Could THIS Help you Sleep Better?

Flippin’ eck…. it’s 3am AGAIN and I’m wide awake…..! I’m knackered and there is absolutely NO reason why I’m awake…..I’m soooo tired…

When....

You may have always been a reasonably good sleeper but for some unknown reason it gets to 2 or 3am and BAM your eyes open and your brain latches onto an ear worm. You now realise that this has been happening for some time and it’s really impacting your life. You’re tetchy. You feel tired all the time and the thought of an intended late night fills you with dread.

Why....

As we go through the menopause our body is less able to deal with stress because our buffers such as testosterone and estrogen are depleting. This means that our neurotransmitters (telephone line to our brain) isn’t getting the message to our Melatonin (sleep hormone) that it needs to be released. If you’re tired and you are using food to boost your energy levels it’s likely to be heavier in sugars (even natural ones) because it gives you that quick injection of adrenaline.

What....

There are loads of studies on helping with your sleep pattern but some disruptors are not so widely known. Have you ever taken a look at the Chinese Meridian Clock? We know that our organs are ‘popped on stage’ for 2 hours during the day to be checked over and fixed by the rest of our body. These mini 2-hour shows are linked to other areas of our life such as our emotions, our ability to be organised and so forth. Taking a deeper dive into this can give you clues as to why you’re waking up at the same time each night.

Other things to look at are the obvious such as switching off the blue light at least 1 hour before you get to bed and making sure your bedroom is at an optimum temperature, the room is dark and also your mind has been calmed by your pre-sleep routine.

One other thing to mention is the prospect of geopathic stress running under your house. The draw of the water can have an impact on your body (this very thing happened to my sister-in-law) and by simply moving your bed can have a massive influence on your sleep pattern ….. and indeed your health.

How....

There are some very simple solutions to aide your ability to work with the circadian rhythm (the sun and moon).

• Get out into daylight as soon as possible after you wake up.

• Make sure your body has enough Magnesium whether from your diet or from a good supplement.

• Calm your brain before you got to bed….. use the box breathing technique.

• Breathe IN for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4 and breathe OUT for a count of 4.

These will trigger your parasympathetic nervous system and calm your brain and lower your heart rate which will relax your body and be in a better state to sleep.

Keep a sleep journal. Make a note of......

• What time do I usually wake up?

• What might my body be asking for?

• Which habit(s) am I willing to change for 3 nights a week to help me sleep better?

Doing what you’ve always done just ain’t going to work like it did before you hit the menopause.

Embrace your 3rd Age and be kind to yourself and your body…… only YOU can do this for YOU x

Julie is a menopause and weight-loss coach for women who are fed up with feeling tired, heavy and stuck in a body that no longer feels like theirs. She helps women lose weight, regain energy and feel clear-headed again through hormone-aware coaching, real food, better sleep and lifestyle change — not dieting or willpower.

Ready to feel like yourself again? Work with Julie at juliereganwellness.com or get in touch via julieregancoaching@gmail.com