Embracing Wellness After 50 and Beyond

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Turning 50 is a milestone. It marks the shift from one chapter in your life into another. For some women it brings a freedom they have never experienced. They had children when they were young, they had a career. Now they finally have time for themselves. Time to focus on what they want this chapter of their lives to look like.

For other women it brings challenges. They are looking at health challenges, all of a sudden family roles shift and they are caring for their parents or their spouses parents. They have been home caring for kids and now with no retirement they find they must work. They don’t have current job skills to enter the workforce making a livable wage, so they go back to school. This seems very stressful but it doesn’t have to be. Heres the truth, Life after 50 can and should be one of the most empowering, fulfilling and vibrant seasons of all.

Here is a secret, you need to intentionally care for yourself. Your mind, your body, and your spirit. Self-care at this stage of your life is so important. It’s not selfish to care for yourself at this stage of your life it’s necessary. It’s about investing in your well being so that you have energy to do the things you dreamed of doing. Having purpose in your older years and not having to deal with sickness and high cost of doctors but living your best life. It’s about living your later years with joy and enjoying things you are planning to do.

Your Body After 50

Until now your body has lived a fast paced busy family life style. Now you have the chance to slow down and take care of you. You deserve this time for yourself. At 50-60 years old physical selfcare becomes less about a perfect body and more about maintaining strength, mobility and vitality.

Movement

At 50 you don’t have to run marathons to keep yourself healthy. Just doing consistant exercise like walking, swimming, yoga, and light strength training is enough to keep you fit, and improve your balance. It will help you with bone and joint health and you will have more energy when you exercise. It also reduces stress and supports a healthy heart too.

Rest

Your sleep patterns will change during this time too. Getting quality rest is so important for you. This is a great time to create yourself a calming evening routine. Start diming the lights after dark will help you calm down and get ready for rest. Stop using blue lights at night and switch to the red circadian lights to help you transition to night time. Its also a great idea to not look at screens after dark that way you aren’t exposed to the blue lights from your computer or phone or i-pads.

Once you have had dinner and the kitchen is all clean settle down with a good book you have been putting off reading, and settle in with a great cup of herbal tea and just relax your mind and body until you are ready for bed. You can prepare you clothes for the next day and transition into your night clothes. Start a practice of journaling or reading your Bible. You can also take time to record what your day was like and what you were thankful for during your day.

When you get your rest and the right amount of sleep it will help regulate your hormones, help with your moods and you will have much better mental clarity.

Eat Good Foods

Here I’m not talking about dieting. It’s about learning how to fuel your body with the right foods to give your body what it needs.

Focus on whole foods that are rich in fiber, eat lean protiens and choose healthy fats that supports vital body functions. Skip the fried foods and the highly processed empty foods that have no nurrishment. Be sure to hydrate well. You will look younger and feel much better when your body has the hydration it needs. Eat foods high in calcium and vitamin D and get plenty of sunshine.

Eat lots of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables that help fight off inflammation.

You need to think of your body as a companion that must be well nourished and taken care of. I scripture it talks about your body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. We need to treat our bodies with care and not do things that harm our bodies.

” Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

Your Mind

Our minds has carried wisdom, memories and lots of experiences for decades. Now is the time to care for it and give it challenges to keep it fit and healthy and growing. In 1 Corinthians it talks about we have the mind of Christ.

“As the scripture says, Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice? We, however, have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 GNT

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to shape our thoughts and what we do. It’s even important in our later years to continue to follow Christ in all we do. Just because we are older doesn’t mean we are finished with live. We have a very unique opportunity to share our wisdom with the next generation. Find a ministry in your local church you can get involved with to share your wisdom with the younger generations.

Reflection

Journaling is a powerful tool. Writing your thoughts, prayers, or daily struggles and your wins can reduce stress and it will help you clarify your day. You will also be able to look back over the years and see how far you have came. You can create a roadmap of where you have been and where you want to go from here.

Continue Learning

Staying mentally active is a very important part of self-care. You want to stay active and you want your mind to stay active as well. You can start an online class that you have though about taking or you can start a Bible study with ladies in your local area or your local church. You can join a book club or a local discussion group at your local library or a local book store.

Stress Reduction

After 50 women juggle unique stressors. Lots of women deal with caring for aging parents, supporting there adult children in raising the grandchildren or they could be raising the grandchildren by themselves. They could also be dealing with major health issues. If you start practices like meditation and deep breathing it will help reduce stress.

Decide on starting a new hobby that is calming like painting, gardening, or just listening to music. Find hobbies that keep you creative and learning. it will keep you young and vibrant.

Strengthening Your Spirit

Self-care is more than mind and body. Spiritual health is what grounds you, it gives you meaning, and it gets you through the harder times.

Connecting With God

If you don’t have a prayer time start one. Having a daily prayer time renews your spirit. Take time everyday to talk with God.

” Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 KJV

During your prayer time take some time to just listen and see what God asks you to pray for some one or he has something for you to do or say. Be sure to have your Bible close at hand too. Sometimes God likes to give us scriptures or wants us to see how he handled something and if you are going through something it could be the answer for the issue You are facing. Many times God has taken me to his word to deal with something I am facing and it always is exactly what I needed at the time.

Have Community

After 50 we slow down and sometimes we have a much smaller circle of friends or we loose friends. They could have gone on to be with the Lord or they could have moved in with there children to ease the burden of finances or health concerns. Surround your self with friends. Find new friends. If you have lost friends due to on thing or another it’s important we get out there and find people we can do life with. It’s very important for our wellbeing to have friendships. You want friends that encourage you to get up and keep moving even if you don’t want to. You want to be the samekind of friend too. Find friends that challenge you and life you up and you be the friend that also challenges nd lifts others up when they need it.

Join a bible study or a woman’s group, or volunteer program where you can give and receive support.

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude shifts your focus from whats lacking in your life to whats abundant in your life. Start keeping a gratitude journal or just record in your journal everyday what you are grateful for. Take time everyday to pause and thank God for the blessings of the day.

When you tend to your spirit you are building resilience. When you have a well nourished spirit you have joy, hope and confidence that sustain you through the good times and helps you get through the hard times.

Embrace a Holistic View of Your Self-Care

We tend to view self-care as a luxury that we don’t have time or the money for. We treat it as somethng to squeeze in if we have time. Real self-care is so important. Its not just taking a bubble bath or doing a spa days. They are awesome but you need more than a spa day every now and then. It needs to be a lifestyle of caring for yourself so that you can flourish and be the best you can for your mind, body and spirit. Caring for your body fuels your energy, nurturing your mind keeps you sharp. Strengthening your spirit anchors your life. Self-care is stewardship. Caring for the life God has given is important. You will feel great and ready to love and serve others well.

Where Can You Start

1. Start taking a 20 minute walk three times a week.
2. Write down three things you’re grateful for each night before bed.
3. Set aside 10 minutes in the morning for a quiet devotional and a scripture reading and a prayer.
4. Call a friend and schedule a coffee date or movie.
5. Try one new recipe that focuses on whole nourishing ingredients.

Small changes over time done consistently leads to transformation over time.

You aren’t clinging to youth by doing selfcare you are embracing this season of your life with wisdom. It’s honoring your body, nurturing your mind and strengthening your relationship with God. It’s slowing down, listening to your body and making good solid changes so you can have a full vibrant life.