I think sleep is the most under-rated element of our wellbeing elements. We all know about eating healthy food and exercising. We may realise that we need to manage our stress levels, but in my experience, many people think that our sleep patterns are just what they are, and there's nothing we can do about it.
At least that's what I thought a year ago - I assumed that our sleep gets worse as we get older, and we just have to accept it. However, I kept reading about ways to improve your sleep, and thought - what the heck - I'm going to give some of these things a try. I looked at my bedtime routine, my morning and daytime routines. I considered what I was consuming in the day, and near bedtime. I reflected on my mindset - what was I telling myself when I wasn't sleeping well. I identified several areas I felt could be improved, and gradually tried them all out. A year on, I feel like a different person. Most nights I sleep well, and when I don't, I worry far less about it. I have more energy and I even lost weight! It has made me wonder whether sleep should be the FIRST thing we do when we're considering re-balancing our lifestyle. If you're tired, can you really be bothered to go to the gym? Do you crave sugary food? A bad night's sleep can have such an impact that it can stop us fully functioning during the day. How can we improve our wellbeing if we are on autopilot? This week I will be running free webinars on sleep in my Facebook group Blooming Menopause, and next week I will be running a webinar on How to Improve your sleep. Do join me! Mary works with mid-life women who are feeling stressed, exhausted & overwhelmed with menopause-related symptoms, to take back control of their health & wellbeing so they can enjoy life again and embrace their future. Join her Facebook group Blooming Menopause if you are looking for support. 
Today is #BlueMonday2019. It's supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. It's dark, cold, past the exuberances and excitements of Christmas, with the prospect of summer still a long way away, and the Christmas shopping bills far more imminent. New Year's resolutions may have hit the deck already. Gosh I feel depressed just writing this!
Maybe that's the reason that I instinctively chose my Tip of the Week to be about finding something in your life that is fun, creative or indulgent. I asked my Blooming Menopause Facebook group members to focus on themselves, and I gave them permission to put themselves at the top of their lists. There is masses of scientific evidence that enjoyment is a key element of managing hormones. It's not optional if you want to improve how you feel. When a woman goes through their perimenopausal and menopausal years, it is a time of transition. We are moving from busy and demanding child-bearing years to the second stage of our adult lives which should be allowing us more space to be ourselves. Our changing and re-balancing hormones make our bodies vulnerable, and if we are not kind to ourselves, then we are now allowing the space and resources our bodies need to find the right path forwards. So my call-to-action is to schedule at least 5-10 minutes each day to do something for YOU that will put a smile on your face. Guilt-free. Consider it doctor's orders! Mary works with mid-life women who are feeling stressed, exhausted & overwhelmed with menopause-related symptoms, to take back control of their health & wellbeing so they can enjoy life again and embrace their future. Join her Facebook group Blooming Menopause if you are looking for support. |
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