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3 self-care tips for women in their fifties to ensure good health, skin, mind and more

27/4/2023

Collaborative Post | Women's minds, bodies, and overall well-being can change significantly as they approach their fifties. During this stage of life, it is more essential than ever to prioritise self-care and develop healthy habits that help promote clear skin, a sharp mind, and a cheerful outlook which will keep you feeling young at heart (and on the outside!).

From maintaining a healthy weight to getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity, there are several self-care practices to include in your routine if you want to age gracefully in your fifties. To help you navigate this important chapter in your life, we outline several self-care tips to help ensure good health, skin, mind, and more in our article below:

Self-care tips for women in their fifties (Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash)

Maintain a healthy weight

If you've been weighing yourself and it feels like the number on the scale never seems to go down, your feelings are correct. Shifting a few extra pounds when you're fifty is much more challenging than when you were in your thirties due to various lifestyle and psychological conditions such as loss of muscle mass, slower metabolism, hormonal changes, changing sleep habits, etc. Yet this doesn't mean that you must reside yourself to weight gain; it just means you must be a little more proactive about maintaining/reaching a healthy weight.

If you're struggling, consider using an online pharmacy like Cloud Pharmacy to see if you're eligible for a prescription for a wegovy injection, which can be used alongside a heavy diet and regular exercise to keep weight off. Consider visiting their website to learn about the wegovy injection, read related weight-loss articles, and more. Or contact them directly for specific inquiries about the wegovy injection (or other products!) and discover how they could help you maintain a healthy weight into your fifties and beyond.

Move your body

Another way to ensure that you stay in peak physical/mental health in your fifties is by participating in daily exercise. Understandably you won't be able to do the same things you were doing in the gym when you were in your twenties, but you'll be surprised at what your body can do when you put your mind to it.

There are many benefits to getting the recommended daily amount of physical activity when you're fifty or above, from helping you rebuild lost muscle mass and lowering your risk of life-threatening diseases to helping you burn calories and boost your mood, which can help keep your mind sharp and your outward appearance looking good.

Get enough sleep

Generally, you should aim to get seven hours of sleep per night if you're in your fifties. This is even more important as you get older because your body changes, and so does your sleep schedule, making it more challenging to achieve a restful night's sleep and recover from the previous day.

Failure to get adequate sleep per night can make you more susceptible to mental health problems like depression, mood swings, anxiety etc. which can eventually begin to affect your physical health if you don't do something about it quickly!

Thankfully there are many ways to promote a restful night's sleep when you're fifty or above, from sleeping with your phone in the other room and reading a book before bed to taking a bath before going to sleep and avoiding screen time – all of which can boost sleep and keep your mind sharp.

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.

Ways WAVs can improve your health and wellbeing

27/4/2023

Collaborative Post | Wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) are more than just a motor. These innovations are specially designed to care for people, and that's nothing to be sniffed at!

In fact, one could even go so far as to say that WAVs can improve their passenger's health and well-being. They are many ways they're built to fulfil that task. Some of these strategies are well-known, while others are perhaps more obscure or consequential in nature.

So, let's explore all of these possibilities in more depth. If you're a wheelchair user, here's a quick list of ways WAVs can improve your health and well-being.

WAVs can improve your health and wellbing (Photo by Elevate on Unsplash)

Safe to use

WAVs are safer vehicles than most. Those assurances are essential. Allied Mobility builds 3,000 WAVs each year and is the leading conversion specialist. More notably, each vehicle in its stock is credited with the highest safety certifications possible. Rear access is available for easier access, and the vehicle's floor is lowered for the same reason. Electrically-powered lifts or foldable ramps can be fitted too. Allied Mobility also provides free home demonstrations if you'd like to witness the full range of features available, so book a home demo today to see how things work for yourself.

Some wheelchair users attempt to 'make do' with standard vehicles. Such can be a dire mistake to make. A challenging exit or entry from a regular car can lead to accidents and injury, not just for yourself but for anyone attempting to help you in and out as well. Using a vehicle built for you is safer, so utilise that opportunity if possible

Providing comfort

Depending on the disabilities one endures, even the mildest prolonged discomfort can lead to more serious health problems later on. If a seating position is off or unsteady, it can lead to aches, sores, and other bothersome circumstances that can't be resolved immediately.

Considering that many trips to GPs and A&Es can be quite regular for disabled people, it's well worth contemplating ways to reduce the number of visits. Of course, the bulk of these appointments will be routine and essential. However, those that have a preventable cause are now doubt worth reducing, if only to save you time and stop you from experiencing so much pain and discomfort. As you might be aware, wheelchair users can also have challenging spinal problems to contend with and may feel sudden jolts of a vehicle more sensitively too.

