It’s time for a big change and you might be thinking what to do with your beautiful life. Your friends are thinking of retiring and going to their children’s graduation ceremonies or weddings! You might feel that you have nothing to show for your time on this planet. First of all stop with all that negative thinking and don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You have achieved a lot but perhaps in a different way. Count your blessings and look forward to the future. If you are about to turn 50 or you are already in your 50s and beyond, you are probably thinking how to navigate this special time in your life. Here are my tips that I have used in my own life to feel good and look amazing after 50:
1. Be grateful where you are – thank yourself on how much you have achieved and don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Whatever you are going through at this moment, tell yourself, “It’s going to be alright!” You have survived all that life has thrown at you and you will survive the next stage of your life too.
2. Love your body – when you look in the mirror appreciate your body and thank your body for carrying you all these years. If you don’t like what you see, realise that you can change anything. You can start going to the gym or exercising for strength. Know that it’s never too late to change your body and improve your strength. Appreciate everything about your body and from this way of thinking you can work on improving anything you want to change.
3. Your healthy diet – the body changes as we get older and most women need to change or adjust their diet. You need to listen to your body and adjust to what your body needs and research the foods that will keep your body healthy and give your energy. If you are over 50 you are probably wondering what on earth is happening to your hormones! It can be a really stressful time for so many women. Don’t worry, you are not alone!
Learn about nutrient-dense foods to help with your slowing metabolism and bone loss. Increase calcium, protein and add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you are low in vitamin D find out about supplements and the recommended amount. Research the mediterranean diet rich in oily fish, nuts, seeds, whole grains to support your heart, bone and cognitive health. Stay away from sugar and junk foods as these foods can cause inflammation in your body. Do your research on what you can do to help increase energy levels if you are feeling tired. Only you will know what’s best for yourself so listen to your body.
Remember to drink as much water as needed to stay hydrated and maintain energy levels throughout the day. It is always your choice to decide what works for you to support your body. Always speak to a professional if you are not sure about your health!
4. Quality friendships – at this stage of our lives we need quality people we can trust and confide in. Choose your friends carefully and if anyone is not aligning with your values and lifestyle or judging your decisions it’s time to let that friendship go. You have come a long way and you have worked hard for your lifestyle and building trust with people, there is no time on your schedule to lose your energy with negative people. I like the phrase, “Hasta la vista, baby,” say goodbye and don’t look back. It’s tough but sometimes you have to be and tell yourself you deserve respect and trust with people that will have your back. We all get one life on this planet, prioritize yourself and your mental health. There is no time for toxic people as women over 50 we have to focus on a positive lifestyle and future, look for high quality friendships for mutual support.
5. Prioritize self-care – you cannot organise your life when you are exhausted and on the hamster wheel non-stop. Schedule time to relax and do activities that you enjoy. Prioritize sleep as a human usually needs 7 – 8 hours sleep for optimum cognitive function and improving the immune system. Rest is the key for hormonal regulation and stress management. Find a quiet space and learn meditation to quiet your mind or take a long hot bath in the evenings and give yourself that well deserved time. Read a good book and treat yourself to a delicious hot chocolate. Just close your eyes and be still, self-care is about doing what feels right for you. You always have the choice to decide what works for your body, your lifestyle.
6. Exercise – your body is your temple and it is the home your soul lives in, your body will carry you for the rest of your life. It makes sense to look after your body and find an exercise or activity that will maintain strength and continue moving. Between the ages of 50 and 70 we can lose up to 30% of muscle mass and there can be more risk of injury and falls. Choose an activity that you like and feel comfortable doing. For example, yoga, pilates, walking or any exercise that can improve your health. Strength training can help to maintain muscle strength, add some weights to your exercise programme to help increase bone density and flexibility as we grow older. Whatever exercise you choose, add some fun activities during your exercise programme so it won’t be boring to help with motivation. Keep up with your exercise at least a few times a week to maintain good health.
7. Beauty routine – Skin becomes thinner, drier and more sensitive after 50. You can get your natural vitamin D from the sun but longer than 30 minutes can cause sun damage to your skin. Wear a hat to protect your face in the hot summer months.
Look at using natural products as much as possible to avoid those nasty toxins that are often found in beauty products. These can be harmful to our body and disrupt hormones, cause allergies and many other problems.
Look at gentle cream based cleansers that hydrate the skin and always moisturise. Depending on your skin type, research hyaluronic acid and vitamin C for brightening and softening the skin. Always ask a professional if in doubt as some ingredients can cause irritation depending on the sensitivity of your skin.
8. Hair and Make-up – I love natural hair colours such as henna natural plant-based hair dyes. I know what I’m using on my body and I don’t waste time at the hairdressing salon when I can dye my own hair. Look at different products and what works best for your skin tone.
Keep make-up light, less is more so don’t overdo it. If in doubt, stick to natural tones and always moisture before applying foundation to avoid the make-up creasing and forming lines on your face. If you don’t have a lot of time in the morning to apply foundation, make sure you moisturise and apply some eyeliner and lipstick and you can still look polished for the day. I love a natural look that works very well for me but everyone is different and its a personal choice. You always have a choice so do whatever makes you feel comfortable and happy.
9. Positive mindset – This stage of life can the best chapter of your life if you allow it to be. Focus on the positive in your life and congratulate yourself on how much you have already achieved. You are wiser and you have made mistakes and learned from them. This is your time to shine and focus on making changes one step at a time. Don’t try and make the changes all at once. It’s a process and you are writing your new chapter as you move forward. Focus on self-care and positive relationships. Be kind to yourself, you’ve got this!