HOW TO THRIVE IN PERIMENOPAUSE AND POSTMENOPAUSE
Here at Strong in Menopause, we are all about thriving. We believe everyone woman has the right to thrive rather than just survive. In honor of World Menopause Day on October 18, our blog this week will be a list of our tips on how to thrive in perimenopause and beyond.
Tip #1: Know thyself
In order to truly thrive, you need to know yourself. You need to be clear about your goals and your challenges. We recommend taking some time to understand your priorities, note some areas you are struggling with, and set goals for what is most important to you. Just having clarity on these things will give you momentum.
Tip #2: Take time for you
It’s hard to feel like you are thriving when you can’t get five minutes to yourself. Taking a few minutes each day for yourself- this could be in the form of a walk, getting up a few minutes early to have coffee and journal, taking time to meditate, or taking a bath or extra time to pamper your skin before bed. Finding whatever feels good to you and choosing a time to squeeze it in that actually works will have a huge impact on your wellbeing.
Tip #3: Move your body
Even if you hate working out, finding some way of moving your body that actually works for you will make such a big difference. As women age, they tend to move less, resulting in fewer calories burned throughout the day, decreased metabolism, decreased muscle mass, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. If you want to thrive, you need to be moving. We recommend finding something you like doing or finding something that fits easily into your schedule, and staying consistent with it.
Tip #4: Nourish your body
Similar to moving your body, ensuring you are eating a nutritious diet during perimenopause and postmenopause is a crucial step to thriving. Women in the menopause transition need more protein and more fiber in order to feel good and support their bodies. Eating nourishing foods will help you feel stronger and healthier.
Tip #5: Get some sleep
Our last tip is to get some sleep. Sleep is typically harder in perimenopause, and may become easier as women phase out of the menopause transition and more fully enter into postmenopause. Lack of sleep tends to exacerbate other symptoms, such as anxiety, mood disorders, weight gain, and hot flashes. To get a good night’s sleep, try to prioritize good sleep hygiene. Sleep in a cool, dark room with minimal noise. Turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime. Set a consistent sleep and wake cycle, even on weekends. Just a few of these changes can make a big difference in getting 30, 60, or even 90 more minutes of sleep a night.
We hope this list was helpful to you. We believe everyone can thrive in perimenopause and beyond! We’re always here to chat about more tips and ways to make the menopause transition better. You can schedule a free strategy session here.