Middle age can be a challenging time for women. It’s a time when many of us feel like we are losing our youth, figure, hair, vitality or even our marbles!
I was chatting about this over a coffee with a friend recently, and she joked that she was ‘waiting for her second spring’. That got me thinking as I hadn’t heard that phrase before. Apparently the second spring is actually a thing!
After a bit of investigation, I discovered that women really can experience a second spring in their middle age (can’t remember the last time I had any ‘spring’ but was intrigued to know more). Our ‘second spring’ is a moment in our lives where we can feel renewed and rejuvenated and, let’s face it, during perimenopause we could all do with a bit of that.
During perimenopause, us women would just happily settle for all the bloody symptoms to come to an end, let alone our second spring. We are already coping with changes, both physically and emotionally, as we transition into menopause. For some of us, perimenopause brings uncertainty and anxiety, as we wonder what the future holds.
Despite the challenges that perimenopause can bring, it can also be a time of growth and renewal (or is that just the hairs on my chin?) which we can look to use to our advantage. It has certainly made me focus on my health and well-being and how I can make positive changes to my life, especially on the days where I can’t stand noise, smells or being around other people (just to name a few), because I can’t lock myself away every time things get too much.
Perimenopause is a unique and individual experience. Every woman experiences it differently and there is no one ‘right’ way to approach it. It is also a time of self-discovery and we need to use this time to learn more about ourselves and what makes us happy.
In this So Just Be blog, we have taken a deep breath, pushed away the stresses of the day with our Calm app and explored some ways that women can experience a second spring in middle age. Here’s what we found:
Embrace a healthy lifestyle
One of the most important things that women can do to experience a second spring in middle age is to embrace a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. A healthy lifestyle can help women feel more energetic and vibrant, and can also help us maintain a healthy weight and reduce our risk of chronic diseases.
Pursue new interests and hobbies
Middle age is a great time to pursue new interests and hobbies. Try new things, such as learning a new language, taking up a new sport, or exploring a new hobby. Pursuing new interests and hobbies can help us feel more fulfilled and can also help us to meet new people and make new friends.
Focus on personal growth
Middle age is a great time to focus on personal growth. We can take courses, attend workshops, or read books that help us develop new skills or learn new things. Personal growth can help us feel more confident and can also help us achieve our goals and dreams.
Connect with others
Connecting with others is another important way that we can experience a second spring in middle age. Join clubs or organisations, volunteer in the community, or attend social events. Connecting with others can help us to feel more connected and can also help build a support network.
Practice self-care
Finally, practicing self-care is essential if we want to experience a second spring in middle age. This means taking time for ourselves, doing things that we enjoy, and taking care of our physical and emotional health. Self-care can help us feel more relaxed and can also help to manage stress and anxiety.
Middle age or perimenopause doesn’t have to be a time of decline for women. I’m definitely open to embracing some positive changes, as the thought of feeling renewed and rejuvenated is certainly appealing. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy all that life has to offer, after all?
SJB
So Just Be 