So, this whole ‘older woman’ phase. We are supposed to be wise, settled, and less pressured, but instead, we often feel fed up, frustrated and unfulfilled. With a little bit of forgotten thrown in.
And here’s the thing, we are living in a time where many of us continue to work long beyond the official retirement age. Some of us do this for financial reasons (need and desire), but for many of us, we continue to work because it keeps us vibrant and energised and we have so much to offer.
Whatever the reason, it is important that we maintain, or improve our physical, mental, and emotional health so we can thrive, prosper, and work for as long as possible. There are many groups and memberships for the woman in business in mid-adulthood, particularly around perimenopause and menopause, and this is so important. However, for the 60+ women in business, there seems to be a lack of dedicated communities which focus on the specific issues we encounter.
So, let’s do something about this! If you are 60+ (or even mid-50s) in business or still working or volunteering, whether you are successful, starting over or seeking support, let me know and I will set up a space for us to THRIVE!
You just knew there was an acronym coming, didn’t you? I’ve chosen THRIVE because that is what we want to do in our later years (second act, phase three? We need a fitting description.)
Here are the six pillars I believe we need to THRIVE, if you can think of others, please let me know!
Truth: It can be hard to accept the truth that we are in the later stages of life. I know it took me a while, but it is also an age when we can step into our true selves. And when we find that truth, that true self, when we accept it, we can make the most of our power and wisdom, and truly thrive.
Health: Once past menopause, mid-50s and beyond, there are many age-related health issues and challenges to consider in order to stay at our optimal health, wellbeing and function. These are in addition to the usual healthy lifestyle habits recommended to keep us in tip-top condition through adulthood.
Relationships: Well, isn’t this a complicated area? This is an age where our family may include parents who are getting older and frailer, children who are growing up but still need us, grandchildren to whom we are role models and fun companions – and often secondary caregivers! There are also long-term and short-term friendships, business relationships, significant others, and wider relationships that we may want to keep – or have outgrown but don’t know how to shed.
Identity: Our identity can change in two ways in later life: It can be easy to slide from menopause into invisibility and lose the sense of identity we have developed in adulthood. It is also a time where we may be questioning or exploring our identity and shedding the labels of adulthood (parent, sibling, child, employee, partner etc) and stepping into a new sense of self.
Vocation: Although the retirement age is around mid-60 (depending on where you live) many of us continue to work because we want to or need to for financial reasons. The reason isn’t as important as the need to balance work with other things you want to do in life. Health, relationships, and the fun stuff are all priorities, perhaps even more so at this time of life, but often get side-lined by work commitments. Well, no more, let’s reconsider our time management and prioritise fun!
Energy: All of the above are impacted by energy – if we have lots it is easy to get that work-life balance but if our energy levels are depleted, it can be hard to get even important things done. Add in potential issues with long-term health conditions, looking after parents of partners, and continuing to work and it is no wonder that our batteries can become drained.
So, if you want to be part of a group of thriving and inspiring women over 55 or 60, let me know as I’m planning on setting up something special!
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