Midlife Women – 5 healthy habits to implement straight away
Midlife can be challenging. There are so many changes that take place internally and externally at midlife that may knock you off balance. Some women manage to sail through the transition of midlife without so much as breaking a sweat. While others suffer miserably. How can this be?
Invisibility
Women report that they start to feel invisible as the glow of youthfulness begins to fade and the march of time begins to let itself be known both on the face and the body.
Aging
Skin aging and laxity are common and for some women this is really depressing. Their once pert breasts, and firm buttocks may have travelled a little further South, a speedier process especially when they have not been exercising.
Isolation
This may also be a time when children marry or leave home for University and the house may become eerily silent. This can leave a big gap and empty space in a woman’s life particularly if she has not kept up any outside interests or hobbies. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Getting older is guaranteed for everyone and unfortunately there are no eternal youth elixirs available to keep you looking young forever.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery can keep some tell tales signs of aging at bay, but does not address the internal aging process, and not everyone has the finances to fund the constant upkeep that cosmetic enhancements require.
Mindset
Our mindset, lifestyle choices and the actions we take have a huge impact on our overall wellness and how we feel in midlife.
Here are 5 habits that you may wish to implement into your life so that midlife doesn’t knock you off balance or catch you off guard.
Be prepared, be committed, be motivated. Health is priceless but needs an investment of your time, energy and the correct life choices.
5 Habits of happy Midlife Women
Happy midlife women follow these principles:
1.
Healthy eating habits
Eliminate or reduce alcohol, smoking, sugar, processed foods and junk food. Alcohol and caffeine are stimulants which will exacerbate hormonal fluctuations. If you are suffering from hot flushes, then spicy food may have to stay off the menu. Drink plenty of water to flush the body of toxins and aid the digestive process. Include flaxseed, chick peas, lentils, seeds, and plenty of vegetables into your diet, along with sauerkraut, natural live yogurt, aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar.
2.
Managing stress levels
High levels of stress may also affect weight in a very negative way due to the effects of cortisol. If you are feeling highly stressed make sure you find a way to manage it through relaxation techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, self hypnosis, yoga or similar. Discover what your stress triggers and find a way to reduce or eliminate them. Holistic therapies such as reflexology, massage, Reiki may also promote stress relief and a sense of inner peace.
Make sure you have good quality sleep
During the day our hormones are busy and are used up. In sleep we are rejuvenating and the endocrine system produces new hormones. Make sure that your room is completely dark and that you sleep around 10pm. Have a bedtime routine and that you have exercised during the day. Avoid coffee, tea and alcohol before bedtime. Switch off all electronic gadgets at least two hours before bed.
3.
Emotional Wellness
Hormonal fluctuations can affect your moods and cause you to feel irritated, annoyed and angry. You may feel out of control on some days, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Hypnotherapy is a great technique to work with the mind, journaling, and listening and responding to your own needs is also helpful. This is a great time to reconnect with all of the things you used to love doing but are no longer doing so. Make time to do what you enjoy.
4.
Supercharge your confidence
Now is the time to work on yourself and to do all that makes you feel self confident. Making sure that you are doing what is necessary for you to feel happy with your self image. Working on your personal development, dressing well and perhaps doing some inner work. An image makeover can work wonders too. Working with a hypnotherapist or coach may help you with self confidence issues.
5.
Exercise
It is never too late to start exercising. There are so many ways to exercise that you are spoilt for choice. Make sure you choose something that you enjoy as you much more likely to stay motivated and continue. If you don’t enjoy the gym, why not work out at home, or outside? Do you love dance? Why not try Zumba or another form of dance such as Salsa, Ceroc or Ballroom?
The important thing is to get moving. Your body is not designed to sit still and be sedentary. Even something as simple as walking for 20 minutes each day is better than doing nothing at all. Exercise releases the feel good hormones endorphins which will help keep your moods uplifted.
Choices
We all have access to 24 hours a day, and a personal choice on on how we choose to spend our free time.
All of the habits above can be easily implemented into a busy lifestyle, and are so beneficial to overall wellness. There is no time like the present, why not start today?
Why not pop over to the website and download your complimentary shopping list and exercise planner to help you on your journey to wellness.
We have some great programmes to help you through midlife and beyond.
Have a happy, healthy day!
Isobel McArthur
Founder of Flourish Beyond 40 Online Women’s Wellness Programme
