This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Happy New Year to all our friends and followers! We hope everyone had a blast during the holiday season. In our family, we opted for a low-key Christmas without presents and instead focused on delicious food, quality time with loved ones, and lots of fun. Speaking of food, we made a trip to Aldi for our main Christmas shop and were able to save a ton of money compared to our usual holiday food expenses. Riverford Farm supplied us with fresh vegetables and a delicious turkey, which my daughters and I cooked up a storm. In fact, we had so many people and dogs staying with us during the two-week festive period (between 10-12 adults and 3-5 dogs at a time!) that we barely had a moment to ourselves.
But the fun didn’t stop there! In addition to celebrating two family birthdays, we also had several lunch parties with friends to ring in the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, we said goodbye to 2022 and on New Year’s Day, we welcomed 2023. Since we were dog-sitting for four pups on the actual New Year, we ended up having a cozy dinner for two and a TV marathon – the first time it had been just the two of us in weeks! At least we didn’t start the new year with a hangover.
As we wave goodbye to the Christmas decorations and hello to a new year, it’s a great time to prioritise our health and wellbeing. Whether through small, achievable goals or bigger lifestyle changes, there are plenty of ways we can positively impact our health as we age. Just remember to consult with a healthcare professional before making any major adjustments to your routine. Don’t be afraid to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist if you need it. With a bit of planning and self-care, you can start the new year off feeling your best and ready to tackle whatever challenges come your way.
With these gloomy days, lots of rain and no good news from around the world, least of all at home. I will not suggest a new year, new you, as, quite frankly, what is wrong with the old you? However, we are never too old to try something new, whether it is a new make-up look, a fashion style or an online course to learn French. Look at The Joy Club’s recent article highlighting four of their courses or talks coming this month. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up and enjoy one month of free Premium membership (normally £9.99 a month), giving you unlimited access to all their sessions. Meanwhile, our own Grace will also be sharing some news on two new online courses, so stay tuned for her article.
I like the quote, “your health is your responsibility”. I think the pandemic has made us more aware of our health and how we can help improve it. It’s natural at this time of year to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. For many women over 50, health and wellbeing are top priorities as they enter this new stage of life. Whether you’re looking to make small, achievable changes or embark on a larger journey towards better health, it’s never too late to start.
As for me, I’m currently on a gut cleanse, which involves making changes to my diet to improve my overall health and achieve a balanced gut. I wrote about this programme (Synergy) some time ago. It’s not always easy, especially when the weather outside isn’t exactly motivating and all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with some chocolate and have a TV binge. This seems much more appealing than going to an exercise class and having a green smoothie. Having said all of this, I am the weakest person when it comes to diets, and a sneaky biscuit often passes my lips. But this is my goal, not a New Year’s resolution because I know it’s something I can stick to long-term.
Cheers to a great year ahead!