Finding Joy in Midlife

Midlife is a time of so many changes. Children leave home, careers shift, our parents age and menopause can throw unexpected challenges our way. It’s natural to feel uncertain - but it’s also a time ripe with opportunity, growth, and potential joy.

Dr Itunu Johnson-Sogbetun

The Mental Load of Midlife

Dr Itunu Johnson-Sogbetun, general practitioner and women’s health specialist, explains: "It’s common for women in midlife to experience a sense of loss or uncertainty. Small, intentional steps can reduce mental strain and open space for joy."

She encourages setting boundaries, asking for help, and prioritising activities that truly nurture your wellbeing. Reducing the mental load isn’t just about managing responsibilities - it’s about making room for yourself. What you put in your mind is just as important as what you put in your body.  Try to limit how often you watch the news cycle and doom scrolling on your phone. Guilty as charged but really trying to change my habits!

Books and conversations can be powerful tools for rediscovering happiness. My upcoming Brooklands Radio Book Club interview with poet Donna Ashworth, author of Joy Chose You, explains that she “whittled out the gossip, the click-bait news and the salacious stories the media was serving up daily and replaced it with a balance of beauty, hope, goodwill, fun and laughter.”

Gaby Roslin

Equally inspiring is broadcaster and Two Women Chatting podcast guest Gaby Roslin, whose philosophy is reflected in her book Spreading the Joy. She starts her day with a smile, taking a minute or two to think about one thing she’s really looking forward to.  Sounds almost too simple doesn't it?  But setting your intentions can affect the tone of your day - even when we’re facing sadness or a tough period in our lives.

Dr Johnson-Sogbetun offers practical tips:

• Gratitude journaling: Focusing on what you appreciate helps shift perspective.

• Self-care scheduling: Protect time for exercise, relaxation, or hobbies.

• Reconnecting with passions: Try something new- painting, volunteering, or a small project that excites you.

  
  

And, importantly, let go of perfection. Midlife is a time for exploration, not pressure.

Donna Ashworth

Choosing Joy Every Day

Midlife doesn’t have to be all hot flushes and lost car keys - it can be a reinvention season. Dive into the books that make you grin, say yes to conversations that light you up, and claim guilt-free time just for yourself. As for friendships? Keep the ones who cheer you on like a personal fan club, and wave goodbye (nicely!) to the ones who sap your sparkle.

Because in the end, joy isn’t about chasing something new - it’s about choosing the moments (and people) that make you feel more YOU.

"Sometimes, joy finds us when we least expect it." - Donna Ashworth