Purpose over Pinot

I’m training for an event. The event itself doesn’t matter. What matters is that for the last few months I’ve had a purpose. A new framework to my day.

Maybe I’m strange, but I love working towards something that exists completely outside the usual pressures of life. It’s like putting on a fresh pair of glasses and suddenly seeing everything in sharper focus. My days have been shaped by the question: “Does this choice get me closer to my goal?”

I’m eating to fuel, sleeping like it’s a competitive sport, timing my day with military precision, and making my workouts a non-negotiable part of the schedule. All so that when it’s showtime, I am ready.

If I’m going to tell my clients the importance of healthy habits for a strong, independent life as we age, then I have to walk the walk. I can’t just stand on the sidelines waving my “you should” finger. I need to push myself outside my comfort zone too. Physically. Mentally. Nutritionally.

So in keeping with my own advice, I’ve cut out alcohol.

Now, I’m not a big drinker at the best of times. Even during Christmas and New Year when everyone else seems to be in a three-week Prosecco haze, I’m usually the one nursing my single glass. But still, I have found this surprisingly hard. And not because of cravings, but because of people’s reactions.

There is something about saying “I’m not drinking” that sends a ripple of confusion across a social gathering. Girls’ drinks on a Saturday afternoon: “Just a sparkling mineral water with a lemon slice, thanks.” Cue gasps. “What? No Pinot Gris? Are you sick? Are you pregnant?”

Menopause has already taught me that my body is less tolerant of certain things — and alcohol is right up there at the top of that list. We all know it messes with our sleep, fuels hot flushes, throws a party with our anxiety, and gives our liver more work than it deserves at this age. And yet, social life seems built around it.

I’ll admit, there’s still a tiny part of me that feels I’m missing out. But then the next morning rolls around. I’m up with the magpies, running under a clear sky while the air still feels new. Meanwhile my friends are horizontal, dark sunglasses on, contemplating whether they have the energy to toast a crumpet.

The longer I’ve gone without, the more I’ve noticed the difference. My training is sharper. My recovery is faster. My brain fog has lifted. My mood is more even. My skin even looks a bit smug about the whole thing. And there is a quiet satisfaction in knowing that I am making choices my future self will thank me for.

I’m not promising a lifetime ban on a late night and a dirty martini. Those green olives at the bottom of the glass are far too tempting. But for now, I’m enjoying the upside of being the most disciplined version of myself.

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to be training for an event to try this. You don’t even need to make it forever. Pick something , anything , that challenges your routine and demands you show up for yourself every day. It could be signing up for a charity walk, committing to morning swims, or giving your body a month without alcohol just to see what changes.

Menopause can make us feel like our bodies are running the show, but the truth is we have more control than we think. Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to one new challenge and watching how everything else in your life starts to align.

So give it a go. You might surprise yourself. And you might just find that the best high of all doesn’t come from a glass. It comes from knowing you are showing up for your own life, wide awake and ready.