What We Learnt from Our First BEYOND Menopause & Women’s Health Event

Two simple ways to start feeling more like yourself.

What an incredible two days! On 10 and 11 October, we held our very first BEYOND: Real Women. Real Stories. Real Support. event at centre:mk Milton Keynes, as part of International Menopause Month.

We brought together women, health experts, speakers, exhibitors and wellbeing practitioners for a weekend dedicated to menopause, hormone health and everything that comes with navigating midlife.

Across the weekend, there were honest conversations, inspiring stories, practical advice, movement, creativity and plenty of moments when women realised they weren’t the only ones feeling the way they did. For us, that was one of the most important things about BEYOND: reminding women that they’re not alone and don’t have to work everything out by themselves.

We created BEYOND because we know that navigating perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause can sometimes feel confusing, overwhelming and isolating. But we also know that knowledge, support and small changes can make a real difference.

As we reflect on our first event, there are two simple messages we’d love every woman to take away.

1. Start noticing what’s happening to your body

One of the biggest challenges during perimenopause and menopause is that symptoms don’t always arrive neatly or predictably.

You might sleep brilliantly one night and terribly the next, feel full of energy one day and completely exhausted the following afternoon. Perhaps your mood changes, your joints ache, your concentration disappears or you simply don’t feel quite like yourself. These can all be signs of early perimenopause, sometimes even before your periods begin to change.

It’s easy to put these things down to being busy, getting older or having too much on your plate. But what if you started paying a little more attention?

Tracking your menopause symptoms can help you recognise patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by noting how you’re feeling each day, including things like:

• Sleep quality and energy levels
• Mood, anxiety and brain fog
• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Joint aches and physical discomfort
• Period changes, where relevant
• Anything else that feels different for you

You don’t need to record everything. Choose the symptoms that are affecting you most and build a simple habit of checking in with yourself. The important thing is consistency.

A single difficult day might not tell you very much, but tracking over several weeks can help you see whether particular symptoms are recurring, changing or affecting your everyday life.

A little help from MySysters

At BEYOND, we were delighted to welcome MySysters, an app designed to help women track their menopause symptoms and better understand their individual experiences.

Rather than trying to remember everything when you finally sit down with your GP, you can use your symptom records to explain what you’ve been experiencing, how often it’s happening and how it’s affecting your life. This can make conversations with your GP or healthcare professional more focused and productive.

You can explore the app here: MySysters.

Remember, tracking symptoms isn’t about diagnosing yourself. It’s about understanding your experience and having useful information when you ask for support.

2. Choose ONE thing and start where you are

Another message that came through strongly at BEYOND was that we don’t have to change everything at once.

When we’re feeling tired, overwhelmed or unlike ourselves, it’s tempting to think we need a complete lifestyle overhaul. A new diet, a new exercise routine, better sleep, less stress and more time for ourselves. And somehow we’re supposed to start all of that on Monday morning!

But sometimes the best place to begin is much simpler.

Ask yourself: What’s the ONE thing that’s bothering me most at the moment?

Is it your energy? Your sleep? Feeling stressed? Not moving enough? Feeling disconnected from friends or family?

Choose one area and think about one small action that could help. Perhaps you could:

• Go for a 15-minute walk after dinner.
• Start getting ready for bed 30 minutes earlier.
• Spend five minutes stretching or breathing before the day begins.
• Arrange a weekly walk or coffee with a friend.
• Take a proper lunch break instead of eating at your desk.
• Try a beginner-friendly movement or wellbeing class you’ve never considered before.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic or expensive, and you don’t have to do it alone. Why not ask a friend, partner or family member to join you? Having somebody alongside you can make a new habit more enjoyable and easier to maintain.

The important thing is to choose something that feels manageable in your life right now and give yourself the chance to stick with it.

Some days will be easier than others, and that’s absolutely fine. Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It’s about giving yourself the opportunity to discover what helps, and if something isn’t working, you can always adjust it.

Small steps really can make a difference

One of the things we loved most about BEYOND was seeing women try something different.

For some, it was their first experience of Qigong, yoga or breathwork. Others joined creative workshops, listened to expert talks or discovered products and services they hadn’t come across before.

Sometimes we don’t know what might help until we give ourselves permission to try something new. And sometimes that first step is simply talking to somebody who understands what we’re going through.

Of course, not every menopause symptom can be managed through lifestyle changes alone. If your symptoms are persistent, severe or affecting your quality of life, it’s important to speak to your GP about appropriate support and treatment options.

Wherever you are in your menopause journey, you deserve to feel listened to, informed and supported.

BEYOND was just the beginning

To everyone who visited, shared their experiences, asked questions, joined workshops, listened to our speakers or simply stopped for a conversation, thank you.

We’re also incredibly grateful to our wonderful exhibitors, instructors, experts and supporters who helped bring BEYOND to life.

We’ve learnt so much from our first event, and we’re excited about what comes next. Through BEYOND and Olive Collective CIC, we want to continue sharing practical menopause advice, expert knowledge, honest conversations and opportunities for women to connect. We believe support shouldn’t stop when an event finishes.

So, we’d love to leave you with a little challenge for this week:

Notice one thing. Change one thing. Keep going.

Start where you are, invite somebody along and see where those small steps take you. You don’t have to do everything, and you certainly don’t have to do it alone.