In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Peggy Malone, a chiropractor, podcaster, and coach who specializes in the midlife transition for women. From perimenopause to slowing down the feeling of time passing, Dr. Malone and I discuss how you can gracefully thrive through midlife!

When you think of midlife, I bet you are picturing some dude in his forties going through a midlife crisis, buying himself a shiny new convertible. If this is what you picture, then you are going to learn a lot in this episode of the Fit is Freedom Podcast!

Dr. Peggy Malone has over 18 years as both a business owner and a chiropractor. After toying with blogging and hosting a well-being television show, she now hosts the Midlife Improvement Podcast and is a coach for individuals transitioning into midlife 

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For women, midlife transition is often met with a myriad of things. From children leaving the nest and parents aging and needing our support to perimenopause and body changes, this stage of life can be a lot. In the midst of all that is going on, it’s important to take time for yourself. Dr. Peggy Malone shares some tips on how to thrive through this time of life.

Do you remember when you were a kid? Time felt like it was in slow motion. Summer vacation felt like a lifetime. Vacations felt like months. School days felt like weeks. 

As we age, it almost feels like time speeds up. Now summer vacation feels like a week. Vacations feel like a day. Work days feel like the blink of an eye.

There are ways we can rework this time warp and become time wizards! As a child, everything is novel. Our brains are taking in our new surroundings and experiences in a way that makes time feel slower. As we age, our routines create days that are a blur. We have fewer and fewer “new” experiences.

If you want to slow down time in your midlife, act more like a kid again. Try new things! Do something that gets your adrenaline pumping! Change up the monotony of the week with an evening out with a friend. If we introduce new and novel experiences, we can create the illusion of time slowing.

Dr. Malone shared how so many people may start out strong with a new habit or routine, but will quickly abandon it if they aren’t “perfect.” For example, you set a new year resolution to run everyday, but you miss a day. Instead of accepting the restart, many people will just give up.

It’s important to give yourself grace to come back. If you’re making a positive change in your midlife, it’s going to be messy. You’re busy. You have responsibilities. But, you shouldn’t use those things as excuses to not try. You should allow yourself the ability to keep showing up and keep trying even if life gets in the way.

One very powerful tool to take into midlife is the power of gratitude. It’s the antidote to negativity and allows you to check yourself in the midst of a negative spiral. Whether you journal about things you're thankful for or simply recite them in your head at the start of your day, taking time in your midlife to show gratitude can make a big difference. 

Tapping into the wisdom of your future self can be incredibly helpful to accomplishing your goals. While this exercise is set for a mid-length goal of six months in the future, you can easily do this exercise for a longer term goal.

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