Our Story
Positive Pause: The menopause in the workplace experts
Positive Pause are menopause in the workplace campaigners, we’re passionate about spreading menopause awareness within the workplace as we believe this is where it impacts most people, whether as an individual, a partner, or colleague.
We embrace every stage of women’s reproductive health, pre, peri, meno and post-menopause. We believe people at any age or gender need to be menopause aware. There is no one-size-fits-all.
Formed in 2016, by Ann and Jo, both menopausal, frustrated (at the time) by the lack of relatable menopause information available online as we navigated the perimenopausal minefield. We hope that by sharing our knowledge, discoveries and experiences in a more optimistic, upbeat approach, you’ll find the information and support you need during this complex and often confusing time in your life.
We’ve collaborated with many medical and menopause experts so we can share what we've learnt and help others be more positive about their pause.
We like to think that we're like a glossy magazine that women will want to revisit, for menopause advice. We use affiliate links and accept sponsored posts from time to time but only for the products that we've used and liked or would be more than happy to use, wear, eat!
“I just wanted to thank you both so very much for a wonderful afternoon at your event on Saturday. Your speakers were amazing, and their advice was invaluable. I learnt so much…I love your site, I cannot imagine how many women you have helped (saved!) You are both amazing.
Thank you ”
The History…
Jo's Story
When my doctor told me that I was perimenopausal, I looked at her blankly, then grimaced as a word that included ‘menopause’ was aimed at me. At least ten years earlier, I'd been listening to a discussion about menopause on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, thinking that by the time I hit menopause, there'd be huge awareness, women would have a voice, know exactly what they needed to do and how to take control.
Fast forward 10 years - I came out of the doctor’s surgery, got on the train to work and typed ‘perimenopause’ into my phone. Where were these entertaining, informative and relatable sites I'd foreseen back when menopause was many menstrual cycles down the line? Yes, there was masses of information but I seemed to be entering into a melancholy world of gloomy, menopausal endings and I wanted to be able to quickly identify what my own symptoms were, and more importantly, find out how to get on top of them.
Meeting up with my contemporaries, including Ann, we’d invariably end up complaining about hot flushes, anxiety, our swinging moods or aching joints. These bright, lively, usually well-informed women were all saying how unsure and ill-equipped they felt they were, to deal with menopause.
If we couldn’t find a site that would inform, entertain and reassure in a way that spoke to us, Ann and I decided that we’d do it ourselves. Taking on the menopause mantle, our website was born.
Ann's Story
When Jo mentioned in conversation she was perimenopausal, I hadn’t a clue what she meant? Looking back now it’s obvious that I was perimenopausal too, but I didn’t know anything about the magical mystery tour that leads to menopause. With my lack of education in women’s reproductive health, I thought menopause was when your periods stopped and women got hot flushes. I never suffered hot flushes and my periods were still regular. What I was experiencing were all the psychological symptoms the book of menopause could throw at me, I’d lost my mental mojo, and Jo had turned my lightbulb on.
In the same conversation she’d talked about the lack of relatable information online and in her jokey manner mentioned about starting a website. At the time I didn’t think anything of it, but as my symptoms ramped up and I consumed more menopause information, I realised that there really wasn’t anything that catered for women like us, women who wanted vibrant, friendly, relatable and credible menopause messaging.
I sent her a text to say if she was really serious about starting a website then I was in, that dear friends is the history of how we began.
We have since shared our knowledge on national news, radio stations, podcasts, consumer events and are proud to have reached many more menopausal women, plus partners, colleagues and their line managers, with Positive Pause menopause in the workplace sessions in a wide variety of organisations.
Meet the Team
It all begins with an idea. This is just what Jo and Ann found when they entered their menopausal years.
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Jo has worked in education, in one way or another, since leaving university. Much of her work requires strong communication skills and a passion for what she does. She brings these skills to bear in PositivePause simplifying key ideas and options. Her online life happened by chance but she’s had a lot of fun learning new skills, (still lots to learn), trying out new things and meeting new people. Naturally exercise-avoidant she's trying to practice what she preaches which can be seen in some of the PositivePause vlogs (but who's Eric, and who's Ernie?).
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Ann has a long career in the design business. Originally in fashion, as senior designer for Mulberry, Laura Ashley & Conran Design Group. Re-training as an interior designer, she has over 20 years’ experience in ID and teaches the subject in adult education. Her lack of knowledge about peri/menopause was the driving force behind developing PositivePause. Ann’s experience of running high-quality adult learning courses, her presentation skills and attention to detail, enabled PositivePause to run first-rate menopause public events, awareness sessions for HCP and within organisations. The necessity to take the business online led her to build an online learning platform, encompassing her skills to design, develop and co-ordinate an elite learning experience.
“I just wanted to say that I heard you on Woman’s Hour & love your website & what you are trying to do. All hail to you both, thank you very much!”
Menopause Movement - our sister business
“Women in midlife feel largely ignored, invisible and irrelevant, and this is particularly true when it comes to sport and exercise. Yet sustaining fitness and activity levels for women of this age has such life-changing benefits in relation to happiness, mental wellbeing and physical health, now and into later life” 84%* of women going into menopause want to be more active but lack confidence*
In partnership with our clinical lead, Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Christien Bird, we’ve developed Menopause Movement, a training platform for all the health & fitness pros, and healthcare professionals who work with women to help them find their confidence on their movement journey in menopause.
To date, we’ve trained over 300 professionals. Check out our Menopause Movement Directory to find an accredited health & fitness pro who can help you exercise safely and confidently benefitting your mind & body in menopause.
*(Inspiring Women to be Active During Midlife and Menopause, Women In Sport, May 2021)