Monday Motivation: Menopause & Mental Clarity

Monday, Menopause, and Mental Clarity: Beating the Blues

I’ve been away from the gym for a week, thanks to work travel in France, and let me tell you—I’m feeling it.

But here I am, back on the treadmill, back in my 5:30 a.m. head-clearing zone, and finally able to breathe.

Monday means a reset. A fresh start. A chance to plan the best way forward.

And after last week? I need it.

By Friday, my brain was ready to explode.

Trying to work in another country is one thing, but trying to navigate conversations in a language you barely understand? That’s another level. My French is, shall we say, limited, and while my colleagues did their best to translate, so much just got lost.

It was exhausting.

The relief I felt seeing my husband waiting for me at the airport on Friday night was unreal.

No more brain fog. No more second-guessing every conversation. Just home.

But back to this morning. Back to clarity. And back to the gym—because I think I will need an extra-long session today.

Blue Monday: Fact or Fiction?

Apparently, today is Blue Monday, the so-called most depressing day of the year.

Ever heard of it? The term popped up in 2005 as part of a PR stunt by a British travel company. They used a formula (backed by psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall) to pinpoint the third Monday in January as the gloomiest of the year, based on post-Christmas debt, dark winter days, failing New Year’s resolutions, and general lack of motivation.

It makes sense, doesn't it?

It’s cold, the festive season is long gone, and reality is back in full force. But a lot of experts call this theory nonsense. Depression isn’t a 24-hour thing, and real conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) don’t magically appear and disappear in a day. A neuroscientist, even said, “There is no such thing as a 24-hour depression.”

But here’s the thing—whether Blue Monday is scientific or not, all of us feel the weight of this time of year.

And instead of sinking into the gloom, maybe today should be about something else.

Use Today to Reset

If your New Year plans already feel like they’re slipping, so what?

Use today as a fresh start. Be realistic, be kind to yourself, and move forward.

It’s not about fixing everything overnight—it’s about taking one step, then another.

For me, that step is getting back on the treadmill, finding my focus, and reminding myself that progress isn’t linear.

Whether it’s fitness, work, or just managing life as a menopausal woman (hello, brain fog!), we’re all figuring it out as we go.

So, if today feels heavy, don’t let it define you.

Take a deep breath, reset, and move forward—at your own pace.

Claire x