Having fun and connecting with others in midlife can help your overall health and well being.

It's easy for me to become so focused and driven with whatever "project" I am in that I forget to stop and just have fun. I can forget to make time to connect with others. 

My midlife has shown me that I need to do these things more regularly or else I will start to sabotage my own health. 

Usually this looks like eating comfort foods, binge watching TV or endlessly scrolling through social media.

Now, let me be clear here: I do enjoy all those things from time to time and I am not judging myself or anyone else who chooses to do these things. 

But, I can do these things in place of other "fun" things that are good for my health and well being. I can start to lose connection with close friends and family.

Yes, I agree with the memes out there about getting older and wanting to just stay home. I love my alone time for sure. But, I have noticed if I get too much of this, I start to feel a bit out of balance and look for "fun" and "connection" in other ways like eating comfort foods, skipping my workout, etc. in order to "rebel" from life and have fun. 

When I am intentional about doing fun things and connecting with friends and family, I am less likely to turn to comfort foods and binge watch or binge scroll.

So, how do I do this?

I plan fun things and time with my close friends and family. 

These things do not have to be big time consuming events. 

I can walk with a friend, go to a show, or ride on my golf cart. 

These "fun and connection" activities can be 5-10 minutes or a weekend away.

When I wait for the big trip or event to happen before I step back for some fun and connection, I will find "fun" in some other way that usually goes against my own health goals.

Nourishment Menu

In my programs, I help women make their own "nourishment menu". This is a list of fun things they enjoy doing. They include things that take just a few minutes and some that take longer. Having this menu available reminds them to take time to nourish themselves with activites that don't go against their health goals. 

I used to nourish myself with comfort foods when what I really needed was some fun and connection, not more calories.

Be Patient and Go Slow

Please don't try to go "all in" and suddenly make a big change in this area or your brain will definitely sabotage your efforts.

Making simple lifestyle changes to include more time for fun and connection means learning how to form a new habit. And, no one teaches us how to do this.

You can learn how to form a habit around using a nourishment menu or any other goal you have. Get your Free Midlife Guide and I will show you how.

Now, go have fun for 5 minutes!

Your Midlife Coach,

-Cathy