My 2026 Perimenopause Wellness Goals: Supporting Brain Health, Strength & Longevity

You heard what my 2025 hits and misses were when it came to the goals I set when the year began. Overall, I think I did pretty well, and I am hoping to continue to build upon those successful goals, while strengthening the not so successful ones. I have also found a couple of key areas I would like to add to my perimenopause wellness goals that may help with my overall longevity in life.

The longer I'm on this perimenopause journey, the more changes I notice. The way I stumble over my words now or forget what is going on drives me crazy. Because of that, I want to work on my brain health, and I have already started incorporating a few things that are said to help, and I’ve also discovered some new practices I’d like to add.

Walking backwards isn't new to me, but it is my intention to increase the amount of time I do it when I'm out walking . Walking backwards requires the brain to focus on the movement, and it is highly recommended by experts for its many benefits. You should add it to your routine if you haven’t already done so. I’m also working on putting on my socks and shoes while standing up. It requires a lot of balance and thought, but I'm up for the challenge. The ultimate goal is to nurture my aging brain in ways that may support my perimenopause wellness goals, and my overall well-being as I am getting older.

I've often heard it said that flexibility is the key to the fountain of youth, and I believe it plays a major role in how our bodies age. Stretching is something I had to build into my routine over time, because for the longest time, I wasn't good at it. I slacked on stretching in the beginning of my exercise journey, and I actually think that may be where some of my back issues stem from. These days, I stretch no less than 10 minutes but I would like it to be a daily habit with one day being dedicated completely to stretching instead of traditional exercise. A yoga class once a week could work, and it's something that can be done in a class or online which gives me the kind of options I need with my lifestyle.

Lastly, you know strength training was an area I fell short in last year, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Strength training and maintaining muscle on our bodies as we age is very important, but right now, in this season of perimenopause, I need something that is gentle on both my mind and my body. Do you see how my mental health is still a part of the plan? Normally, I'm strictly using weights when training, but years ago I was really into Pilates and other forms of exercise. Wall Pilates has entered the chat. I've started doing a few challenges, and it feels good to me. I'm planning to start the year off with this form of training, and ease my way back into weights, while hopefully maintaining the wall Pilates as an overall part of my strength training plan.

So, I have a plan, and we'll see how the execution goes. One thing I know for sure is this perimenopause journey is no joke. One day things can be going great, and the next day you're wondering what in the world is going on here. A major lesson I learned, and leaned into in 2025, was giving myself and my body grace. Listening to how I feel, and honoring that feeling until I've figure things out is enough. There is a plan in place, and part of me is excited to take on these perimenopause wellness goals. However, at the end of the day, I have to remember that it's ok if things don't always go as planned.

What wellness goals are you focusing on for 2026?