Yesterday I turned 41...
And as I enter my next trip around the sun, I have been thinking a lot about aging - something I used to dread, but now something I welcome wholeheartedly.
Women (and some men) do so many things to try to prevent something that comes naturally to us solely because we don't like the thought of looking different, looking older. When in reality, ageing is one of the most natural things we do as humans, and as women.
Sorry to tell you this, but stopping or reversing the ageing process is IMPOSSIBLE.
So why not welcome it with open arms? And why not do what you can to make it a beautiful process?
Because it is...
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I'm 41 now, and as a woman in my 40s, I have learned that there is a rhythm to everything in nature - the seasons, the sunrise and sunset, the different stages of our lives... But nowhere are they more influential than within women.
Think about it...
Throughout our entire lives, the pulse of our hormones, menstrual cycles, our age, plus external factors like the phases of the moon, all have a huge impact on our health (physical and mental). Female hormones are governed by the time of day, month, year, and stages of life.
Despite the countless advertisements telling us how to look younger, how to hide wrinkles and blemishes, what to do with our graying hairs, none of these things ever mention what we truly need as we age: to feel content, happy, and most importantly, at peace with our bodies and minds.
What if the ad campaigns started promoting those things?! Then perhaps we wouldn't be so afraid to get older.
Wouldn't that be nice...?
What we needed in our teens, 20s and even 30s, is entirely different than what we need in our 40s and 50s. When we accept this, we are able to tune into how we truly feel, and we start to recognize what we really need during each stage of our ever-changing lives.
If you're a woman in your 40s, there are some things to consider when we enter this decade of our lives. Our bodies, and our brains are changing, and what we do to both can have a huge impact on how we feel for the remainder of our lives - helping prevent future illness, promote longevity, have more energy, and perhaps feel even better than we did in our 20s.
Here are a few things women can start doing now to care for your health and well-being:
1) GET STRONG. We spend so much of our time worrying about cardio exercise, while there are so many benefits to strength training. Strength protects our joints and bones, enhances metabolism, improves blood sugar balance, and can help prevent chronic diseases like diabetes. Not to mention, it promotes a better mood! This doesn't mean you have to go to the gym and hit the heavy weights - I practice yoga frequently, but it wasn't until recently that I started incorporating light strength training into my routine - I do it from home, with light (5lb) weights.
2) REDUCE STRESS AND CREATE BOUNDARIES: This is a BIG one for me. I used to be a "yes" person - I would say "yes" to almost everything in fear that I'd let someone down if I didn't show up. Once I reached my 40s I learned that I have to set boundaries, I knew I had to start listening to what I wanted to do, rather than what everyone else wanted, this includes my husband and my daughter as well - sometimes they go to the playground and if I don't feel like going, I simply don't go. There is no shame in that.
Reducing unnecessary stress is important at every age, but at age 40, stress can have a powerfully detrimental effect upon oestrogen (one of women's main female sex hormones) levels and brain function. At age 40, we’ve had enough life experience to help us understand what brings us joy, and what doesn't. We know who we enjoy spending time with and who drains us, what we want to spend our time on, and what we want to do less of. General everyday stressors like traffic, work deadlines and bills are inevitable, but how we react to them is within our own control.
I encourage you to take a little time out for yourself to think about what matters to you and what doesn’t. What makes you happy? What makes you feel drained? Begin creating some boundaries around your work-life balance, the amount of time you spend scrolling through social media, who you give your time and energy to, and what you choose to say ‘yes’ to - all things I continue to work on daily.
3) TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRAIN: Many women experience brain fog in their 40s (I am one of those women), which can be caused by dehydration, improper sleep, poor nutrition, excess alcohol consumption and many other factors. The hypothalamus in the brain controls whether we feel thirsty or not, and as we age, the signals telling us we’re thirsty tend to decline - something I just learned! Care for your brain by drinking mineral water, or water with extra electrolytes to hydrate the brain even more, particularly if you experience a lot of brain fog or you sweat easily. Warm water is especially hydrating, much more so than cold water (sorry ice lovers). My favorite is Alkaline water with electrolytes.
For added brain health, eat foods high in beneficial fats: salmon, flax, almonds and eggs. Also antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, cocoa, strawberries, artichokes, raspberries, kale, red cabbage, beetroot, beans, and spinach.
4) CARE FOR YOUR BLOOD SUGAR: Eating enough and ensuring you’re not skipping meals are simple, yet effective ways to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well and ensuring you’re not falling into the trap of cutting out healthy carbohydrates like sourdough, potatoes, fruits and honey. Long-term effects of cutting out these mineral-rich foods can lead to fatigue, weight gain and brain fog. Yes, I'm inviting you to enjoy carbs! (my fav. being sourdough of course!).
(If you want to learn how to make Sourdough Bread from home, join my next Sourdough Masterclass! Details here).
5) TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN: Ageing can have a drastic impact on our skin - veins and bones become more visible, and scratches and bruises can take longer to heal. If you haven't already started, I strongly encourage you to come up with a good skin care routine. I tend to lean toward more natural products for my skin, but find what works best for you - remembering that some of the chemicals found in skin care products can negatively affect your hormones. Do your research!
One of my favorite products to use are cleansing oils - they help reintroduce lost moisture in the skin and they are great at mimicking the skin’s lipid barrier and supporting it. I make my own facial cleansing oil at home, but you can buy them online as well - Primally Pure is my favorite.
These are just some of the key areas to focus on to improve health and well-being in your 40s, that will help set you up for healthier, happier years to come.
For more tips like these, I'm starting a Program for Women in their 40s and 50s - during the program you will learn how to prioritize your health by eating more nutritious (age appropriate) foods and simple ways to exercise and build strength. I will also teach you natural ways to prepare for peri-menopause or menopause by helping balance your hormones. All of this will lead to you gaining more confidence in your skin and body. YOU WILL FEEL BETTER THAN YOU HAVE IN YEARS, possibly than ever.
Message me for details and stay tuned for more.
(sources: EkhartYoga)
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