Opt to Thrive…for Midlife Women

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What if you’ve reached midlife and you still don’t know what you’re passionate about?

A recent conversation with someone who told me he'd never really had a passion — but wished he did — sent me down a research rabbit hole.

And what I found made me question something we hear all the time:

“You just need to find your passion.”

But what if passion isn't necessarily something sitting inside us waiting to be discovered?

And could believing that it is actually make us less likely to find something we love?

In this Mindful Moment, we're looking at some fascinating research into the psychology of passion — including how our mindset may influence what we're willing to explore, what we expect passion to feel like, and what happens when something that initially excites us gets hard.

And perhaps this matters even more in midlife, when it can be very easy to decide we already know who we are — and who we're not.

If you've ever wondered “What am I actually passionate about?”, this one is for you. 

Let's stay connected:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

Research discussed:
O'Keefe PA, Dweck CS, Walton GM. Implicit Theories of Interest: Finding Your Passion or Developing It? Psychological Science. 2018;29(10):1653–1664.

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Have you ever typed a message to someone going through something unimaginable… and then deleted it because you simply didn't know what to say?

Do I call? Do I message? Will I bother them? What if I say the wrong thing? Should I give them space?

And sometimes, in our fear of getting it wrong, we end up saying nothing at all.

In today's episode of Opt to Thrive, I'm joined by my friend and colleague, clinical psychologist Elise Howie, for a conversation about how we show up for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Elise brings a unique perspective to this conversation. She has spent her career helping people navigate incredibly difficult experiences, but she also understands what it is like to be the person on the receiving end of support.

Following the births of both of her children, Elise experienced severe postnatal depression with psychosis. After the birth of her second child, she became so unwell that she spent long periods in hospital and ultimately underwent close to 40 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy.

So today we're talking not only psychologist to doctor, but woman to woman, mother to mother and friend to friend.

We explore why we freeze when someone we care about is suffering, our instinct to try to make things better when sometimes there simply isn't a "better", and why we don't need to fix someone's pain in order to accompany them through it.

We talk about what to say when there really are no words, whether saying something imperfectly is better than saying nothing, the difference between giving someone space and disappearing, and why phrases like "at least...", "everything happens for a reason" or "I don't know how you're doing it" may not provide the comfort we intend.

We also talk about practical support — why "let me know if you need anything" can unintentionally put another job onto someone who is already overwhelmed, and how specific offers of help can make it much easier to say yes.

And perhaps most importantly, we talk about what happens afterwards.

When the meals stop arriving. When everyone else goes back to their lives. When the birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases and other firsts come around.

Sometimes support is simply remembering.

Sometimes it's sending the message:

I've been thinking about you today.

And sometimes it's being brave enough to say:

"I don't know what to say, but I didn't want my not knowing what to say to mean I said nothing."

This is a deeply human conversation about grief, adversity, friendship and how we can show up for the people we love — even when there really are no words. 

Let's stay connected:

• Riverland Women Podcast episode featuring Elise: Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Two little girls at a swimming pool in Fiji caught my attention.

They didn't know each other. One smiled. The other ran to the edge of the pool, knelt down in front of her and smiled back. Within moments, they seemed to be friends.

It was such a simple, beautiful interaction — but it left me wondering: when did we stop running to the edge of the pool?

Somewhere between being those little girls and becoming adult women, many of us learn to watch ourselves from the outside.

We learn the unwritten rules about how a woman should look, how loudly she should speak, how much space she should take up, how agreeable she should be and how much of herself she should reveal before knowing whether it will be accepted.

We learn to ask: What will other people think?

In this Mindful Moment, I'm exploring our very human desire to belong, the ways we learn to protect and edit ourselves, and what can happen when the price of belonging becomes abandoning parts of who we are.

Because perhaps the goal isn't to stop caring what anyone thinks.

Perhaps it's learning that we can belong without making ourselves smaller in the process.

And maybe, in doing that, we can help change the messages the little girls coming behind us hear too. 

Let's stay connected:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Let’s talk about something that affects most women eventually…but we don’t talk about nearly enough: looking after your VJJ in midlife. 

As oestrogen declines through perimenopause and menopause, the tissues of the vagina, vulva, bladder and urinary tract change too. And those changes can show up as dryness, itching, burning, painful sex, urinary symptoms, recurrent UTIs and more. Collectively, these symptoms can be part of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).

In this episode of Opt to Thrive, I’m taking a practical, no-embarrassment look at vaginal and vulval health in midlife — including some everyday habits that may actually be making things worse.

We talk about why your vagina really DOESN’T need cleaning, why soap and wet wipes may not be as gentle as you think, what to look for in a cleanser, and when vaginal moisturisers can be helpful.

I also break down what actually happens to these tissues as oestrogen declines, why GSM can affect everything from intimacy to bladder health, and the treatment options available — including vaginal moisturisers, lubricants, vaginal oestrogen and DHEA.

We also talk about vaginal oestrogen: how it works, why it’s considered the gold-standard treatment for GSM, why some women still need it even when they’re taking systemic MHT, and what we know about its safety.

And, of course, we get into lubricants — because painful sex is not something we should simply accept as an inevitable part of getting older.

