emma describe as fantastic and incredibly supportive, she started looking into ways to help her manage her symptoms.

“I’m an Occupational Therapist and understand the benefits of meaningful occupation and how this can support our mental health and wellbeing”

Making time for the garden

Curved beds in the garden

Several years earlier, Emma had relocated to a house with a good plot of land. Despite this and her husband being into gardening, a busy working life had stopped her getting into the garden as much as she’d have liked.

“I made the decision to make a complete lifestyle change. I was very fortunate that this came at the right time for me to be able to take a career break. I could finally make time for the garden!”

Feeling the benefits

A decked area with colourful flowers

As Emma turned her focus from working life to her garden project – along with other activities like pilates and walking - she was soon feeling the benefits.

[gardening has] given me a real sense of purpose and kept my brain active.
Emma

“I was completely immersed, planning what to do in the garden and researching plants. I enjoyed it so much, I registered with the RHS and have started a garden design course! It’s given me a real sense of purpose and kept my brain active.”

Within the garden, they now grow vegetables and have sensory plants like lavender and herbs.

Cooking with home grown produce

“It’s been quite life changing,” says Emma. “Gardening encompasses many different areas that are therapeutic to me – being outdoors is great for mental health and wellbeing, completing gardening activities, researching and planning planting projects gives me structure and routine and a sense of achievement.“

“I could be digging or weeding – I’m totally engaged in the activity.”

"It's been quite life changing ... gardening encompasses many different areas that are therapeutic to me."
Emma

Emma noticed that time in the garden was having a positive impact on her menopause symptoms too:

“I started sleeping better, as I was outside more. My feelings of anxiety reduced.”

“I was also keeping physically well, from all the active gardening. And, because we were growing our own food I was more conscious of healthy eating.”

Giving back

With a growing appreciation of gardening, together with some free time, Emma also felt she wanted to give back. This is where Thrive came in.

It’s great to be able to support others. I’m getting a lot out of it.
Emma

“I approached Thrive about volunteering at their Kings Heath garden in Birmingham. I now volunteer there one day a week. I know how important participating in gardening is and how good it is for health and wellbeing. It’s great to be able to support others. I’m getting a lot out of it.”

“It’s hard to put into words the impact of menopause. It creeps in over time. But, in every way, gardening has opened a new path for me.”

Emma’s top tips

Bunches of home grown herbs

Having gained so much from spending time in her garden, Emma has tips for anyone else starting out:

Garden centre trips can be good for inspiration. When I started out I didn’t know the difference between annuals and perennials, or what to prune when! And it can feel like pressure to learn everything. But walking round a garden centre, you can get familiar with plants when you read the labels.
Start with simple, satisfying projects. You could just plant a basket or a small border and then enjoy watering the plants and sitting outside admiring your hard work.
Do a little at a time. If you’re not feeling motivated, just do something small, like going out and pruning roses.
Don’t be afraid. Menopause in particular can make you feel low in confidence. Find something you’re interested in and don’t feel worried about trying something new.
Herbs are great. I used to have a little herb garden in a crate, so I could pick basil and add it to cooking. That was lovely – gardening is about finding little pockets of joy!
The sounds of nature can be calming. This can be captured whilst gardening, an experience for all the senses.
Allow yourself to take that moment. We are all so busy. But, take the time to stop, bend down and smell a scented rose. I never used to allow myself that time. But now in the garden I realise I can be productive and fulfilled.

Share your story

We love hearing about how your gardens and our Thrive advice have helped support your wellbeing. If you would like to share your story, email info@thrive.org.uk