What does well-being mean to you? Are you happy and satisfied with your physical and mental health? If you prioritize your health and well-being, then great, but many of us in our 40s, 50s, and beyond have spent years working outside the home, raising children and caring for others, including elderly parents.
We go through the decades generally putting others' needs before our own, resulting in burnout, dissatisfaction, and, sadly, neglecting our physical and emotional needs when we should put ourselves at the top of our list.
Women are naturally caring; however, we can risk giving too much of ourselves to others at the expense of our health. While we take on multiple tasks and projects and think we are multitasking, this term is, in fact, a misnomer, as we can only do a job well if we are not trying to juggle several things at once. We can also feel pressure from society to try to be superwomen.
When we don't take care of our own needs, we are at risk of burnout. A few self-care habits per week may not be enough, so seeking professional help if experiencing physical or mental health issues is essential.
As we move through the various stages of our lives, self-care and well-being are vital as we experience menopause. Always being available, busy, and not taking sufficient relaxation time does affect how we think and behave and can result in tension and poor quality sleep.
Our satisfaction with life can encompass many things - a day spent with friends, a new haircut, a holiday or even a day spent gardening. Still, an essential item for our well-being is to not be all things to everyone - putting ourselves first and learning to say No more often is vital to a healthier and happier life.
Simple self-care habits are the springboard to well-being.
Try meditation - there is no right or wrong way to meditate - you could lie on your bed for 10 minutes without distractions (music), meditate through yoga or pilates, or find a comfortable chair, close your eyes, and let your thoughts wander.
My favourite stress-buster is a 30-minute walk after lunch - it helps me switch off and appreciate nature and does wonders for my waistline.
When I was going through menopause, I worked over 40 hours a week in a high-energy corporate environment. Ignoring my needs and staying late at the office resulted in neck and shoulder tension and poor nutrition from consuming processed foods and snacks and not taking a proper lunch break.
As we age and transition from peri-menopause to menopause, taking care of yourself through good nutrition and exercise is essential.
Many things bring about our well-being - our happiness or success in the workplace, organizing our time to enjoy life and not always being stuck on social media, working late at the office or trying to get through a list of never-ending tasks.
Here are a few self-care habits you can adopt to help you on your journey to well-being.
Make small changes to your diet by cutting your consumption of sugary and processed foods.
Consider adding vitamin supplements to your diet, such as Magnesium and a vitamin B complex.
Take a break from alcohol and excess caffeine consumption.
Get out in nature and take a 30-minute brisk walk a few times a week.
Unplug phones and TVs and read a good book.
Make sleep a priority and break the late-night bedtime routine.
Spend some time alone - this gives you complete peace from the demands of others.
I hope you enjoy reading our blog posts - we'll cover menopause in more detail in a future post. Please feel free to leave any comments below.
Good reads:
Rushing Woman's Syndrome, by Libby Weaver.
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