THE DIFFICULT DAYS OF AUTUMN
Because we're in them right now....
Dear lovely readers
Welcome to the latest edition of the 45 Not Out newsletter. And an especial welcome to any the new lot of subscribers I’ve had. It means a lot that you put enough trust in me to sign up to the newsletter and I hope my random ramblings resonate with you!
My ramblings for this edition has been influenced by a couple of conversations I’ve had with a couple of those fab, sassy women who are part of the 45 Not Out community.
In our chats, they mentioned that just over the last few weeks, they’ve had times (if not days) when it’s all they could do just to sit on the sofa and watch TV. And this is from women who are doing great things and helping to change the perception of women in their mid and later years. Normally these women are fountains of energy and leading the way for change, so they couldn’t understand what was wrong with them.
Well, I could.
A big factor is the time of year. I always think the last 3 months of the year are the hardest months to get through. Every year, time and again, I’ve witnessed it for myself and seen how this difficult time of year has affected others around me. The usual amounts of energy and motivation seem to be difficult to obtain and we feel a bit numb to all that’s going on around us.
You see, there’s a perfectly good explanation to it, and I remember it was explained best to me by a very good yoga teacher I had some time ago.
She rightly pointed out that everything else in nature is receding at this time of year - trees & plants shedding leaves, animals starting to hibernate and the natural world closing up for the winter. Purely as a means to get themselves through these months that take the most toll on you.
But what do us humans do? We start gearing up for the busiest time of our year and put so much pressure on ourselves to give everybody the best Christmas, Diwali or whatever religious festival you subscribe to and run ourselves ragged in the process.
Is it any wonder that all we can do right now is just to sit on the sofa and watch TV?
But, the big message I want to stress to you in this edition is:
THAT IT’S OKAY TO TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOU IF YOU NEED IT
In fact, from the research I’ve done around this suggests that it’s almost mandatory if you want to remain upright and functioning by the time we reach the end of the year.
The Science Behind Taking Breaks
Regular breaks, even short “micro-breaks,” have been shown to improve productivity, energy, and focus, while reducing stress and decision fatigue.
Longer breaks and time away from routine responsibilities allow the brain and body to recover from chronic stress, supporting overall well-being and preventing burnout.
For women balancing multiple roles, scheduling breaks and self-care time is essential for maintaining the energy and resilience needed to support themselves and others.
Isn’t it gratifying to know that taking a “lazy” or “wellbeing” day is proven by science to do what it’s supposed to - to help us dial backwards in our stress gauge and to re-charge our batteries.
But, how easy is it do that? We all know that sinking feeling of guilt when we consider doing something different than what we “ought” to be doing. In fact, that’s where I’m writing this newsletter from. I woke up this morning feeling less than my usual self, and because I’ve been able to, I’ve spent the day on the sofa watching DVD’s that I know will cheer me up and leave me feeling better. And yep, I feel guilty about it, but I know that if I’ve taken the time out to let myself rest - both body and brain - then I know that tomorrow, I will feel a whole lot better.
So, my message to all you out there who are facing times when you really, really can’t be getting on with all that you planned to do, cut yourself a bit of slack. Dial back and rest just as much as you need to. I promise you your body and brain will thank you for it.
So, seeing as I’m on a bit of a “recharge” day, I apologise for the brevity of this edition of the newsletter, but my sofa is calling with the next DVD I have lined up to watch.
If you’re taking a “recharge” day anytime soon, then I wish you well and hope that the time out - however long that is - does it’s job and you end up feeling refreshed and renewed.
I know I will be.
Till next time
Una x
