What’s your goal for 2016?

Posted in New Year Resolutions by HappyMonth

Christmas is nearly here and New Year’s Eve will soon be with us too…..

Now is a really good time to start thinking about how 2015 worked out for you? did you stay committed to the goals you set? did you see a reduction in PMS symptoms?

If reducing PMS/PMT Symptoms is still a goal for 2016, then the below list of lifestyle changes may help you on your journey:

During the last 10 days of your menstrual cycle you may notice your energy levels dropping, which can lead to irritability and low moods…. So next year commit to adding additional wholegrain carbohydrate foods into your shopping basket that can be used to help you sustain your energy levels e.g. Sweet Potato’s, nuts, bananas, whole-wheat pasta.
Caffeine is known to increase anxiety and irritability, so combine this with PMS and it can be a dangerous combination… So next year commit to reducing your caffeine intake to a maximum of two cups of Coffee/Tea a day during the last 10 days of your menstrual cycle.
Commit to positively changing your thought patterns e.g. “expect a happy month and you will”.
Commit to talking honestly and openly to your partner, close family and friends about how you are feeling during the month.
Commit to making more time for yourself during the day, this could be by introducing meditation, reading, listening to music or any other enjoyable activity.
Commit to providing yourself with compassion on those difficult days, remembering to talk to yourself as if you were talking to your best friend, provide yourself with words that comfort and support you.
Having a bad day? Is everyone annoying you? Then try Journaling… Grab a note book, a pen and then just write…write down everything that is on your mind, ignore grammar and punctuation, just let your pen do the talking!…. Once done, tear the paper up and throw in a bin, I guarantee any problems will reduce in size and you will feel mentally lighter.
Commit to letting yourself relax and slowing the pace down during the last 10 days of your menstrual cycle without feeling guilty.
Commit to adding a star to your wall or pocket calendar every month, indicating when you are expecting your PMS symptoms to start, this will allow you to be mindful of your thoughts and actions during this time and will also benefit the people you live with.
Lastly, no matter what you decide to do, commit to your goals and make sure it becomes part of your lifestyle, don’t be that person who stops after just a few weeks!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Happy Month.x

Do you know your sign?

Posted in PMT by HappyMonth

Nope, not your Zodiac sign! 🙂

The sign that your body gives to you when you are about to enter your PMS phase?

If you do not know what your sign is then it probably means that you are not listening to your body, as I can guarantee, it will be trying to tell you!

Your sign may be:

A change in mood?
A physical symptom?
Or maybe a sensation of some kind?

Your sign is your body’s way of telling you that you need to start your PMS action plan now.

For example, when you experience your sign, you should know that it’s time to:

Start to reduce stimulants
Slow the pace down
Relax
Meditate
Tell the people you live with that you are about to enter your PMS phase

But if you ignore your sign, or just do not prioritise your action plan, then you can probably expect to have a bad month!

So this month, listen to your body, take positive action and enjoy a happy month!

14Nov2015

Time for an early night?

Posted in Quick Tips by HappyMonth

Sleep has an amazing effect on our body and mind.

It allows us to fully unwind and relax from our day.

Most studies recommend 7/8 hours sleep per night but this can vary.

If you are in your PMS phase I would recommend adding an additional hour to your normal sleep pattern, turn off your TV, switch off your mobile phone and fully relax.

This small change will make a real positive difference to your mood and energy levels for the next day…

For me personally, during this phase I tend to go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 7am, this ensures that I am ready for the day ahead in a lovely calm mood.

Why not give it a try?

HappyMonth.x

28Sep2015

Have you taken action yet?

Posted in PMS, PMS Symptoms, PMT, Quick Tips by HappyMonth

I have met a number of people over the years who are very aware that they have PMS, maybe they have read some books, watched some YouTube videos… but most have never actually taken any action, even though they have spent many hours researching different tools and techniques.

Maybe these people are just not ready…? As to be honest, it does take a huge amount of commitment to achieve any real results and to ensure that they stay a habitual part of your life.

PMS can be cured! …. But it really depends on if you are ready for the journey?

The journey can be very long, filled with many lows at first, but it’s so fantastic when you actually start to see results for yourself, such as improvements in relationships, reduction in monthly tension and of course your first fully Happy Month, wow that’s a great feeling!

So are you ready to take action?

If you are, then you may be interested to know that I am in the process of writing a 31 day workbook, which will aid you in your journey to become PMS free…. and I hope that this will be available from Amazon very soon!

7Sep2015

Caffeine, the enemy of PMS

Posted in Nutrition Advice, PMT, Quick Tips by HappyMonth

I love coffee!

My favourite has to be from Nero’s, normally a White Americano!

Coffee gives me that well needed energy boost in the morning, it relaxes me after lunch and it is my favourite daily treat.

But somehow, this lovely daily treat, turns into the evil side kick of PMS once a month…. and the stimulation qualities seem to focus themselves on heightening my annoyance, anger and irritation rather than anything positive such as relaxation or energy.

But I need coffee?

So to combat this, I realised that I had to reduce my caffeine intake during my PMS phase, which sounds easy, but when you are ever so slightly addicted to the substance, it is very easy to say yes when someone offers you a cup!

So I am now very strict with myself, limiting myself to two cups if I feel that I am ok, but if I sense even the slightest hint of PMS, then its straight on to the Camomile Tea!

Could you benefit from the same approach?

29Jul2015

Does PMS really exist?

Posted in PMS, PMT by HappyMonth

This question is often asked in the media and a question that some people believe the answer to is “No it does not” …. but this is absolutely incorrect, PMS is a real condition with many symptoms that cause a lot of unhappiness to many women around the world.

The Happy Month website aims to promote a number of techniques, tools and lifestyle changes that can be used to help reduce and resolve real symptoms.

I am very passionate about this topic due to suffering with the condition and resolving it with absolutely no medication.

Happy Month is here to help, please get in contact with me if there is a specific topic/subject area that you would like help and advice on.

27Jul2015

PMS is not the problem, it’s the symptom!

Posted in PMS, PMS Symptoms, PMT by HappyMonth

Is PMS your problem? or could it be that PMS is purely a manifestation of problems being experienced in your life?

This is an important question and one that must be considered.

For many years, I actually believed that PMS caused myself to feel irritated, unmotivated, ugly and insecure and that I had absolutely no control over this!

But with a lot of work, I have learnt that this is not the case!
PMS simply highlights the parts of ourselves that need to nurtured, developed and loved.

I now use PMS as a magnifying glass, as it allows me to see the areas of my life that need to be improved, developed and enhanced…. and it provides me with the opportunity to actively do something about it!

This approach means that PMS is no longer my enemy, but actually a positive life tool that I can use to improve myself, my relationships and my life.