Health & Wellness

‘Is this it?’: Author Nikki Taylor on the biggest misconception about midlife

A woman with closed eyes smiles peacefully while holding a mug and sitting on a couch, illuminated by sunlight streaming in, with a teal graphic on the right.

Published by The Breeze Team

06 Jul 2026

Join Carolyn Taylor for the latest episode of The House of Wellness with Chemist Warehouse on the Breeze, where he’s joined by CEO of Compatico, Elise Dalrymple-Keast, CEO of Dry July NZ, Gillian Odbert, author Nikki Taylor and our resident pharmacist, Piyara Perera.

Featured Guest: Nikki Taylor

Nikki Taylor explains that her book ‘Is This It?’ was sparked by a moment of midlife reflection.

She describes midlife not as an ending, but a reset point where people can reassess who they are and what matters most.

“We’ve got all this experience of being adults for 20-plus years, and we can take a moment to say, ‘Okay, here I am. Who am I now? And in the next chapter and stage of my life, where do I want to be?’,” she said.

Nikki encourages open conversations about midlife struggles, saying many people are experiencing the same feelings but don’t talk about them.

Ultimately, she says to congratulate yourself for getting to the point of midlife.

“Not everyone gets here,” she said. “So first of all, congratulate yourself, and don’t put unrealistic timeframes on things”.

Featured Guest: Elise Dalrymple-Keast

Dating today looks very different to even a decade ago, with swiping, messaging and dating apps now the norm - yet many Kiwis say they feel more disconnected than ever.

Compatico CEO Elise says their research shows fewer than one in 10 Kiwi singles actually find dating exciting right now, with app fatigue at an all-time high.

She says modern dating has become increasingly “admin-heavy”, with people overwhelmed by endless swiping, while real-life connection feels harder to come by.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Elise says more people are starting to step away from apps and look for more intentional, in-person ways to find connection.

Featured Guest: Gillian Odbert

Dry July has become one of New Zealand’s best-known wellbeing challenges, and one of its biggest fundraising campaigns supporting people affected by cancer.

Dry July NZ CEO Gillian Odbert explains how the initiative started back in 2008 with three mates wanting to take a break from alcohol and raise money for a local cancer treatment centre - originally to help fund something as simple as a TV for patients.

Since launching in New Zealand in 2012, Gillian says the campaign has grown massively, raising around $11 million and seeing nearly 70,000 Kiwis take part.

She says while giving up alcohol for 31 days is still the core challenge, many people are now tailoring it - adding their own goals like cutting sugar or doing fitness challenges.

There’s still time to register at dryjuly.co.nz - and take on the challenge while raising funds for cancer support services across the country.

Resident Pharmacist: Piyara Perera

Headaches are extremely common, with different types including tension, migraine, cluster, and medication-overuse headaches.

Pharmacist Piyara Perera explains that each type has distinct triggers and symptoms, from stress and posture issues to hormonal changes and neurological causes.

While tension headaches often feel like constant pressure, migraines and cluster headaches can be far more severe and disruptive. Treatment varies depending on the type, with prevention, early intervention, and GP support for managing more serious or recurring cases.