Sleep, Menopause, and Stress: Insights From The Amazing Dr. Lucinda Sykes

This practical and informative podcast focuses on the important and essential nature of sleep for women in perimenopause and menopause. Retired Dr. Lucinda Sykes is an amazing resource and walks us through the importance of sleep, the dangers of sleep medications, and how we can help our bodies and brains restore our natural sleep cycle, even in challenging times. Lucinda emphasizes the significance of sleep regularity and routine, as recommended by sleep scientists. Lucinda explains how staying up late, exposure to blue light from devices, and napping during the day can disrupt sleep, while natural daylight in the morning can aid in regulating sleep patterns. She touches on the impact of imbalances in various body systems on sleep and specifically addresses the endocrine changes during perimenopause and menopause that can affect sleep. Lucinda encourages listeners to practice self-care and cultivate healthy sleep habits during this stage of life.She highlights the importance of understanding population-based research while recognizing that individual sleep needs may deviate from general averages. Lucinda advocates for personalized coaching to explore unique sleep requirements and optimally manage sleep concerns. She emphasizes that the body, not the mind, guides us into sleep, and suggests short-term use of prescribed sleeping pills for transient sleeplessness if recommended by a physician, but to trust in our bodies to guide us to the sleep we need on an individual basis. About the Guest:Lucinda Sykes is a retired doctor and a longtime mindfulness teacher. More than 6000 patients attended programs of medical mindfulness at her Toronto clinic, Meditation for Health. When COVID ended her clinic's in-person teaching, Lucinda shifted her focus online to support the well-being of women after 50. Lucinda invites individual clients to meet with her in private programs of sleep coaching. She also teaches group programs of MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction). MBSR is a scientifically-validated way for women to reduce stress and live with more peace of mind. To get Lucinda's gift: Happy Sleep SecretsTo connect with Lucinda:Website: https://lucindasykesmd.comWebsite: https://meditationforhealth.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyfulafter50 About the Host: Mardi Winder-Adams is an ICF and BCC Executive and Leadership Coach, Certified Divorce Transition Coach, and a Credentialed Distinguished Mediator in Texas. She has worked with women in executive, entrepreneur, and leadership roles navigating personal, life, and professional transitions. She is the founder of Positive Communication Systems, LLC. Are you interested in learning more about your divorce priorities? Take the quiz "Find Out Your #1 Priority to Cut Through the Fog of Divorce". Connect with Mardi on Social Media:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Divorcecoach4womenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mardiwinderadams/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorcecoach4women/ Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.