One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt over the years is that we need to get much better at listening to our bodies.
Somewhere along the way, many of us stop doing that.
We push through tiredness because there’s work to do. We ignore little aches and pains because the kids need us. We skip meals, survive on coffee, get another late night under our belt and tell ourselves we’ll slow down next week.
Then next week comes… and we do exactly the same thing again.
For many women, it isn’t until they become ill, injured or completely burnt out that they finally stop and think, “I can’t carry on like this.”
It’s funny really, because we often take our health completely for granted until something happens and we don’t have it anymore. Then suddenly it becomes the only thing we want back.
And actually, for many women, the straw that breaks the camel’s back is perimenopause.
The strategies we’ve relied on for years—pushing through the exhaustion, putting everyone else first and just “getting on with it”—suddenly stop working. Our bodies start asking us to pay attention, whether we’re ready or not.
At first, that can feel incredibly frustrating. But looking back, I actually think it can be one of the greatest gifts.
Perimenopause gives us the opportunity to stop fighting against our bodies and start working with them instead.
To tune in.
To get to know ourselves again.
To notice what gives us energy, what drains us, what helps us sleep better, what makes us feel stronger and calmer, and to learn that there isn’t one right way through midlife. The right way is the one that works for you.
The older I get, the more I realise that good health really is one of the greatest gifts we have. It allows us to work, travel, play with our children or grandchildren, enjoy hobbies and make the most of everyday life. Without it, everything becomes that little bit harder.
The wonderful thing is that we’re living longer than ever before. But I don’t just want a long life—I want a healthy one.
There’s a phrase you’ll hear more and more called healthspan. Whilst our lifespan is simply how many years we live, our healthspan is how many of those years we spend feeling well, staying independent and being able to do the things we love.
To me, that’s what all of this is really about.
It’s not about having the “perfect” body or fitting into a certain dress size. It’s about giving ourselves the best possible chance of reaching our 70s, 80s and beyond feeling strong, capable and full of life.
The fact you’re taking the time to read this article tells me something really positive. Whether you’ve found your way here after a workout, whilst enjoying a cup of tea or simply because you’re curious to learn more, you’ve already recognised that your health deserves your time and attention.
Every walk, every strength session, every nourishing meal, every early night and every positive choice you make is another small investment in your future health. None of us can control everything that happens in life, but we can influence so much through the choices we make every day.
So rather than asking yourself, “How can I lose weight?” perhaps a better question is, “What do I want my life to look like in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time?”
Because that’s really what we’re working towards.
A long life is something to be grateful for. A long life filled with health, strength and happiness is something worth investing in.
Recovery Is Part of the Plan
One of the ways we can start looking after our healthspan is by changing the way we think about recovery.
For years we’ve been told that more is better. More exercise. More sweat. More intensity.
But our bodies don’t actually get stronger whilst we’re exercising. They get stronger afterwards, when we give them time to recover.
Recovery isn’t being lazy. It’s an essential part of the process.
After a strength session, your muscles need time to repair and adapt. It’s during that recovery that they become stronger. The same is true for your bones, joints and nervous system.
Recovery doesn’t have to mean spending the whole day on the sofa. It might be going for a gentle walk, spending ten minutes stretching, getting to bed a little earlier, eating enough protein or simply taking a few moments to slow down and breathe.
The important thing is learning to ask yourself, “What does my body need today?”
Some days the answer will be a strength workout because your body is ready to be challenged. Other days it might be a walk in the fresh air, a stretch or an early night because your body is asking for a little more recovery.
Neither answer is right or wrong.
I think one of the biggest skills we can develop in midlife is learning the difference between not feeling like exercising and genuinely needing to recover. The more we tune into our bodies instead of constantly fighting against them, the easier that becomes.
Remember, recovery isn’t something we earn after working hard. It’s one of the ways we look after ourselves so that we can continue feeling strong, healthy and active for years to come.
After all, we’re not just exercising for the next few weeks or months.
We’re exercising so we can enjoy the next few decades.