The Mid-Life Glow-up!

Forget the cliche of a mid-life crisis manifesting itself in buying a sports car or having an affair with someone younger. Mid lifers these days are no longer in denial about their advancing years - and, male or female - they are working on themselves to be better people. Inside and out. According to Weetabix.

Seven in ten forty and fifty somethings insist they’re having a mid life glow up. And six in ten insist the notion of a mid life crisis is outdated. Weetabix have partnered with The Body Coach to offer a free 3 month subscription to his exercise coaching with every box bought from 27th Jan to 14th April 2025. A great (and cheap) way to start your glow up.

77 per cent of those surveyed are more content with their life aged 40 plus with 65 per cent saying this comes down to not being bothered by what others think of you and over 50 per cent saying they now know what really matters in life. 46 per cent put this down to feeling happy in their relationships and 37 per cent admitting they no longer feel the need to compete with others.

Here are the ways in which Weetabix found British forty and fifty and sixty somethings were improving themselves - and many are things I’m doing myself coincidentally. Even if you just get inspired to do 1, you’re winning!

1. Hitting the gym - 24%

   It doesn’t even have to be hitting the gym - it could be running, sport, walking, cycling or swimming. It’s basically finding some form of activity you enjoy doing and doing it on a regular basis. For me that’s dog walking which I’ve been doing for the past 9 years with Borrow My Doggy, gym and swimming in winter and cycling in the summer.

2. Learning a new language - 14%

   2018-2020 I did a French A level via distance learning and since then I’ve been listening to a French podcast every weekday for 30 minutes. I also try to do 3 lessons each a day of French, Italian and Welsh on Duolingo which is a brilliant, effective and fun app for language learning.

3. Taking up yoga - 13%

   I’ve been doing zoom yoga since the pandemic with my excellent yoga teacher friend Tony Marcus (DM, email or text me if you would like details of his zoom yoga classes). I’m 53 and I almost never have aches and pains (sorry to boast) and I put this down to regular exercise and in particular doing regular (ish) yoga.

4. Learning to meditate 13%

   Again I’ve been doing this for around 5 or more years with the app Insight Times which is free. I can’t say I’m anxiety free, I am, like my Mum a bit of a worry wart, but I’m calm most of the time. It’s also an excellent way of dealing with and mitigating pain should you be unfortunate enough to suffer.

5. Taking up cycling 11%

   I’ve had my bike for over 20 years and I try to cycle during summertime instead of the gym. I really enjoy this mode of transport. The only thing that’s essential is a helmet if you’re going to be on roads.

6. Doing charity work - 11%

   For the last almost four years I’ve volunteered for an afternoon a week in a local charity shop. It’s very rewarding with all profits going to help endangered wildlife and the feel good factor is high. The perks are wonderful - you get first picks of donations and that can mean everything from very good cashmere jumpers to literary novels at rock bottom prices. There is treasure to be found. Dealing with the general public has its ups and downs but mostly ups!

7. Spend a few months travelling overseas - 10%

8. Taking up dancing - 6%

9. Moving abroad - 6%

10. Becoming vegetarian - 5%

    About a year ago I became predominantly vegan (and the rest vegetarian). It’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done (although I do miss cheese and chocolate). I was vegetarian age 11-21 so I see it as a continuation. In today’s era of climate change, industrialised farming (and the effects of that on animals) and health consciousness it can only be a win.