While you may be familiar with the symptoms of menopause you’re having, that doesn’t make dealing with those menopause symptoms any easier to do. The hot flashes, the night sweats, and the irritability of perimenopause and menopause itself can be aggravating and leave you feeling drained, tired, and unsure of how to deal with this middle age condition.
From how you dress to your diet and from being happy to dealing with those hot flashes, there are a few do’s and don’ts of menopause that you’re going to want to know going forward to help you cope.
Do: Make a date.
Perimenopause and menopause itself can leave you wanting to do nothing but hibernate in your room all day long. You want to fight that urge by making a date with a group of girlfriends that not only know what you’re going through but will be supportive at the same time. Many times planning a girls’ night out is just what’s needed to get you out of your menopause funk and back on track to living a full, middle-age life. A girls’ night may push you to the edge of your comfort zone when you’re having menopause symptoms, but the support will be invaluable in the end.
Don’t eat certain foods.
There are quite a few foods that you’re better off avoiding when you’re in menopause. Your hormones are already fluctuating and out of whack, and some foods that contain caffeine, contain a lot of greases, or are super spicy can make the symptoms and the fluctuating hormones even worse. Not only can fast foods cause the middle-age spread to spread even further, but they can also cause your already sensitive skin to become even more prone to acne breakouts and the like.
Avoiding these foods during your menopause transition will help with everything from weight gain to mood swings. Try eating healthy with plenty of veggies, fruits, and water to feel better during menopause.
Do: Track your menopause symptoms.
Since technology has made such great strides, it’s possible to download a menopause tracker to help you keep track of your menopause symptoms. Not only does a menopause tracker help you keep track of the number of hot flashes you had in a month, but it also helps you stay on top of your health during the menopause transition. It also helps keep track of any new menopause symptoms you have and lets you and your doctor track your menopause transition easier.
Don’t let yourself go.
The last thing you want to do when going through menopause is to start letting yourself go. Whether it’s a tunic, a loose garment, or something tight around the waist, dressing up and going out is a great way to combat those menopause symptoms. Menopause doesn’t mean that you have to wear gowns all the time or priestly fashions from medieval times to today, such as cassocks and wimples. It does mean that though you should dress comfortably, it should still be stylish and the type of garments you normally wear.
Do: Continue to exercise daily.
While you might not feel like exercising the way you normally do once menopause hits and the symptoms that go with it, it’s important to exercise daily anyway. Even if it’s only taking a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, you need to exercise to keep your bones strong and the mood swings at bay.
These are just a few of the dos and don’ts of menopause that you should know. Going through the menopause transition can be hard to do, but with these dos and don’ts and the help and support of your family and friends, you’ll come out on the other side just fine.