3 Reasons to Take Care of Yourself in Midlife
3 Reasons to Take Care of Yourself in Midlife
When I say self-care, I’m not talking about looking both ways before you cross the street or making sure to wash your hands often. Though to be clear, those are excellent ways to keep you healthy. I’m talking about caring for your mental and spiritual self. Fostering the kind of habits and behaviors that nurture our inner self is the very definition of self-care.
Midlife can be full of curveballs—changing family roles, career shifts, or health issues. Then there is the wonderful, and by wonderful I mean awful, adventure known as perimenopause. Yeah, you know what I’m going to say next. Let’s just call some of them out right here like night sweats, brain fog, weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, and let’s not forget the dreaded hot flashes. These barely scratch the surface — there are so many ways that women experience perimenopause. This is why taking care of yourself will help you stay grounded and ready to tackle whatever comes your way with a clear mind and a positive vibe.
What I love about adopting self-care rituals is that they can be as simple or elaborate as we make them. For some of my friends, self-care includes weekly manicures or massages. For others it’s working out, getting outdoors, or meditating. They are as different as we are. What you do isn’t as important as why you do it.
So, why exactly is it so important to put ourselves first? Here are 3 key reasons:
For starters, preventing or mitigating depression. Research indicates that women are at greater risk for depression during the perimenopausal period. In the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles, the researchers found that “Premenopausal women with no history of depression who entered the perimenopause were twice as likely to develop significant depressive symptoms when compared with women who remained premenopausal during the period of observation.”
In an article from the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Women’s Mental Health, the authors reference the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) which followed a cohort of 443 perimenopausal women (ages 42 – 52 years) as they transitioned into the menopause. The authors of this study found that “during the 13 years of prospective follow-up, 39% of the women experienced an episode of major depression. Women without a lifetime history of MDD at baseline had a lower risk of developing MDD during the menopausal transition than those with a prior MDD history (28% v. 59%).” Read the full article at this link here.
A second reason is for your physical well-being. Since your mind and body are totally connected, ignoring your mental health can mess with your sleep, your energy, and even your immune system. Taking a little time for self-care can do wonders for you. It helps you reduce stress and keeps you feeling great.
A third reason to practice self-care is that it makes you a better friend, partner, and mom. When you take care of yourself, you’re not just helping yourself—you’re showing up better for the people you love. You’ll have more patience, energy, and joy to share, and you’ll set an awesome example for others to prioritize themselves, too.
Strive to prioritize yourself — for you and the people around you. It’s never too late to start!
xoxo
Jenny
