When you’re eating lots of processed food, refined sugars, and stimulants, like caffeine or alcohol, your body is constantly experiencing synthetic bursts of energy followed by deep troughs that can leave you feeling exhausted and emotionally all over the place. Cleaning up your diet and choosing a diet of fresh whole foods most of the time, lean proteins, wholegrains, healthy fats, and colourful fruits and veg – can help to stabilise your mood and leave you better prepared to navigate the emotional and physical symptoms you are experiencing.

Exercise has long been known to be a natural mood booster and it’s been shown to have a significant impact on a range of menopause symptoms, including emotional flux. When we exercise our body is flooded with endorphins – known as the happy hormones – which reduce pain and trigger positive feelings. Regular movement is key to a healthy post menopause and even getting out for a short walk every day can have a positive impact, particularly if you’re heading out into nature – another proven mood booster.

I speak to so many women who tell me they don’t have time for self-care, but time doing the things that are important to you is vital for emotional health and balance. Take a long, hard look at your to-do list and cut back on those non-essential tasks that are draining your time and your joy. Whether it’s making time to spend on a hobby you love, dedicating one night a month to catching up with a much-loved group of friends, or just setting aside an hour a day for dedicated R & R, self-care is as important to your emotional health as diet is to your physical wellbeing.

Mindfulness is an incredibly useful tool at any time, but during menopause, it can help you to find mental space and smooth out fluctuating emotions. There is no special trick to it, mindfulness simply means sitting quietly, paying attention to your thoughts and breathing, and focusing your attention on being present in that moment. You can do it anywhere and it’s a really useful tool for tackling emotional flare-ups, including sudden feelings of tension or worry.

I know sleep can be a constant battle throughout perimenopause and menopause, and then can develop even further as you age, but good sleep really can boost your emotional wellbeing and help to clear frustrating brain fog. You can improve your sleep routine by practicing good sleep hygiene – clearing your sleep space of distractions and screens – and enjoying a 60-minute digital-free relaxation period before bed. A warm bath, good book, and gentle stretching routine can all help you to get better shut-eye.