Feeling Hot At Work?
We could all be guilty perhaps at some point, moaning about colleagues with fans on their desks. Or constantly asking for windows to be opened and closed. But this is well before we experience menopause for ourselves! It can be quite annoying or frustrating listening to someone’s fan, and having it blow papers all around the office! But fast forward to experiencing our own menopause and we soon realise that fans in an office environment become a necessity for those coping with those awkward sweats, or hot flushes/flashes. How do we solve feeling hot at work?
You may have worked in an office where there were many desk fans – all on the desks of women perhaps on the ‘wrong’ side of 40. The air-conditioning controls could have even been locked because ‘someone’ was changing them all the time, does this sound familiar? We know that complaints can happen to HR departments about constant changes to temperature, but that is because of the lack of support generally in the workplace for women going through menopause. All that is changing, slowly.
Here is what can you do to keep cool at work
- See if you can get a desk fan. It may be on/off throughout the day, but it does mean you do not need to overly disrupt others, but try to find the least noisy one on the market, better still ask your boss to source one for you!
- Maybe you could move desks, either swapping with someone who has a desk near a window that opens or who doesn’t like sitting where they can feel a stream of cool air. That could be a win-win for both of you.
- If there is only air-conditioning, help colleagues understand why you’d like it cooler where you are. Hot flushes are nothing to be ashamed of and it’s always easier to add a layer of clothing when it’s too cool.
More Tips:
- Dress in lightweight layers – you can easily remove a layer when the flush starts.
- Spraying your face with a cooling mist or applying a cooling wet wipe might also help during a flush.
- If you have to wear a uniform, it might be worth talking to your employer about relaxing the dress code or maybe seeing if they can provide uniforms in lighter weight material as a reasonable adjustment – you never know until you ask!
- Another reasonable adjustment might be to take a break during the flush itself.
- Remember to drink plenty of water to counteract the sweats and help avoid headaches.
We didn’t ask for these hot flushes and however uncomfortable they are, there’s no need to be embarrassed.
Want to know more about hot flushes/flashes? Click here to join our FREE Menopause Training.
‘As with any information created by or for Menopause Experts Group, the information in this post is accurate at time of posting and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to replace or substitute the judgement of any medical professional you may come in contact with. You should always seek advice from your health care professional regarding a medical condition’
