Midlife Self-Care: Tips for Boosting Well-being and Balance in Daily Life — PART 2
I mentioned good sleep, regular exercise, balanced food and being resilient in the Part 1 of this story to enhance our midlife journey. As clichéd as they all sound, we cannot undermine their importance. More so, now. We need to work on them if we couldn’t earlier. It is not late.
The next four self-care tips are not the usual ones and trust me, they take as much effort as the previously mentioned four tips, perhaps even more. I am also getting there. It is now or never.
5) Develop Healthy Relationships
Nurturing meaningful connections with family, friends, and even our community is essential for our emotional well-being. Make time for social activities, whether it’s meeting a friend for coffee, joining a club, or volunteering. Other than joining a club, I do the other two. I love getting out for coffee — need not be with a friend as such. It could even be with colleagues after work. I am fortunate to get to volunteer as part of CSR initiatives of my company. I make an effort to get out and volunteer wherever I can.
Let’s surround ourselves with positive people who are like-minded, with whom we can get a sense of belonging and thereby having a fulfilling midlife experience.
My Result: Pass
6) Set Priorities and Boundaries
During midlife, it’s common to juggle innumerable responsibilities and demands. If you know how to say ‘no’, you have done it! Boundaries have been set. For others like me, saying a no is difficult. I have now started saying no for things I really can’t do or commit to, but it is still a long way. When you learn to say no, you are setting boundaries, which is important for your ‘revive and thrive’ journey. Best way is to see if the request/ask from others is somewhat disturbing your priorities. Prioritise activities that matches your values and goals. Be practical by acknowledging your limitations and celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small.
My Result: Getting There
7) Engage in Activities that Bring Joy
Yes, we talked about creating a bedtime regime and exercising in the part 1 of this story. This is going beyond that. We could be ‘exercising’ because we are ‘supposed’ to — for our health and mental wellness. Likewise, performing a sleep ritual too. However, we need to also make time for those activities that we enjoy doing…whether it calms us down or just keeps us happily involved. It could be walking, pursuing some art and craft hobby, listening to music, or reading (which I enjoy thoroughly). All of these will rejuvenate us, our ‘me time’ that we truly enjoy.
These activities are an antidote to stress and provide a much-needed break from daily responsibilities.
My Result: Pass
8) Regular Health Check-ups
OK, this took me almost 40 years before I got a full body check-up done, so I can preach about it now. You will never get to know your underlying health-related issues unless you get your check-ups done. My mother never got it done for most of her life. One fine day, in her mid-60s, she had no choice but to get it done because she started having frequent falling episodes. Because of her, none of us at home got it done too. And it was so so wrong. After being coaxed by friends, I finally got my full check-up done just before my birthday this year. And I was petrified before the results were out. The results were decent. I need to work on getting my hemoglobin levels up.
Maintaining good health is crucial in midlife. We need to schedule regular check-ups with our doctor/healthcare experts to monitor our overall well-being, manage any health conditions, and address concerns promptly. It is good to stay up-to-date with recommended screenings (I need to get mine done; bracing myself!), vaccinations, and preventive measures specific to our age and gender.
My Result: Getting There
Incorporating all these self-care practices into our daily routine during midlife is essential for maintaining well-being, balance, and a positive outlook. We will navigate this phase with vitality and contentment. Also worth keeping in mind is, investing in self-care is not selfish; it is vital for leading a fulfilling and balanced life during midlife and beyond.
#reviveandthrive
