The benefits of taking simple action for wellbeing
4 super simple, no cost actions you can take right now
Life can feel crazy busy. The world can feel crazy.
Overwhelm can feel a step away. Our perimenopausal hormones may well be amplifying this!
Self care can feel like just another ‘to-do’ you don’t have energy for.
You can feel bombarded by wellbeing advice, and in our perimenopausal/menopausal years we are uniquely vulnerable, in part due to our busy lives and our experiences of symptoms and physical changes that make our bodies feel like they don’t belong to us.
But before you get sucked into a social media rabbit hole, try these 4 simple things (well, point 4 isn’t so simple) and see if they make a difference.
I know they do to me.
So here is a 4 step guide to keep stress and overwhelm at bay.
Drink water. If you’re feeling busy, not sleeping well, and low on energy, then it’s pretty likely you’re not drinking enough water. I could suggested 8 cups a day. Or filling and drinking a 500ml water bottle 3 times. But actually just have one more glass. Preferable first thing in the morning and then shortly after lunch. I promise you’ll feel better. It’s like a magic cure for the afternoon slump (sometimes). I go on about this regularly because it makes SUCH a difference to me and my clients - see, I’ve got a whole blog on it here. https://www.lesleywaldron.co.uk/blog/simplewellbeinghabit
Improve your sleep. Perhaps this is about going to bed earlier or working on strategies to improve your sleep quality. I’ve got a blog with hints and tips here https://www.lesleywaldron.co.uk/blog/improveperimenopausesleep. What I can say is that when I get my clients to pay attention to this it makes a huge difference (even if they are still struggling with insomnia or night sweats!)
Move your body (preferably outside). This doesn’t mean hours in the gym or a long run. 10 minutes of squats and lunges, or a walk down the road and back, a dance around the kitchen. It will support your body, brain and sleep. Strength training is a huge plus for us in perimenopause (see https://www.wildcountrywoman.com/blog/strengthinperimenopause) but actually, just moving your body more is better than nothing.
Take things off your to-do list. You are not superwoman. And you are not the same woman you were 10 or 15 years ago. And a lot of those things are unnecessary (not sure my husband agrees on my approach to tidying…but hey ho!). Delegate, dump, or just say no. I get my clients to write a list of all the things on their plate - all their responsibilities, challenges, obligations and their internal to-dos that never even get on the list. And then I get them to highlight what they actually enjoy and get pleasure from…and see what is left that they can just get rid of. Try it. It’s actually quite fun to do on an actual paper plate!
And if all else fails. Just lie down and close your eyes. It’s amazing how a 5 minute lie down can lift your energy and soothe your nervous system.
On the floor/the bed/the sofa. Take your pick.
Feel like you need some help with this? Drop me a line.