Menopause is a natural change that doesn’t have to affect your overall quality of life. Here’s how to flip your mindset from surviving to thriving during menopause.
For a lot of women, menopause and all the baggage that comes with it can seem like it’s just something you’ve got to get through – like a bad storm you’ve got to weather and wait for it to pass.
While menopause does come with some unsavoury symptoms, you don’t have to hole up inside and wait for the sun to come out. Hot flashes, irregular periods, sudden mood changes, and even night sweats may seem like they’re insufferable – but here’s what you can do about not just surviving, but actually thriving in menopause.
Flip the Mindset
Societal attitudes have dictated our view of menopause. We have relegated it to the ‘don’t mention the war’ bin. I know it was my position until I was on the other side. Ignoring the menopause doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it just means you go through it alone. Menopause can feel like grieving your loss – like the loss of your period or the loss of your fertility. While menopause may mean some major changes for your body, you shouldn’t dwell anything that the menopause brings negatively.
Rather than thinking about what you lose, it’s important to remember what you gain – menopause means entering into a mature, wiser phase of your life. And that really is a plus.
Not to mention, it signals the start of an easier, worry-free stage in your womanhood – there’s no need to worry about a certain monthly visitor anymore or having to take birth control on a strict, regimented schedule.
Thriving during menopause means getting into the right mindset. It’s hard to do more than survive if you view menopause as the beginning of the end, because it’s not – menopause is a new beginning for a lot of women, and it’s up to you to take advantage of it.
Use Menopause as Motivation
It’s easy to talk about going to the gym or eating healthier, and it’s even easier to grab takeout and binge your favorite show. There are plenty of advantages to a healthy diet and regular exercise, and one of them is that it could help manage some of your menopausal symptoms.
For instance, regular exercise could help offset the loss of muscle mass that happens around menopause, slow bone loss, and even just put you in a better mood to face the day.
You don’t need to become a gym rat either – it’s recommended that women partake in at least 150 minutes of laid-back aerobic activity (or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise). That boils down to just 2 ½ hours of moderate exercise a week.
Another way to thrive during menopause is to use it for motivation – even if you’re just looking to boost your mood, there’s no better time to start partaking in those healthy habits that you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe that’s getting a more consistent night’s sleep, journaling, or starting your morning with a walk, the start of menopause can mean the start of new healthy habits too.
Give Yourself the Ability to Thrive
Menopause affects everyone differently, and while some women may experience very few symptoms, others may have trouble functioning normally. It can be hard to do more than survive if you’re being bullied by merciless menopausal symptoms.
Don’t forget to give yourself the ability to thrive – if you’re having trouble functioning normally, you may want to speak with your doctor about how you can make menopause more manageable.
A lot of women dread or have unhealthy attitudes about menopause, and while it may come with unsavoury side effects, everyone deserves to be thriving in menopause, and following the tips above can help you do that.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only, and does not constitute health or medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your health, seek immediate medical attention.
