After 8 years working in women’s hormones, and living through my own midlife journey, these are the 10 things I wish I knew 10 years ago.
1. YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK.
You can take all the supplements, eat perfectly, exercise and buy every wellness product, but if you’re living in a constant state of stress, your body feels it.
Learning to regulate my nervous system has become just as important as what I put in my body.
I have a daily meditation practice, prioritize sleep and movement, and I literally don’t leave home without Alaluma CALM Magnesium Cream. Magnesium has become one of my favorite tools for helping me wind down and create that feeling of calm.
2. HORMONE THERAPY ISN’T ONLY ABOUT TREATING SYMPTOMS.
I wish I understood earlier that hormones affect so much more than hot flashes and periods. Estrogen and progesterone influence our bones, brain, cardiovascular system, sleep, mood, sexual health and more.
This is why I created Radiate Balance + Vitality: to give women topical hormone-support options during perimenopause and menopause. Hormone therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so talk with a knowledgeable provider about your personal health history and what is appropriate for you.
3. PACK. ON. THE. PROTEIN.
Protein becomes even more important in midlife because maintaining muscle gets harder as we age. Muscle supports our metabolism, bones, mobility and independence.
Lift the weights. Eat the protein. Protect the muscle.
4. YOU MAY HAVE TO GRIEVE THE 30-YEAR-OLD VERSION OF YOUR BODY.
The workouts you once loved may not serve you the same way anymore. More cardio and more intensity aren't always the answer.
Midlife has taught me to stop fighting my body and start listening to it. Strength training, walking, mobility, recovery and rest have a whole new importance.
5. YOUR SKIN REALLY DOES CHANGE AFTER 40.
Cell turnover and collagen production slow with age, while hormonal changes can affect hydration, thickness and elasticity. Suddenly the skincare routine that worked at 30 doesn't hit the same.
This is why I’m so passionate about Radiate Beauty: our topical skin formula with estriol, hyaluronic acid and DMAE. Midlife skin needs hydration, protection, consistency and a little extra love.
6. RANDOM BLACK CHIN HAIRS HAPPEN. WTF.
Seriously, why did no one warn us?
Hormonal shifts can change the balance between estrogen and androgens, which can mean unwanted facial hair for some women.
Keep the tweezers close and carry on.
7. YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM DESERVES MORE ATTENTION.
Your lymphatic system plays an important role in fluid balance and immune function. Movement is one of the simplest ways to support healthy lymph flow.
I also love the ritual of dry brushing. It feels amazing and has become another simple way to intentionally care for my body.
8. YOU NEED COMMUNITY.
We were never meant to do life alone.
Midlife can bring changing bodies, aging parents, raising children, career shifts, loss, reinvention and a million other transitions.
Gather. Laugh. Cry. Move together. Sit around the table longer. Find the women who let you be completely yourself.
We move through life differently when we don't have to do it alone.
9. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL + CAFFEINE MAY NEED TO CHANGE.
What your body tolerated at 30 can feel completely different at 40+.
Alcohol can disrupt sleep and worsen hot flashes for some women, while caffeine can amplify anxiety, jitters or sleep issues.
Sometimes feeling better isn't about adding something else—it's about removing what no longer serves you.
10. LIVE BIG. LIVE FREE. LIVE NOW.
Stop waiting for the perfect body, perfect timing, perfect bank account or perfect version of yourself.
Wear the bathing suit.
Take the trip.
Start the business.
Dance.
Love your people hard.
Say no when you mean no.
Say YES when your soul says yes.
There is something incredibly freeing about midlife.
You know yourself differently.
You trust yourself differently.
And you finally realize how precious this one beautiful life really is.
48 feels pretty damn good.
With love,
Mary Beth
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