Middle age can be difficult for anyone, as you often start to develop anxiety about how much you have achieved and where your life is headed. It can be especially difficult if you have children, as they grow in independence and no longer need you as intensely; you may feel like you’ve lost purpose and need to find yourself again.
Have you done enough with your time on earth? How will you cope with aging in the future, and how will your life look when you retire? Everyone faces these hard questions as they slide closer to their golden years, and it can feel insurmountable to regain the sense of carefree confidence you had when you were younger. Thankfully, there are many options to help you feel ready for anything: these are some of the best ways to get your mojo back and usher yourself into this new and exciting time of your life.
Learn How to Save a Life
No matter your walk of life, you may be called upon to help a family member, or even a stranger, in an emergency situation – and you can only do so if you have the skills. If you learned how to perform CPR or the Heimlich maneuver years ago, you might feel like it’s unnecessary to learn all over again, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, as skills naturally degrade over time and best practices for first aid change.
While you may have had to schedule a training session in a classroom during decades past, now you can get access to a high-quality CPR recertification course right on your phone, computer, or tablet. Online recertification classes are as effective as in-person training, and they make gaining these essential skills much more convenient, which helps to spread awareness and encourage people to sign up.
They are affordable and flexible: you can do a lesson in under half an hour, perfect for exploring during your lunch break or in those precious few hours after all your chores are done.
Fit Activity Into Your Day
Many Americans are quite sedentary, falling far below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Stressful careers and endless responsibilities can make it seem impossible to go for a morning jog or pick up that dusty set of weights you bought years ago, hoping you’d get into a daily exercise habit.
You might have a mental block about exercise holding you back: the idea that you have to work up a sweat in a gym. Getting in your car and taking an hour out of your day to strength train might feel like a drain, especially if you’re not big into fitness anyway. This is why it’s important to find activities you love and look forward to, even if they’re not the typical gym activity. Horseback riding, swimming, roller skating in a nearby park, or joining a casual rec league are awesome ways to meet new people, move your body, and relax at the same time. You can even go for a jog with your dog – or borrow someone else’s!
If you’d like to help out animals in need, you might consider volunteering at the local animal shelter: they can always use extra hands to clean out cages or walk and play with those deserving critters waiting to be adopted. You’ll feel great, get exercise, and feel like you’re making a difference in an animal’s life.
Pick Up a New Hobby
Learning is a lifelong project; personal growth should never end just because you got your diploma and headed out into the workforce. Learning skills that are just for you is satisfying and allows you a sense of respite from your day job. In addition, picking up a hobby can unlock new parts of your personality and intellectual prowess that you never knew you had, whether speaking a new language or trying your hand at painting.
Start small with hobbies that don’t need a lot of tools: so many of us have lots of sports or crafting equipment stuffed away in a corner that we thought we’d love but never learned. There are many online tutorials for nearly any craft, so don’t feel you need to dive in with expensive lessons, either.
Let Go of Preconceived Notions About Aging
Lastly, don’t let ideas about what aging means get in the way of your happiness. Radiating youthfulness throughout your life is about being content with yourself no matter how old you are, choosing to think positively, and taking care of yourself.
You’re always changing and growing, which is something to joyfully embrace. It’s important to celebrate how you’ve changed, whether you’ve grown slower to anger or you’ve gotten better with your finances; these all contribute to a healthy, happier you, even if they’re not successes that others see. Being in tune with your body and mind also sets a great example for other people, helping them grow into the best versions of themselves.
Moving into any new phase of life can be difficult: from the stress of moving out on your own for the first time, getting married and having children, to slowing down and acknowledging that you’re no longer the young person you once were. However, staying positive, sharpening your skills, and embracing yourself as an ever-shifting individual can help you fall in love with yourself all over again at every stage of your journey.
