Episode Overview

In this short but honest Sanity Check, Aileen and Julie unpack what taking a holiday really means when you're juggling a business, parenting, and the relentless mental load of modern life. From Aileen’s seaside escape in Spain (featuring a surprise meerkat) to Julie’s chaotic family visit up north, both share how even time away doesn’t always mean switching off.

They explore the guilt, the pressure, the impossibility of true rest—and why we need to redefine what a break looks like in this phase of life.

Key Discussion Points

• Why it’s so hard to truly disconnect as a mum and business owner
• The pressure to “use” holidays productively (and the guilt when we don’t)
• How rest might look different now—an hour alone, a change of scene, a walk by the sea
• The 35,000 decisions we make daily—and how even reducing one can feel like a win
• Why redefining rest is essential for our sanity, even if it’s imperfect

Listener Takeaways

• You don’t need to earn rest—you just need to allow it.
• A holiday doesn’t have to look like a postcard to count.
• Even small, imperfect moments of letting go can be enough.
• Stop measuring the success of a break by how rested you feel.
• The mental load doesn’t clock off—but you can give yourself permission to pause.

Join the Conversation

What does a real break look like for you? We’d love to know.
DM us on Instagram or leave us a voice note with your thoughts.
And if you know someone who needs this reminder—send them this episode. 💛

Links:

• Join our YKMS WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jcjq9gzY26G1f1iSV65auZ
• Follow YKMS Podcast on IG @youkeepmesane.pod
• Follow YKMS on FB https://www.facebook.com/YouKeepMeSanePod
• Email us at hello@youkeepmesane.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.youkeepmesane.com/subscribe/

Download our FREE e-book: ENOUGH - Just As You Are https://www.youkeepmesane.com/shop/

Hosts: Aileen Harvey & Julie Fahy

Editor: Allia Lenit Galos

See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for privacy information

Disclaimer:

Remember, we’re two friends sharing our personal experiences and discussing everyday challenges. We’re not qualified coaches or therapists, and our content is for general information and supportive conversation only. If you need professional help, please seek advice from a licensed therapist.

Episode Overview

This week, we’re diving deep into the menopausal middle—the physical, emotional, and psychological shift that happens during perimenopause. What started as a simple sanity check sparked a huge response from our listeners, so we’re going further.

We’re talking about the silent confusion, the disorienting body changes, the grief, and the unexpected loss of identity that so many of us are experiencing—but rarely speaking about. From belly fat to brain fog, muscle loss to mood shifts, and even a re-evaluation of friendships, we share what’s helped us and why we need to approach this season with gentleness, honesty, and a hell of a lot of grace.

Key Discussion Points

• Why body changes in midlife feel so destabilising
• The silent identity shift behind the weight and wardrobe stress
• The lasting impact of dieting and why strength training matters now
• The emotional toll: grief, confusion, and unexpected loss
• How shifting friendships reflect who we’re becoming
• Our go-to tips for feeling better—inside and out
• Reframing midlife as a transition, not a decline

Listener Takeaways

• You’re not alone—millions of women feel this shift
• This isn’t about willpower—it’s biology and identity
• Small changes can create real relief
• Rest and nervous system care matter as much as protein and training
• This phase may feel messy—but it’s not the end. It’s a becoming.

💬 Join the Conversation

We’d love to hear how this stage is showing up in your life. Are you feeling the shift? What’s helped you feel more yourself again?

Drop us a voice note or DM—and share this with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone.

BetterHelp Paid Partnership - Get 10% off your first month

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our paid partner BetterHelp. Visit https://betterhelp.com/youkeepmesane for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy.

BetterHelp makes it easy to find a therapist who suits your needs. Their online platform connects you with credentialed therapists, and if your first match isn’t the right fit, you can switch.

Links:

• Join our YKMS WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jcjq9gzY26G1f1iSV65auZ
• Follow YKMS Podcast on IG @youkeepmesane.pod
• Follow YKMS on FB https://www.facebook.com/YouKeepMeSanePod
• Email us at hello@youkeepmesane.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.youkeepmesane.com/subscribe/

Download our FREE e-book: ENOUGH - Just As You Are https://www.youkeepmesane.com/shop/

Hosts: Aileen Harvey & Julie Fahy

Editor: Allia Lenit Galos

See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for privacy information

Disclaimer:

Remember, we’re two friends sharing our personal experiences and discussing everyday challenges. We’re not qualified coaches or therapists, and our content is for general information and supportive conversation only. If you need professional help, please seek advice from a licensed therapist.

Episode Overview:

In this Sanity Check episode, Julie and Aileen dive into the hormonal chaos that hits when perimenopause and parenting teenagers collide. It's the messy middle no one warned us about—when your body feels like it’s breaking down just as your kids are ramping up. From brain fog to teen meltdowns, they share the raw, relatable truth about trying to hold it all together when everyone under the roof is riding a hormonal rollercoaster.

🔑 Key Discussion Points:

• The double whammy of navigating perimenopause while raising hormonal teenagers.
• Feeling blindsided by brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, and exhaustion—and not knowing what hit you.
• Why no one prepared us for this brutal life stage overlap.
• How societal narratives (think cranky fairy-tale witches) reflect deep-rooted stereotypes about older women.
• The emotional strength we do gain during this season—and why it’s often overlooked.
• The importance of female friendships and honest conversations to survive this hormonal storm.
• Hope from the other side: what gets better and why it’s not all downhill from here.
• Reframing the chaos as a powerful shedding of what no longer serves us.

💬 Listener Takeaways:

• You're not alone if you're crying in the car while your teen slams the door. This stage is hard, and that doesn't mean you're failing.
• Talk about it—with friends, with us, with anyone who gets it. We need each other more than ever in this season.
• Take heart: on the other side of this storm is clarity, power, and a deep knowing of who you are.
• Be kind to yourself. You’re going through a massive transformation while holding a family together. That’s no small feat.

📣 Join the Conversation:

Have you felt this hormonal collision in your own life?
Leave us a voicemail or email us at hello@youkeepmesane.com.
We’d love to hear from you and share your thoughts in a future episode. 💛

And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and send this to a friend who needs to know she’s not the only one feeling like she’s losing it some days.

Links:

• Join our YKMS WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jcjq9gzY26G1f1iSV65auZ
• Follow YKMS Podcast on IG @youkeepmesane.pod
• Follow YKMS on FB https://www.facebook.com/YouKeepMeSanePod
• Email us at hello@youkeepmesane.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.youkeepmesane.com/subscribe/

Download our FREE e-book: ENOUGH - Just As You Are https://www.youkeepmesane.com/shop/

Hosts: Aileen Harvey & Julie Fahy

Editor: Allia Lenit Galos

See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for privacy information

Disclaimer:

Remember, we’re two friends sharing our personal experiences and discussing everyday challenges. We’re not qualified coaches or therapists, and our content is for general information and supportive conversation only. If you need professional help, please seek advice from a licensed therapist.