Perimenopause and exhaustion
What if we could think differently about our midlife energy?
One of the most common things that comes up in my health coaching clients is a lack of energy, or exhaustion, and a fear of burnout.
The recent heatwave in the UK has made me think a lot about energy again, as we’ve had to adjust, all of us, to the impact that heat has on our physical and mental energy.
I discovered that my brain gradually slows to a stop once the thermometer reaches over 28 degrees. Inside or out.
I had to slow down.
But I also had a lot I wanted to get done.
I could feel myself wanting to find a magic injection of energy, instead of embracing the need to slow down.
And it’s not just the heat. Midlife, perimenopause symptoms, and chronic stress can have a huge impact on our energy.
It’s so tempting to indulge in the magic pills and one stop solutions we see on line.
We can find our own solutions by answering 5 simple questions:
Am I hydrated?
Is my blood sugar balanced (have I eaten in a balanced way today)?
Have I had enough sleep?
Where am I in my cycle?
How are my stress levels?
The answers to these can help us formulate a plan which could include simple solutions such as:
An extra glass of water or juice
Adding some protein and veg to lunch (salad with some cold meat/fish/beans in this weather)
An early night or two
Giving ourselves grace when heat and tiredness fray our tempers and patience.
Meditation (I love finding a new Yoga Nidra mediation on the Insight Timer app)
A cup of tea - I drink my tea black, or green, and actually find it refreshing…and nurturing…but perhaps that’s just me!
A walk in the woods
A shower
A dance around the kitchen
It doesn’t include
Magic supplements and responding to internet ads.
Scrolling mindlessly on my phone (and going down rabbit holes when faced with said internet ads).
Our energy ebbs and flows in the day, in the seasons, with the weather and with our cycles.
Noticing this flow can be a huge part of creating a helpful response.
And tuning in daily can be really helpful, using your journal or a cycle tracker. If you’d like to get started you can download mine here, or reply to this email and I can help get you started.
Need some extra help this summer to help you find more energy and increased resilience in the autumn and winter? Book in for a well-being re-set call.