Why prioritizing your health is an essential midlife strategy

Prioritizing our health in midlife is an essential strategy that allows us to reclaim our well-being so that we can live the remainder of our lives more fully. By midlife, many of us reach a stage of “critical mass” with respect to our health. Over the years, while well-intended, we have allowed our health to slip to the back burner. As we age, the negative impacts begin to overpower the smaller short-term advantages of ignoring or not paying enough attention to healthy living.

Critical Mass

The size or number that something needs to reach before a particular change or development can happen

The Cambridge Dictionary

We know what we should do

Prioritizing your health should be an essential strategy in any stage of life. We know that being healthy will help us live longer, avoid many diseases, and be happier and better able to enjoy life.

We are bombarded with health information online, in bookstores, at the checkout counter and in social media. Any popular website, podcast, book or magazine targeted at women has an abundance of articles on the benefits of living healthy. Our health impacts our personal wellbeing, our ability to do what we want to do, and how we interact with others.

But are we actually healthy?

Statistics tell us that no, we are not healthy. More than 2 in 3 adult women in America are considered overweight or obese (source: National Institutes of Health 2013-2014 NHANES data). And on top of that, more than half of the adults in America have either diabetes or prediabetes, a disease that comes from eating too much of the wrong foods (sugar and refined carbohydrates) and affects every organ in our bodies.

And women suffer not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Since the beginning of time, women have been the primary caregivers for our families: our children, our elders, even our spouses. As women growing up in the ‘’60s, 70s, ‘80s and ‘90s — society told us that we could have a role in the working world as well as raising our families.

And many of us try to do it all. At once. We spread ourselves thin, juggle multiple roles and priorities, and try to live up to unreasonable society standards. All of this takes a toll on our health.

Why do we struggle to take care of ourselves?

Why, when we care so deeply about our health, are we struggling? I believe three factors make it especially hard for women in midlife to prioritize making changes to live healthier:

• We take better care of others than ourselves — despite our best intentions, many of us prioritize taking care of our families over taking care of ourselves.
• We have little extra time to research or plan long-term strategies — so we look for the quick answers, hoping that the information that comes readily to hand will provide quick fixes.
• We are bombarded with too much information, some of it misleading or inaccurate — messages scream at us from every side, often conflicting or at least requiring further exploration or verification (and more time, which we don’t have).

We have failed at prioritizing our health

This is my confession born from my own midlife timeout soul searching (see prior post, Jumpstart your own midlife timeout). For most of my life, I have failed at prioritizing my health.

Somehow, year after year, intention met reality, consistency yielded to sporadic attempts, and information overload caused analysis paralysis or chasing the latest “squirrel.” The reality is that by the time I reached my fifties, I carried extra pounds, exercised less than recommended, enjoyed some less healthy habits — and consequently face typical midlife health issues of America today. I am not as healthy as I want to be.

It’s time to take back our health

Right here in midlife, many of us realize we have reached critical mass, the size or number that something needs to reach before change can happen. For some of us, it may be a number on the scale or just being tired of how our clothes fit. For others, it may be a certain test result, such as cholesterol, blood pressure or glucose levels. Each of us reaches a critical mass in our own way.

If, like me, you’re ready to a prioritize your health, I have five simple, but not necessarily easy, suggestions.

1. Make your health priority #1. Resolve to dedicate time and energy to being healthy and actually make space in your calendar, mind and emotional life! This most likely means you need to take something else off of your plate – but when you start putting yourself first, paradoxically, you’ll bring your best self to others.
2. Eat healthier, whatever this means for you. Your overall goal should be to consume real food with a balance of lower fat proteins, complex carbohydrates and a good mix of vegetables and fruits. Reduce your intake of processed foods and sugars.
3. Exercise more. Strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day doing an activity you enjoy, consistently!
4. Use healthy alternatives for coping with the stresses of your life — and give up or reduce habits that sabotage good health. Most of us “self-medicate” in one or more ways that aren’t good for us. Whether you’re over-eating, over-indulging in alcohol, smoking or have even more damaging habits — think about the positive benefits of letting go and finding healthier coping strategies. If you need it, seek professional counseling or support groups!
5. Get a health check-up and identify “areas of opportunity” specific to you. Read up on your specific health issues and find the latest medical recommendations. Pick strategies that are practical for you, that you can stick to consistently, and that will have the biggest impact to your health.

Someone once said, “if you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?” And if you do prioritize your health, think of what you will be able to accomplish!

May you find the strength and courage to live happy, healthy and well. May you experience the benefits of a healthy body and happy mind. And may God guide you on your journey to a healthier you!