In this blog I share five steps to have a healthy menopause and lift your mood. They are all tips that I have personally used with great results as having had depression at the same time as going through the menopause it was a double whammy! So if you are struggling right now I can empathise. Please don’t be afraid to seek support or ask for help as its nothing to be ashamed of. In fact it was during this time I trained as a life coach having realised how I could help other women going through their own life challenges. I even had a coach myself and found her support invaluable as she understood, didn’t judge and helped me find a way forward.

 My Top Tips

1.Exercise:

When you are going through the menopause it is likely that you will feel stressed, you may even find yourself putting on weight. Exercise is key to combating both of these problems, as it releases endorphins that boost mood and it burns off any extra pounds.

This changes all the time but as a rule it is recommended people get 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. This could be walking, swimming or biking. Wonderful strengthening exercise like yoga or tai chi which also restores balance and calm to the body though breathing exercises, poses and meditation. You should be able to find either Tai Chi or of yoga for beginners’ classes in your local area, and remember it is never too late to give it a try

2.Nutrition:

Excite your taste buds and your diet with fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats which give you lots of the vitamins and nutrients you need to keep your body working at its best. I love adding blueberries, brazil nuts and oily fish like salmon to my diet. If you are considering becoming vegetarian or vegan ensure you are getting the right balance of foods. If you want to make radical changes check with your GP if you have existing health issues. What worked for me is little steps often which led to small changes and that made a positive difference.

3 Sleep:

The menopause can be a very stressful time. It is important to get enough rest and time to repair. If you’re struggling to sleep because of hot flushes, make sure you do all you can to relax the body and prepare for bed. Try to relax before bed time by turning off computers, and wind down gently when you can. It can be difficult with family time or work life balance but even sitting quietly for just ten minutes before bed can benefit you.

4 Alternative therapies:

 Many women find alternative therapies are great for getting through the menopause. Although there is no one size fits all I recommend both acupuncture and homeopathy. Having used them myself I had very positive results. I didn’t use HRT but that was a personal choice and I had the support of acupuncture instead.

Acupuncture encourages the body’s own natural healing, promoting physical and mental wellbeing, aiming to treat the root cause of the issue not just the symptom. What I would say is choose what feels right to support you as that is the most important thing.

 5.Goals and challenges:

It’s great to try something new and expand your brain. Set yourself a new goal or challenge. Learn Zumba, a new language, consider training in massage, or volunteering, brainstorm some ideas then have fun trying them out!

The menopause is a new door opening. If you would like to discover how coaching could benefit you in helping make some positive life changes you will love, then contact me to book your FREE session and find out more.

M: 07743 986840

Email: annette@greenwood.com