22/02/2024
Whether it be the role of juggling family life and your career ambitions, or simply the stresses of living in a hyper-connected, digital world with little respite from the 24-hour news cycle, stress in women is increasingly common, and incredibly detrimental to both your physical and mental health. In fact, stress is so damaging to your body that it can reduce your lifespan, disrupt your quality of life, and even interfere in your interpersonal relationships - and this is why learning how to manage stress is highly important, especially as you get older. So how can women over 50 manage and reduce stress symptoms in their day-to-day life? Let’s take a look.
Why Stress Management is Important
Health and Wellbeing
Stress doesn’t just cause emotional distress; chronic stress can also lead to serious health issues which can impact both the quality of your day-to-day life as well as your life expectancy. These include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, as well as mental health disorders like anxiety and depression; a lack of sleep can also end up impairing your cognitive functions, affecting memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities. And for women in particular, stress can exacerbate menopause symptoms, disrupt sleep patterns, and lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like overeating or substance abuse.
Relationships and Career Impact
Aside from health concerns, stress can also strain our interpersonal relationships and reduce our overall life satisfaction, and this is especially true for women. As women age, our responsibilities often diversify, from professional commitments to family care and personal growth, making stress management crucial for maintaining a harmonious and fulfilling life - and not just for you, but those around you. The aim of stress management isn’t to eliminate stress entirely - which would be impossible and unrealistic - but to foster resilience, enabling you to adapt to life changes with a positive outlook, while maintaining a sense of balance and control in your life.
Manage Work-Life Balance
When it comes to stress relief for woman, it starts with a healthy life and work balance. This means setting clear boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal life: prioritising time management, delegating tasks when possible, and learning to say no to excessive work demands; all of these steps can work to significantly reduce your stress levels. It's also important to allocate time for relaxation and hobbies, so that the interests and passions in your personal life don't become secondary to work or your other various responsibilities.
Eat a Healthy Diet
For all women - but especially women over 50 who are potentially going through hormonal changes and menopause - eating a healthy diet plays a key role in your hormone regulation as well as stress management. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can significantly impact mood and energy levels, as nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and vitamins B and D are particularly beneficial for stress reduction and reducing anxiety. And while everything is fine in moderation, you might also want to try avoiding excessive caffeine, sugar, and processed foods, as minimising these can also help you when it comes to maintaining stable energy levels and mood. In short, a nutritious diet is going to play a key role in supporting your overall physical health, which is intrinsically linked to your mental and emotional well-being.
Get Adequate Sleep
Getting enough sleep is crucial for your overall health, not just stress management, with experts recommending that both adult women and men should aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. If you struggle to get enough shut-eye, know that good sleep hygiene practices include establishing a regular sleep schedule, creating a calming bedtime routine, and ensuring a comfortable sleep environment; you should also be avoiding stimulants like caffeine and electronics before bedtime, which can also promote better sleep. Quality sleep is essential for the body's repair processes, mood regulation, and cognitive function, all of which are vital in managing stress effectively, so getting enough of it is non-negotiable.
Manage Menopause Symptoms
For women over 50 going through menopause symptoms, the hormonal changes that occur during this period can exacerbate stress symptoms, so it’s a good idea to address these challenges early on. Lifestyle changes such as a reduced workload and regular exercise - especially low-impact exercise like yoga - can alleviate symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings, while seeking advice on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other medical treatments from your doctor can also be beneficial.
Additionally, joining support groups or seeking counselling can provide emotional support and strategies to cope with the changes and challenges during menopause - these outlets remind you that you’re not alone as you go through this challenging process, while also giving you a space to exteriorise and verbalise your stress when you have a bad day.
Exercise
Exercise is known to be beneficial for both the mind and body, so it’s no surprise that exercise is great at combating stress. Regular light exercise - whether it be pilates, strength training or running - can help to lower cortisol levels (aka the body's stress hormone) and increase endorphin production, which boosts your mood. Certain forms of exercise (like yoga) can also help foster mindfulness and help you master ancient and effective relaxation techniques which can reduce your anxiety about past or future stressors. Whether in a class or at home, yoga can also be adapted to any fitness level, so it’s one of the most versatile and accessible stress-relief options.
Plus, if you’re worried about the cost of adding a gym membership to your monthly expenses, some UK insurance companies offering over 50s health insurance might offer discounted gym passes for policyholders.
Find Community
Finally, finding a supportive community can be a powerful stress reliever, especially for women going through social, hormonal, or lifestyle changes as they get older. Whether you join an online (or real life) book club, or cultivate a homely community at your local gym, having a sense of group solidarity is one of the best ways to combat the stress and loneliness that often comes with ageing.
