Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Control of menopause
How to move
If you don’t exercise at all right I encourage you to move in a way makes you happy. If you find ething that fills you with joy then will likely stick to it. tting started is the hardest thing , but once you start, you’ll feel the ence between a sedentary life and vement-filled one. Simply becomware of this difference can be life ging. m for three resistance workouts a using weights, and keep the outs short and intense. Only work when you feel that your energy s are right. If you’re too fatigued to out, wait until the next day. the days you’re not working out, r a relaxing walk outside in nature. m, go for a bike ride, do yoga or ba or run around with your kids.
3How to manage stress
You can be eating healthy food and exercising regularly, but if you don’t find a way to manage stress, you might find yourself on a steep incline through menopause rather than cruising through the mayhem.
Taking the time to unwind is very important and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. Allow yourself to feel ‘good stress’ which can come from accepting a new challenge, doing a short, intense workout or doing something thrilling.
It can also be helpful to think about acute stress as a challenge that strengthens you and helps you perform at your best.
Engage in calming, de-stressing activities to prevent bad stress from taking over, such as yoga, listening to music or taking a bath. Establish a routine in your life, while allowing some flexibility.
This can help decrease your overall stress level by creating order and introducing predictability. Make sure you schedule active rest days so that your body can rejuvenate and rebuild.
4 How to think
The term self-love sounds narcissistic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is, in fact, self-preservation. As women, we often have many other people to take care of.
How often do we put ourselves first? You can do this by practising mindfulness and identifying your values and strengths, which build a resilient mindset as you age.
To do this you need to learn how to become resilient in your thinking. You need to learn to age with positivity, and find your own strengths and values. Take five minutes in the morning to do some mindful breathing.
Notice and name your negative thoughts and behaviours, and just let them go. Try meditation, a mindful walk or even make a list of the things you like about yourself to reinforce a positive attitude.
Try to think of stress as a challenge that helps you perform at your best
Menopocalypse: How I Learned to Thrive During Menopause and How You Can Too, by Amanda Thebe, is published by Greystone Books (£14.99)