MCM Mama Runs

MCM Mama Runs for Beer and Bling

  • Home
  • About MCM Mama
  • Racing the U.S.A.
  • Tuesdays on the Run
  • VA/MD/DC Blogs
  • I Heart Craft Beer
  • Disclosure
You are here: Home / Ramblings / Practicing Self Care in my 40s

Practicing Self Care in my 40s

April 19, 2018 by MCM Mama 8 Comments

I read an article recently about how self care is not all spa trips and girls’ night outs. It’s more about doing things that make your whole life better rather than trying to recover from a life that’s wearing you down. I realized that many of the changes I’ve been making in my life in the last 6 months had exactly that goal. I was tired of feeling run down and stressed and I started making some changes. I’m still very much a work in progress and there are definitely areas that are as yet untouched, but I feel like I’m moving in the right direction now. (Links below may be affiliate links that if you use them to buy, I get commission.)

  1. I joined the Faster Way to Fat Loss program. I’ve been struggling with balancing running and my weight for the last couple of years. I just kept steadily gaining. And it was definitely not muscle because all my skirts were getting tight. I began to worry that it was going to continue and just get harder as I got older and my muscle mass decreased even more. I finally just bit the bullet, paid my money, and made 100% commitment to using Amanda Tress’ program. And it worked (and continues to work for me.) The best part is it hasn’t really hurt my ability to run races. The hardest part is that it’s a lifestyle change – not a temporary change. My next goal is to figure out enough body weight exercises to continue to workout when we are on vacation. 
  2. I made sleep a priority. 90% of the time I’m in bed by 11 now. Since I often was letting sleep slide until midnight or 1am, this is a huge change for me. Sometimes things don’t get finished, and often I don’t have as much down time or as much blog time as I’d like. But I feel so much better and I actually wake up much easier in the morning.
  3. I take care of my health issues sooner rather than later. After dealing with some weird symptoms for months last fall, I now pay more attention to what’s going on with my body. I have monthly appointments with an acupuncturist (my headaches are much reduced!) and my massage therapist (helps that she’s also my running buddy). I’ve also recently had a mammogram, a skin check with my dermatologist, and a visit with my dentist. Getting older is hard, but I want to keep doing it. The alternative is way worse! 
  4. I got another job. I know that actually sounds crazy because it’s not that I stopped working my old job – I added another job on top of everything else. But the benefits of my ZOOMA job are twofold. First, I love it. It’s the career field I should have been in. Or maybe I should have been an event planner. Anyways, it totally plays to my strengths and makes me happy. Second, it provides the “play money” that allows me to do some of the other stuff. Some of these changes would be a lot more stressful if I had to find money in our regular budget to afford them. 
  5. I started using Beautycounter. I’m cheap. Crazy cheap. I look for sales. I’ve never bought makeup anywhere besides Target and CVS. But I’ve been using various different organic and zinc based sunblocks for years. I have the lovely combination of super pale skin and being a marathon runner who is not a morning person. When I tried the Beautycounter sunblock, I was sold. It smells good, goes on better than any other zinc sunblock I’ve used, and has none of the crap I don’t want. Apparently that was my “entry drug”. I now use many of the Beautycounter products and I love them. I chose them because I liked the way they smelled and how they go on, in addition to the mission to get harmful chemicals out of skin care products. I’m staying because they work and my skin looks amazing.

I’m not trying to be all “preachy”. I’ve just had a long building epiphany this year about my health. I’ve always been relatively healthy and I was relatively fit thanks to the running, but I realized I could do more. Do I still sometimes eat all the wrong foods and way too much of it? Yep. Have I seen 1am on a week night in the last month? Yep. But I’ve borrowed the motto “Progress not perfection” and I continue to find ways to practice “self care” that are purposeful and make my life as a whole better.

How do you care for yourself? Are some of the things outside the usual definition, like staying on top of your budget or keeping your kitchen spotless? (I just emptied my entire professional wardrobe from before my 16 year old was born and got it out of my house. Talk about a freeing experience!)

I’m joining Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness  for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup.

