Welcome back to Dear Kindra, our advice column where we answer all the burning menopause-related questions from our community.

This month, we're talking holidays, hot flashes, and healthy choices. Let's dive in.

Worried about Winter

Dear Kindra, Now that we are back to hosting family gatherings, I'm worried about making healthy eating choices. How do I indulge and not feel bad about it?

It's all about striking the right balance, especially during the holidays. It's okay to indulge at times. The important thing is not to judge yourself for those decisions and instead to be intentional and not judgmental about your choices. For those of us in menopause, sometimes that means cooking up and preparing menopause-friendly recipes for those meals between celebrations.

Too busy to be bothered

Dear Kindra, While I am looking forward to the holidays, I'm feeling so anxious about not having much downtime. Menopause has made me a little more irritable lately, and that combined with my huge family could be a disaster. Help!

We feel you! The holidays can feel overwhelming between big families, obligations, the pandemic we're still in – and menopause on top of all of that! Try setting some time for yourself, even if it's just 15 minutes in the morning. Is there a favorite workout or meditation on YouTube or on an app you love that you can squeeze in? Create those moments of calm that can ground you in your day, and you can look forward to when things start to feel chaotic.

Getting Heated

Dear Kindra, I'm worried about experiencing a hot flash in front of my in-laws over the holidays. What should I do?

This might not be the answer you want to hear, but hot flashes aren't paying attention when you're with family or not. We need more open conversations around menopause, and maybe that starts with you and your family. Many women like you have stated (in studies no less) that menopause has them feeling disconnected and they long to be more open about it with the women in their families. We invite you to engage with your family in the discussion, and you can start with these conversation starters.

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