This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Your finances. Your financial needs are much different in your 50s than 20s! Some people choose to sort out their funeral arrangements and wills in advance, some invest in a life insurance policy, and others look at their pension options and see if they can unlock any of this fund. It’s worth sitting down with a financial advisor before making any decisions.
Your health. No-one likes to admit it, but as we get older, we’re more at risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Don’t bury your head in the sand about your health and see your doctor if there’s anything you’re worried about. If you feel fit and healthy in general but would still like to have a health MOT, if you live in England, the NHS will invite you to a free midlife health check after you turn 40.
Making time for friends. We’re all busy with work and family duties, but that doesn’t mean we need to stop enjoying ourselves and see our friends. You often find you can go for months if not years without catching up with an old friend and not realise where the time has gone, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Schedule a monthly meeting with your friends and take the time out to catch up with what’s been going on in their lives.
Remembering to make time for yourself, too. Those of us with kids might now have an empty nest. It’s completely normal to feel sad and a loss of purpose and we’re always going to worry that we’ve done everything we can to allow our kids to live independently. Remember that they’ll be fine and they don’t need us calling and texting every day to check up on them. If your kids have left home, make time for your own hobbies and interests or go on holiday to somewhere new that you’ve always wanted to visit.
Reaching 50 and beyond doesn’t need to be daunting – in fact, many people say this is the ‘golden age of happiness’! Michelle Obama said on turning 50, “I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman”, and I would have to agree. It’s a great age to be as you know who you are and what you want!
