Pod Ep #106: 7 Wellness Mistakes Women Make in Middle Age (Because we learned them long ago!)

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✨ Let’s unlearn this crap!  ✨

There’s this moment when you reach a certain age where you realize… things change.

And all those wellness “rules” we grew up with?
Yeah… they don’t exactly come with an expiration date—but they should.

Because what we learned in the 80s and 90s—eat less, push harder, ignore your body—might have gotten us through our younger years… but in midlife, those same habits can backfire.

So today, we’re calling them out.
7 wellness mistakes women make in midlife—because we learned them long ago.

AND if you want some ideas for what to do instead, subscribe to my Substack. Article released on Sunday: 

Midlife Reimagined on Substack.

Other resources you may enjoy:

• SIMPLY : well

• My Year to Thrive Discoveries: How I Fixed My Sleep in Midlife: 6 Wellness Tips

• Don’t Underestimate the Power of Something Small (& Easy) for Your Wellness
• Why ‘All or Nothing’ Thinking Is Sabotaging Your Wellness (and any goals you’ve made!) 

PRIVATE LIFE COACHING:

Private Coaching when you are ready for the ultimate, exclusive experience: Life Coaching with Laura

SIMPLY :: well

Softer Wellness helps midlife women build strength, energy, and health through small, sustainable habits — without extremes, guilt, or burnout.

Wellness that works with your life, not against it.

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1. Not Prioritizing Sleep

You cannot out-exercise, out-eat, or out-supplement poor sleep.

And yet… this is the first thing women sacrifice.

Scrolling at night.

Staying up too late.

Waking up already exhausted.

In midlife, your body becomes far more sensitive to sleep disruption. Hormones shift. Your nervous system needs more support. Recovery matters more than ever.

When sleep suffers, everything suffers:

1. Increased cravings
2. Slower metabolism
3. Mood swings
4. Brain fog
5. Higher inflammation

And then we try to “fix” those symptoms… without addressing the root.

What to do instead: Think of sleep as your foundation—not a bonus.

2. Not Relaxing (Living in Constant Go Mode)

Let’s be honest.

Most women don’t actually have a wellness problem.

They have a nervous system problem.

Always thinking.

Always doing.

Always anticipating what’s next.

We were raised in hustle culture, productivity. Pushing ourselves is seen as a badge of honor.

Your body was never designed to live in a constant state of low-level stress.

And when it does?

1.  It holds onto weight
2. It disrupts hormones
3. It increases inflammation
4. It drains your energy

In midlife, this matters even more.

Because your body doesn’t have the same tolerance for stress it once did.

3. Sitting Too Much

Here’s something most people don’t realize:

You can work out for an hour… and still be considered sedentary.

If the rest of your day is spent sitting—your body feels it.

In midlife, this shows up as:

1. Stiff joints
2. Low energy
3. Blood sugar swings
4. Increased aches and pains

Your body thrives on frequent, low-level movement.

Not just workouts—but movement woven into your day.

4. Not Stretching (Losing Range of Motion)

“We don’t stop moving because we age… we age because we stop moving fully.”

This is especially true in midlife: Tight hips, stiff backs, limited mobility.

I remember stretching being for ballet dancers or Yogis. We did 5 min after working out, if we took any time at all.

And over time, that turns into pain, injury, and feeling disconnected from your body.

Stretching isn’t just about flexibility.

5. Not Exercising Effectively

This one might be controversial—but it needs to be said:

Walking is amazing.

But it’s not enough anymore.

In midlife, your body naturally begins to lose muscle (this is called sarcopenia), and bone density can decline.

That’s not something to fear—it’s something to respond to.

You need to lift HEAVY weights and engage in high intensity cardio. 

Don’t shot the messenger.

 6. Not Getting Enough Protein

This is one of the most common—and most overlooked—mistakes.

Most women are simply not eating enough protein.

We were raised with protein is for body builders.

Protein is not just for athletes.

It’s essential for:

1. Muscle maintenance
2. Metabolism
3. Hormone balance
4. Feeling satisfied after meals

7. Fearing Carbs and Fat

So many women are still stuck in outdated nutrition rules.

Low-fat everything.

Avoid carbs.

Eat less.

And it’s not working. 

In fact—it’s often making things worse.

Because your body in midlife needs nourishment.

Not restriction.

Where to Start (Because This Can Feel Like a Lot)

If you’re reading this and thinking…

“Okay… but where do I even begin?”

Start here:

Pick one.

Not all seven.

Not a complete life overhaul.

Just one.

Because this is where women get stuck—trying to do everything at once… and then doing nothing at all.

Small, consistent shifts are what create real change.

A Final Thought

Midlife is not the time to pull back from your health.

It’s the time to support your body in a new way.

Your body is not broken.

It’s responding exactly as it should—based on what it’s being given.

And when you start giving it what it truly needs?

You don’t just feel “better.”

You feel:

1. Stronger
2. Clearer
3. More energized
4. More like yourself again

This isn’t about going back.

It’s about moving forward—into a version of you that feels even better than before.

And she’s not far away.  She’s built in the small choices you start making today.

Try a Home Retreat with me!

serenity at home: Home Design Kit
Theme: Letting Go 

If you want to plan your first retreat day with ease, I created a Home Retreat Kit to make it simple, structured, and fun.

Think gentle guidance, not rigid rules.

Think nourishment, not obligation.

Think “exhale,” not “effort.”

Because you deserve restoration—real restoration.

You don’t need to push harder.

You need to come home to yourself.

One day at a time.

One breath at a time.

One retreat at a time.

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