Follow on Bloglovin follow us in feedly

More from my site

  • Seed Probiotics: a science based approachSeed Probiotics: a science based approach
  • Move More, Sit Less: Keeping your heart healthy with exerciseMove More, Sit Less: Keeping your heart healthy with exercise
  • Put your oxygen mask on firstPut your oxygen mask on first
  • If nothing else, February is shorterIf nothing else, February is shorter
  • Tips for Staying Fit in your 40sTips for Staying Fit in your 40s

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: Beautycounter, Faster Way to Fat Loss, healthy choices

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says

    April 20, 2018 at 7:44 am

    I think it gets easier to focus on self care as your kids get older. It’s had to balance everyone’s needs and your own. Exercise, eating well, massage and sleep are my top priorities for self care.
    Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner recently posted…Appreciating The Little Things-Friday FavesMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says

    April 20, 2018 at 8:56 am

    Oddly enough, I do find it hard to schedule in the stuff I enjoy doing — like going to the movies! We’ve been like once this year.

    As I often tell people, though, we all have the same 24 hours. It’s how you choose to use it. Letting go of perfection (doing it all) is probably the best step you can do. I’ve heard good things about Beautycounter, too.

    Spotless? Bwahaha. Yeah, no, never — although I have been better lately. Well, with some things. 🙂
    Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…5 Ways to Know You’re a RunnerMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Patrick@looneyforfood.com says

    April 20, 2018 at 9:31 am

    Sleep and taking care of health issues right away are big ones for me.
    Patrick@looneyforfood.com recently posted…Best Dairy Free ProductsMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says

    April 20, 2018 at 10:16 am

    I love going to get massages and always wonder why I go so long in between them. I need to start doing them monthly.
    Lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Space Invaders at the ParkMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Lesley says

    April 20, 2018 at 11:28 am

    Changes are hard, but if you want them, you’ll make the time. I finally made yoga a priority for me, and realized I can stop wasting my time on SM and focus on me. Yoga at home is great because I can do it before bed, which now gets my brain ready. If I skip it, I don’t fall asleep as easily.

    Reply
  6. Wendy says

    April 20, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    I’ve evolved in this direction as well, especially after my diagnosis with RA last year. I still need to see the derm and get a colonoscopy (ick) but I’ve definitely taken charge of my health. I’m working on reducing stress in my life but my sons haven’t gotten the message yet. It’s a work in progress…

    Reply
  7. Megan @ Meg Go Run says

    April 20, 2018 at 9:25 pm

    One thing I do that is on your list is make sleep a priority. I loooooove to sleep and I don’t have kids so I am able to get to bed early so I can wake up early and run before work.
    Megan @ Meg Go Run recently posted…Friday 5! (The Cat Littler Saga)My Profile

    Reply
  8. PamG says

    April 26, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    I’m right there with you, esp #2’s attentiveness to sleep routine. I’m quickly learning– what I don’t track with precision will likely fade from my mind’s eye. Keeping an eye on my sleep routine, as well as specific self-care steps throughout the week, makes a heckuva difference. I’m feeling more refreshed these days and enjoy an overall sense of calm, previously elusive. Thanks fir the reminder!

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

New_Holland_podium

Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath.

Get email updates!

Sign up to get new blog posts sent to your inbox!

Recent Posts

  • Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee
  • Last Coffee Date of 2020
  • Seed Probiotics: a science based approach
  • November definitely needs more coffee
  • October Visit to the Runfessional: Exhaustion
  • Meeting up for Virtual Coffee
  • September Runfessions: Getting Ready to Run ALL the Miles
  • Give me ALL the coffee, please!

Like Us On Facebook

Archives

Virginia Bloggers Badge
Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs
The DC Ladies
​

A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath. Read More…

Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee

Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee

I’m not one to stay up super late on NYE, but ironically, last night I was up late thanks to insomnia. Thank you 2020 for one last kick in the teeth. So, I’m up a bit later than normal and sucking down caffeine like it’s my job. Seems appropriate to hook up with Deb and […]

Copyright © 2021 · MCM Mama Runs on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in