A Smarter Journey: Sleep
Sleep was one of the areas of my life most affected by the changes of menopause. My quality of rest and sleep decreased drastically, affecting my health, performance and appearance. I took it to my own hands to fix it, and came up with 1o Things You Can Do If You Are Sleepless And Menopausal. It worked well, although —as it normally happens— there was room for improvement.
Said improvement came from what I learned during the Smarter Change programme with Pamela. There was some fine-tuning of things that I was already doing, and the introduction of a whole new concept:
I set up my sleep when I wake up
A lot is said about the importance of the last couple of hours before bed to ensure sleep quality. However, with Pamela, I learned that the first hour after waking up is just as crucial.
As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I look for some light. I go to the yard or sit near the window, remove my glasses, and allow the sunlight to fall on my eyelids. Those minutes of quiet, that I spend with my journal, a note book or my bible, define how my day and night will go.
Winding down
Even so, it’s true that minding what you do in the few hours before bed makes a big difference. It is preferable to go to bed early every day, but as a gigging musician, that’s not quite so easy. What I do, then, is to give myself time to wind down for at least an hour before bed, no matter the time. Even if it means that I will end up falling asleep past midnight, doing this guarantees a good quality of rest.
What do I do? Watch some lighthearted comedy, or play sudoku. Things that are entertaining in a soothing way, and won’t suck me in. I am a big fan of espionage and thriller plots, but books and TV shows of that genre will keep me at the edge of my seat until I pull an all-nighter, so I don’t read or watch them when I want to head to bed!
I also avoid drinking 60 or 90 minutes before going to sleep in order to prevent my bladder from waking me up at three in the morning. Now that I am eating way better thanks to Pamela’s advice, my digestion doesn’t get in the way of my sleep either.
Conclusion
Remember that the body is an interconnected system. If you have problems in one area, improving others will help you solve them. Knowing how to do it isn’t easy, and that’s why I am so insistent in recommending the work of Pamela. Her guidance is invaluable, and likely to be exactly what you need to reconnect with your body and experience menopause instead of suffering it. You can book a consultation with her by clicking here.