It’s the small day-to-day things that can make a huge difference in our life. As a woman nears or goes through menopause, reducing stress and anxiety is really important. You might know by now that additional stress can make your symptoms worse, which is the last thing you want! Getting up early is beneficial for many reasons, here are three reasons why you should get up early to help beat menopause.
Reduce Stress & Be More Productive
Getting up early means you have more time in which to achieve your daily tasks. More time will usually mean less rushing about and in turn, less stress. Stress levels might already be higher than normal during menopause. Either as a direct result of hormonal changes, or due to disrupted sleeping patterns. A better organised, productive day will leave you with a sense of accomplishment and less hanging over you by the time evening arrives.
Time to Exercise
An early rise allows for time to do some light exercise while energy levels are still high. Fit in a workout or brisk walk before any complications or fatigue arrives after a day’s work or activities. Exercise is very important during menopause for various reasons; stress release, weight loss and mood enhancing to name just a few.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of exercise, however, is its ability to counteract the effects and / or the occurrence of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a reduction in bone mass, resulting in weakened and brittle bones. Unfortunately, menopause can be a contributing factor to suffering from osteoporosis due to the reduction in hormones during this period. Regular exercise is known to help increase muscle and bone strength. Therefore preventing osteoporosis from occurring, or at least keeping it at bay for a much longer period.
Time For a Decent Breakfast
You’ve probably heard the saying ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’. Yet, many of us still don’t make time to sit down and take advantage of breakfasts benefits. In simple terms, ‘food is fuel’. This means that food and particularly breakfast supplies the body and brain with the nutrients and energy it needs to deal with the tasks ahead. Those missing breakfasts are likely to be suffering from higher levels of tiredness and a lack of concentration and drive.
Many people skip this meal due to a lack of time in the mornings. Forcing yourself out of bed early and eating a decent breakfast is far better than an extra half hour on the snooze button.
More Time to See the Family
If you’ve got older children who are up early in the morning for college, work, or other commitments. It might be the only time you get to see them, especially if they are off doing their own thing in the evenings and weekends. Even getting that extra hour with your husband in the mornings could make all the difference to your relationship.
You don’t need to start setting your alarm for 4:30am every morning, simply try getting 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you normally would and see what difference it makes to your week.