Happiness After 50: Feeling Connected Matters More Than Ever

I know there’s a national day or month for just about anything these days, but since May is both National Mental Health Awareness Month and Older Americans Month, it feels like the perfect time to talk about emotional wellness for women over 50.

What does emotional wellness mean?

It means feeling more peaceful in your own mind.

It means feeling comfortable in your own skin.

It means feeling connected, supported, and grateful for the life you have right now.

And, let’s be honest, that can be difficult in times like these.

Recently, a friend asked this question in a Facebook group for women over 70:

“What is happiness anyway?”

That question made me stop and think.

What does happiness mean to me at this stage of my life?

My answers were pretty simple:

1. I want to feel good physically.
2. I want to be engaged and connected with family and friends.
3. I want to feel grateful for all the blessings currently in my life.
4. I want to be present in each moment of every day.

On the days I accomplish these things, which is certainly not every day, I feel good at the end of the day.

And that’s a lovely feeling.

What Really Helps Us Feel Happier After 50?

The largest study ever done on happiness is the Harvard Happiness Study, which began in 1938 and has been ongoing for almost 90 years. The study has followed generations of families, tracking what helps people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Can you guess what continually comes up as one of the strongest predictors of a long, healthy, happy life?

Social connection.

Family. Friends. Community. People we can laugh with, talk with, walk with, eat with, and share life with.

That matters at every age, but it matters even more as we get older.

Because emotional wellness for women over 50 is not just about managing stress. It’s about feeling like we belong. It’s about having people in our lives who see us, know us, and care whether or not we show up.

So, this week, take a moment to look at your own social connections.

• Do you spend time with family and friends on a regular basis?
• Are you so busy that it’s difficult to meet a friend for lunch?
• Have you become a bit of a hermit without realizing it?

I’ve asked myself those same questions.

When Staying Home Becomes Too Easy

I’m pretty good about calling a few family members every other week to catch up. This feels easy and comfortable. After dinner, I settle into my favorite chair, with a good book nearby, and I pick up the phone.

But making lunch dates?

Going to a show with a friend?

Getting out and actually seeing people in person?

Not so much.

I live in a very rural area, so meeting someone means driving 30 minutes or more. I love being home, but I don’t love not seeing my friends as often as I used to.

When I first moved to this lovely lake area, I had company all the time!

I built a large stone firepit in my yard and set up chairs around it. Pretty much every weekend there would be a group of us sitting around the fire, laughing, telling stories, and reminiscing.

At least a few times a year, family or friends would set up tents in my yard for the weekend because my house was already full.

I felt a bit sad today as I looked out at that firepit and realized it hasn’t even been started in over two years. ☹

So, I’m making a change.

I’m going to burn what’s in there this week, take that huge firepit apart, and purchase one of those small metal outdoor fireplaces. I’ll put that right in front of my porch, where I might actually use it more often.

A Simple Challenge for Better Emotional Wellness for Women Over 50

I’m committed to focusing more energy on these all-important connections over the next few months.

Would you like to join me?

Here are a few ideas I’ll start with:

1. Call a friend this week and set up a lunch date. Then put it on my calendar.
2. Look at upcoming music events and ask a friend or family member to join me. Then get the tickets.
3. I like to hike and I know several others who also do, so I’ll set up a date and place and send out an email to invite friends to join me – maybe twice over the summer.

What else can you think of to foster your own social connections?

Take a minute now to write down a few ideas. Even better, choose one and do it this week. Then share it in the comments!

Movement, Connection, and Feeling Good Again

Emotional wellness for women over 50 is about feeling connected, supported, grateful, and comfortable in our own skin.

Often, one of the easiest ways to begin is by joining a group of people who are also choosing to get active, laugh, connect, and take better care of themselves.

If you’d like to start taking a Yoga or Pilates class, I have some spaces available. We’re a fun group of people over 50, and we’d love to welcome you. Message me for dates and times!

Best of Health,

Kathi

FAQ: Emotional Wellness for Women Over 50

1. What does emotional wellness mean after 50?
   Emotional wellness after 50 means feeling more peaceful, connected, supported, and comfortable in your own skin. It also means having healthy ways to manage stress and stay engaged with others in your life.
2. Why are social connections so important as we age?
   Social connections help us feel supported, seen, and less isolated. Quality time with friends, and family, supports both emotional wellness and healthy aging.
3. Can Yoga or Pilates help emotional wellness?
   Yes. When practiced in a supportive group, classes help build that social connection.