How To Retain Mommy Energy After Forty
The mommy life is exhausting, and you tend to feel depleted physically and mentally more often than not. Aging only compounds your woes as your energy levels drop naturally. Women over forty deal with hormonal struggles, weight gain, slow metabolism, poor sleep, and emotional issues. Together, these factors can wreak havoc on your energy levels and keep you from giving your best to your mommy duties. Thankfully, it is possible to address fatigue and lethargy amid your busy schedules. You only need to recognize the problem early and address it before reaching the burnout stage. Try a few natural measures and therapeutic options to retain mommy energy after forty. Here is a list you can rely on.
Revamp your menu
Cleaning up your diet is perhaps the easiest way to beat the blues after forty. Check what’s on your plate and make healthy switches. As the metabolism slows down with aging, the body gets slow with converting food into energy. It can lead to weight gain around middle age. But you must understand the role of sugar levels. Foods like sugary drinks, white rice, and white bread bring quick spikes in your blood sugar. A sugar spike brings a brief energy jolt, but you feel more drained than before when the dip comes. So make sure you revamp your menu with low-glycemic foods such as whole-grain products, non-starchy veggies, nuts, and beans. These give you sustainable energy by balancing your blood sugar.
Practice portion and time control
Feeling energetic after forty requires you to go beyond choosing the right foods. You must also give attention to the quantity of food and the timelines of your meals. Practicing portion control is all about calorie-counting. Going too low with them leaves your energy deprived. Consuming excess makes you sluggish and causes weight gain. The ideal calorie count depends on your requirements and activity levels. Consulting a dietitian is a good option for mommies looking to stay on track after forty. Remember to practice time control by sticking to mealtimes and avoiding in-between snacking. Small and frequent meals keep you from feeling depleted.
Consider supplementation
As you rethink nutrition after-forty, you will find gaps in your intake. It happens at all ages, but nutritional requirements increase with aging as you lose some nutrients naturally. Supplementation is the key to covering these gaps and retaining your energy levels for the long haul. You will need more calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, omega-3, and magnesium. There may be additional requirements, so see a doctor to get specialist recommendations. If you want to go the extra mile, consider NAD supplements after forty. NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a co-enzyme that regulates cell metabolism and energy levels. It lowers naturally with aging, but you can supplement it to stay energetic and youthful.
Choose your workouts wisely
Staying active is another significant aspect of maintaining your energy levels after forty. But you must choose your workouts wisely to avoid the dreaded middle-age spread. You tend to lose muscle mass after forty and hormonal changes creep up in the early fifties. Maintaining muscle is essential to stay at a healthy weight, strengthen your heart, manage blood pressure, and be energetic. You can do it by mixing weight training with cardio exercises as the combination covers you on all fronts. Fitting exercise into your tight schedule sounds daunting but follow a routine religiously. A little self-care takes your mommy’s energy levels a long way.
Get adequate rest
Your energy levels also depend on giving your body adequate breaks and rest. Mommies tend to skip this part because of endless to-do lists and switching between work and home. But you must give attention to your need for rest and sleep after forty. Maintain a clean sleep-wake schedule with regular timing, good sleeping space, and optimal bedtime habits. Steer clear of caffeine and alcohol in the evening as they can cause insomnia. Avoid stress and devices because they are linked with sleep deprivation. Steer clear of sleeping pills and deal with insomnia using natural remedies like aromatherapy, hot showers, and herbal tea. Getting enough sleep rejuvenates your body and mind and replenishes your energy levels.
Life after forty need not be daunting, provided you do your bit to regain and retain your energy levels. A little work keeps you fit and healthy and enables you to stay one step ahead of your mommy duties. Embrace these actionable changes to achieve your energy goals and do much more as you step on the other side of forty.