WAVs are made with user comfort in mind. Tie-downs for the wheelchair will be fully secure, providing stability to the wheelchair user regardless of which bend is being taken or which terrain is being driven upon. WAVs are typically fitted with a different kind of suspension system, too, designed to greatly diminish any feeling of bumps on the road

Key transportation

Some wheelchair users don't like to travel very much. It can be an unfortunate fate to resign oneself too, and it's not necessary to do so, either, whether you have a WAV or not. After all, you're quite capable of getting around!

Still, owning a WAV undoubtedly makes life easier. You'll have lots of places to go as a wheelchair user. Appointments with health professionals, support groups, sports clubs, and anywhere else that enriches your well-being. Any WAV you own can take you to these engagements without incident and be a crucial tool in your overall wellness program. It can facilitate many of your self-care actions.

Even just having a functional daily routine that gets you out of the house can lift your mood. It's good for your physical and mental well-being to be regularly exposed to fresh air, sunshine, and just different scenery. Your WAV can greatly increase your access to these things and help you lead a more mobile and independent life. You may find that your overall quality of life vastly improves

Reducing stress and anxiety

Knowing you have greater independence and mobility can work wonders for your peace of mind. A feeling of empowerment and identity can be strongly associated with the vehicle, and that's sacred!

Sadly, research showed that d isabled people were more likely to be depressed, anxious, and lonely during the pandemic. However, it's hard to believe such feelings could be reserved for that time alone. There can be worries about fitting in, discrimination, or even securing the benefits one should have access to.

Any solution that counters these feelings is to be explored. You'll know that you can get wherever you need to. You can accept every invitation or strive to meet every goal you set for yourself without any inhibitions. A WAV can give you a brand-new lease on life and help you break free of many of the limitations you may have felt were imposed on you before.

You don't have to go off out into the world in your WAV every day, either, if you don't wish to. However, knowing that you have the option can be enough to help you not feel stuck and trapped. It's all about a frame of mind, and it's well worth remembering!

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post

Low-impact and fun workout regimes to stay active past 50

18/4/2023

Collaborative Post | As we age, life commitments and changes to our bodies can make it more difficult to establish a consistent and effective exercise regime. But being active is a crucial part of a healthy ageing process. It can help to keep both our minds and bodies in a healthy state, allowing us to live more independent and fulfilling lifestyles.

To get the most out of your exercise time, it’s important to keep workouts varied. Just as importantly, you should find activities that you enjoy doing. If you are having fun whilst exercising, you’re more likely to remain motivated and feel more benefits from your workouts.

There are several elements to your workout regime that you should be focusing on as you age. In this post, we take a detailed look at each of the three most important areas, and suggest some exercises that will help you to live an all-round more active and healthy lifestyle.

Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash

Stability training

Working on stability becomes increasingly important as we age, since older people are more susceptible to serious injuries from slips and falls. One study reported that regular balance training can actually improve an individual’s quality of life, as they are more able to move unassisted, helping them to retain a level of independence as they age.

While there are specific activities that can help to directly target your stability such as yoga, simple one-off exercises can be equally effective. For instance, leg raises, heel-to-toe walking and step-ups can all be beneficial to improving balance without putting excessive strain on our joints and bones

Cardio

Low-impact cardio exercises are a crucial part of any exercise regime, as they provide a range of benefits without putting undue stress on joints and muscles. Walking is one of the best exercises for seniors, as it's simple, free, and doesn't require any equipment. If you find walking at a steady pace too easy, you can easily change the intensity to feel more benefits.

Swimming is another fantastic low-impact option that can help build cardiovascular fitness whilst minimising the risk of injury. Aquatic exercises are especially useful if you’re living with a chronic joint condition like gout or other forms of arthritis, as there will be less pressure applied to any painful areas. Whatever your fitness level, there are plenty of low-impact cardio workouts that can help keep you active and healthy for years to come, so find something you enjoy and implement it as a regular feature of your workout routine.

Photo by Yulissa Tagle on Unsplash

Weight training

Weight training isn’t just about trying to build up well-defined muscles – there are plenty of other benefits to be had from lifting weights on a regular basis. Improving muscular fitness can help reduce your chances of developing chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Research has also found that resistance training can offer significant mental health benefits, including improvements in mood and reduced anxiety.

While weightlifting two or three times a week will bring about improvements in your overall wellbeing, you don’t have to be using dumbbells or weight plates to be working on your muscular strength. Even simple tasks like carrying heavy shopping bags or certain gardening activities can help to keep your muscles working outside of the gym

In summary

Exercise shouldn’t always feel like a chore. Finding activities that you enjoy doing and that are directly beneficial to your general wellbeing will be key in helping you to establish a consistent workout regime. With minimal equipment, you too can reap the rewards of regular exercise and start living a healthier life after 50.

Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative blog post.

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