In this episode:

• Simple vulval and vaginal skincare in midlife
• Why less really can be more when it comes to cleansing
• What GSM is and the symptoms to look out for
• Vaginal dryness, irritation and painful sex
• Bladder symptoms, incontinence and recurrent UTIs
• Vaginal moisturisers vs lubricants — and when to use each
• Vaginal oestrogen: how it works and who may benefit
• GSM when you’re already using MHT
• Other treatment options, including vaginal DHEA
• Practical ways to protect these delicate tissues as we age

If you’ve noticed things feeling a little different “down there” — or you simply want to know how to look after your vaginal, vulval and bladder health as you get older — this episode is for you.

Because these symptoms are common, but that doesn’t mean you just have to put up with them. 

Let's stay connected:

• Take a Swimcation with Ocean Swim Fiji
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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We all have a story. Some parts we choose, and many we don’t.

In this Mindful Moment, I share some of my own story and the adversity that has shaped my life — and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Because ultimately, it’s not just what happens to us that matters. It’s the beliefs we carry forward, the choices we make, and what we decide to do with the story we’ve been given.

Let's stay connected:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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We sit down with Dr Helen Wall to connect the dots between perimenopause, menopause and ADHD in women, especially the late-diagnosis pattern where lifelong coping suddenly collapses. We talk honestly about masking, burnout, brain fog, dopamine, and how to get practical support while you wait for answers. 

• why women are missed with ADHD and how internal hyperactivity looks 
• what masking and overcompensating cost over decades 
• why perimenopause hormone volatility can trigger “unravelling” 
• clues that suggest more than typical menopause brain fog 
• strategies we can start now like externalising your brain and reducing decision fatigue 
• how HRT may help stabilise symptoms for some women and why it may not the whole fix 
• how to approach your GP with notes, history and advocacy 
• what is changing in Australia with GP ADHD diagnosis and management pathways 

Let's stay connected:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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At 55, I’m working towards something I’ve never been able to do before — not even in my 20s: an unassisted pull-up.

For months I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. Then I changed my approach, reluctantly accepted help (yes, from my husband 😂), started practising differently and suddenly… things began to shift.

And then, standing in the kitchen making my morning coffee, I read one little comment that made me put down my cup, walk straight over to the pull-up bar and try something I wasn't actually sure I could do.

But this episode isn't really about chin-ups.

It's about what can happen when we stop deciding we're too old, keep challenging ourselves, ask for help when we're stuck and stay willing to try a different approach when what we're doing isn't working.

It's about strength, muscle, bones and longevity — but also about setting goals that light us up and remind us just how capable we still are.

Maybe your challenge isn't a pull-up.

Maybe it's something you've quietly decided you can't do anymore — or perhaps something you've never done at all.

Let this episode be your reminder:

You are still capable of great things. Whatever that looks like for you.

Connect with me:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Progesterone does far more than play “second fiddle” to oestrogen, and it can make or break how menopause hormone therapy feels and how safe it is for your uterus. We follow a patient story about 3 am panic wake-ups to explain what progesterone does, why reactions vary, and what the evidence says about oral, vaginal, and topical options. 

• a real patient experience that raises the question of progesterone intolerance and sleep disruption 
• how estradiol builds the uterine lining and how progesterone balances it 
• why anyone with a uterus needs a progestogen when taking oestrogen for menopause symptoms 
• the truth about “natural” progesterone and what bioidentical really means 
• progesterone, mood and anxiety, and why some women are more hormone-sensitive 
• why micronised progesterone is often our preferred option and where it may still cause issues 
• Prometrium in Australia and the peanut oil allergy trap 
• vaginal progesterone, first-pass liver metabolism, and why side effects might differ 
• why guidelines remain cautious about vaginal use for long-term endometrial protection 
• why topical progesterone cream and salivary testing are not reliable for uterine safety 
• hysterectomy, endometriosis, and how breast cancer risk differs between combined and oestrogen-only therapy 

Connect with me:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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What can a paint-and-sip teach us about life?

This week, a local SALA exhibition and an artist I've admired for years got me thinking about curiosity, growth and the stories we tell ourselves about what we already know.

I almost said no to an experience because I'd already decided what it had to offer me. And that made me wonder: what do we miss when we stop being curious?

In this episode, I reflect on the importance of remaining a student of life — staying open to new ideas, different perspectives and even the possibility that we might be wrong.

Because experience and wisdom matter. But perhaps part of thriving as we get older is holding onto everything we've learned while still leaving a little room to be surprised.

Connect with me:

• Check out Jac's work: Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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A lot of people talk about “ageing well”, but Joan McDonald lives it, and she didn’t even start lifting weights until she was almost 71. Joan, now 80, joins us in this episode where I team up with Dr Suzanne Rutherford from The Fit Physician for a frank, funny, and deeply practical chat about how one decision reshaped her health and her identity. 

We get into the real catalyst for change, including the moment her blood pressure treatment was heading in the wrong direction, and the tough love that made her stop waiting for the “right time”.

We also unpack what the early weeks actually felt like: fear of the gym, feeling overwhelmed, being miles away from her daughter and coach, and trying to follow a plan while battling self-doubt. Joan shares why consistency mattered more than perfection, what helped her keep showing up, and how strength training translates into functional fitness for real life, from getting up and down with confidence to staying capable through injuries and surgery. We also touch on the foundations that make results sustainable: nutrition, hydration, sleep, and a mindset that refuses to accept “you shouldn’t” rules about age.

Joan also explains what surprised her most after sharing her journey publicly as Train With Joan, including the messages from families, carers, and older adults who found hope through her example. 

If you’re in midlife, navigating menopause, or simply want a clear reason to prioritise resistance training and muscle health, this conversation will give you one. 

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review, What would you start today if you truly believed it wasn’t too late?

Connect with me:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website