Ann Nzeruem, Mara Home and Healthcare Services “You are not imagining it, and you are not failing. Your body is changing, and you deserve information that helps you work with it.”

As we move into spring, there’s a lot of messaging around “reset” and “starting fresh.” From your perspective, what does a realistic and sustainable reset for women’s health look like?

A lot of what we see around “reset” this time of year is very all-or-nothing — cut everything out, overhaul your life, become a new person by Monday. But that’s not how women’s bodies or lives work.

A realistic reset is much gentler and much more sustainable. It’s less about starting over and more about coming back to yourself. For many women, especially in midlife, a reset looks like paying attention to the signals your body has been giving you for a while now — changes in energy, sleep, mood, stress tolerance, cycles, weight, or recovery — and deciding not to ignore them anymore.

It also means simplifying. Instead of chasing every trend, focus on the foundations: eating enough protein and fibre, sleeping as well as you can, moving your body regularly, managing stress, and understanding what’s happening hormonally. A true reset should feel supportive, not punishing.

Most importantly, it must fit into real life. Women are carrying so much — careers, caregiving, families, businesses, relationships. So, a sustainable reset is one that works with your life, not against it. It’s about small shifts that build trust with your body again.

Perimenopause is finally being talked about more openly, but there’s still so much confusion. What do you wish more women understood about this stage of life, especially earlier than they think they need to?

I wish more women knew that perimenopause often starts earlier than they think — and that it doesn’t always begin with missed periods. For many women, the first signs are more subtle: worsening sleep, increased anxiety, irritability, heavier periods, brain fog, low mood, headaches, cycle changes, or feeling like their body is suddenly responding differently to stress.

So many women think, “I’m too young for that,” or they assume they’re just tired, burned out, or not coping well enough. But often, there is a physiological reason behind what they’re feeling.

I also wish women knew this stage is not something you just have to suffer through. There is support. There are ways to understand what’s happening, to feel better, and to make informed decisions about treatment and lifestyle support. You do not need to wait until things are unbearable before asking questions.

And maybe most importantly: you are not imagining it, and you are not failing. Your body is changing, and you deserve information that helps you work with it instead of feeling blindsided by it.

What are some subtle signs or symptoms women tend to ignore or normalize when it comes to their health, but shouldn’t?

Women are incredibly good at minimizing their symptoms. We normalize exhaustion, heavy periods, poor sleep, anxiety, low libido, brain fog, digestive issues, and feeling “off” because we’ve been taught to keep going.

Some of the big ones I see women brush aside are feeling tired all the time, significant mood changes, painful or very heavy periods, changes in cycle length, waking at 3 a.m. consistently, hair thinning, worsening PMS, and feeling like they have less resilience than they used to. Women often tell themselves it’s just stress, just age, just motherhood, just a busy season. Sometimes it is a season — but sometimes it’s a sign that your body needs support.

I also think many women ignore how long they’ve felt unwell. If something has been going on for months or years, and it’s affecting your quality of life, it deserves attention. You don’t need to wait until something is “serious enough” to ask for help.

For women who feel overwhelmed by all the health advice out there, what are the first 2–3 foundational things you recommend focusing on?

First, eat regularly and eat enough. So many women are under-fuelling without realizing it, especially when they’re stressed, busy, or trying to be “good.” Balanced meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats can make a huge difference for energy, blood sugar, mood, and hormones.

Second, protect your sleep as much as possible. Sleep affects everything — cravings, stress tolerance, mood, focus, hormones, and metabolic health. If sleep is off, that’s important information, not something to just push through.

Third, start paying attention to patterns in your body instead of judging them. Notice your cycle, your energy, your mood, your symptoms, and what makes things better or worse. Awareness is powerful. You don’t need to do everything at once, but you do need to understand your baseline.

My biggest advice is to stop trying to follow ten different experts online and come back to the basics. Health doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.

You work with women who are building careers, businesses, and families. How does prioritizing health actually impact their ability to show up in those areas?

It changes everything. When a woman feels well — when she has more energy, clearer thinking, better sleep, more stable mood, and a better understanding of her body — she shows up differently in every part of her life.

Health is not separate from ambition, leadership, parenting, or relationships. It supports all of it. When women are depleted, overwhelmed, or running on empty, they often think they need more discipline or better time management. But sometimes what they really need is to address the underlying health piece that is making everything feel harder than it should.

Prioritizing health is not selfish, and it’s not extra. It is foundational. It allows women to lead, create, care for others, and make decisions from a more resourced place. When women feel better, they don’t just survive their lives — they participate in them more fully.

How has being part of Knew House shaped you, both personally and professionally? And why do you think being in the right room of women matters, especially at this stage of life?

Being part of Knew House has been meaningful because it puts you in a room with women who are thoughtful, ambitious, honest, and deeply supportive of one another. That kind of environment matters.

Personally, it has reminded me that women need spaces where they can be real — not just polished, productive, or “fine,” but seen. Professionally, it’s powerful to be connected to women who are building, leading, and creating while also navigating real life. It reinforces how important community is, especially for women who are often carrying a lot behind the scenes.

Being in the right room changes what feels possible. It expands your thinking, strengthens your confidence, and reminds you that you’re not meant to do everything alone. At this stage of life in particular, the right room can be the difference between feeling isolated and feeling supported.

What does taking care of yourself look like in this season of your life, outside of what you “know” you should be doing?

In this season of life, taking care of myself looks a lot more like listening than performing. Less pressure, more honesty. Less “what should I be doing?” and more “what do I actually need right now?”

Some days that looks like rest. Some days it’s saying no, protecting my energy, eating properly, getting outside, or creating more space in my schedule. It’s also giving myself permission to not do everything perfectly. I think a lot of women know what the ideal checklist looks like, but real self-care is often much more practical and much less glamorous.

For me, it’s about choosing what helps me feel grounded, clear, and present — and letting that be enough. I think that kind of care is a lot more sustainable than constantly trying to optimize yourself.

Meet Ann Nzeruem

Ann Nzeruem is a women’s health nurse practitioner and healthcare entrepreneur expanding access to evidence-based, patient-centered care across Manitoba. She is the founder of Mara Home and Health Inc. and Mara Women’s Health, two care models built to make healthcare more accessible, collaborative, and responsive to patient needs across the province.

Ann holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba and completed her Family Nurse Practitioner graduate training at Athabasca University. Her experience spans primary care, emergency medicine, gynecology, and nursing leadership, including community-based care in multiple First Nations communities across Manitoba and clinical consultation for frontline teams.

Through Mara Home and Health, she leads a whole-person, collaborative model that brings together home care, healthcare providers, therapists, dietitians, health coaches, and other allied health professionals to ensure clients receive comprehensive, coordinated support. Through Mara Women’s Health, she provides specialized care in contraception, menopause, PCOS, hormone therapy, sexual and vaginal health, and thyroid- and iron-related conditions.

Recognized among the Top 100 Black Women of Excellence and as a finalist for Women Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025, Ann has also mentored more than 50+ young women and girls pursuing careers in healthcare. She is a mother of three who enjoys the outdoors and travelling with her family.