Is This How It Will Be After 40?

Posted on by Ilze

Yesterday, I woke up feeling off—chills running through my body, a runny nose, and a slight temperature creeping in. By the afternoon, I realized it wasn’t just “a bad day.” I wasn’t well.

I took the day off today, too, deciding that rest is the best remedy for whatever is brewing. It’s hard to sit still when there’s always so much to do—work, renovations, kids—but I know pushing through would only make things worse.

As I curled up with a cup of tea, I found myself wondering: Is this how it’s going to be after 40?

I’ve been noticing lately how my body feels different. I don’t bounce back as quickly from sleepless nights or hectic weeks. A sniffle here and there turns into a full-blown cold if I don’t slow down. And yet, slowing down feels like such a luxury.

Here’s hoping this is just a passing cold and not a glimpse of what’s to come. For now, I’m keeping warm, drinking lots of tea, and trusting that a little rest will go a long way.

If anyone has tips for bouncing back from these midlife immune system surprises, I’m all ears!

Ilze

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34 thoughts on “Is This How It Will Be After 40?”

    1. Thank you for your kind words! I think you’re right—my body might just be telling me to slow down. I usually don’t leave the house much, but between Christmas and New Year, I went out twice, which is a lot for me. It’s been a stressful time, so maybe it’s all just catching up. Do you have any tips for managing stress or taking things slower during busy times?

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        1. Absolutely, taking care of yourself is so important, and it’s wonderful that you’ve found outlets like reading and painting to help with that. Quiet moments can be so restorative. What kind of things do you like to paint? It sounds like a beautiful way to unwind!

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    1. Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll definitely look into adding some Vitamin C—it’s a great idea to help boost resistance. I’m afraid of taking a bath, the bathroom isn’t that warm… maybe I need to add the heater there… and take it anyway 🙂

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        1. I can see how lavender might help some people relax, but it’s not really my thing. I bet tea tree oil would work better for me—it has that refreshing, calming scent. I’ll definitely try heating the room and running the hot water, though!

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    1. Thank you for the suggestion! A saline nose spray sounds like a great idea—I’ll give it a try. It makes sense that it would help clear things out quicker. I really appreciate the tip and your kind wishes! Do you use any other remedies when you’re feeling under the weather?

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and advice! I really appreciate it. I think you’re right—it’s more about being worn out than age. I’ll definitely focus on resting, drinking plenty of water, and adding some Vitamin C. Your blessing means a lot, thank you again!

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    1. Thank you! You’re probably right—it’s more about taking it easy and letting my body rest. I’ll be sure to do that and hopefully feel better soon!

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  7. I get the sense that you simply need rest, Ilze. Stress is creeping in on you. Please, get some very good rest if you can. I’m 64 as of last month and feeling pretty darn good!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and advice! I think you’re right—rest is definitely what I need right now. I’m going to make it a priority. And it’s great to hear that you’re feeling so good at 64! That’s really inspiring.

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    1. That’s a comforting perspective—our essence transcends the physical. 🙂 It’s fascinating to think about what ‘You’ truly means beyond the body!

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  9. I’m 70. I don’t know if everyone is like this, but I was very generally sick a lot from 41-42. It was a stressful time of life, so there’s that. The good news is that once I got past 45, I’ve only had very specific illnesses–none of those nagging little things. A couple bouts of flu, and lately, Covid. Everything else mostly has been muscular. BTW, your eyes rapidly go bad between 40-45 (not just me, everyone). You’re welcome. 😉

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    1. That’s such an interesting perspective—thank you for sharing! It’s reassuring to hear that the nagging little illnesses eased up after 45. Stress really does take a toll, doesn’t it? I’m finding that balance is a challenge during this phase of life, but it’s good to know it might calm down a bit later. And yes, the eye thing! I’ve definitely noticed the “rapidly going bad” part—thanks for the heads-up (and the humor). 😉

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  10. If you don’t take care of your body, your body will revolt. Take some down time to prioritize what is most important to you. Give yourself time to just sit a veg, everyday if possible.

    40 sounds so gloriously youthful to this battered and bruised 72 year old body. 🥴

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    1. Thank you for the kind reminder—it’s so true that our bodies have their ways of demanding attention if we don’t listen! I’m working on finding that balance, though it’s a challenge with everything pulling me in different directions. Vegging out every day sounds like a dream—I’ll aim for that, even if it’s just a few quiet moments here and there.
      72!? And you ski!!
      Here’s hoping I’ll be as insightful (and maybe a little less bruised!) when I get there. 🥰

      How do you stay fit!?

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      1. Never stop moving. I guess. I ski with people in their late 70s and 80s and even a few in their early 90s. For die hard skiers, the activity is almost like walking, so it’s no surprise that we keep at it. I suppose I should emulate some of my elders and start skiing on less challenging terrain…but I’m not ready for that concession just yet.

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          1. BTW, Ilze, I love your blog and I would often love to “like” a post or leave a comment. Neither option is available from my normal WP reader feed. I have learned how to drill down to your specific site and leave a message, but each time I do that, I get kicked out of WP altogether and have to log in to access my own or anyone else’s site. It’s a real drag. So I don’t often comment. I’ve never run into this before.

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            1. Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog! ❤️ I’m sorry to hear you’re having such trouble commenting or liking posts—how frustrating! Unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure what could be causing the issue, as WordPress settings can sometimes be tricky.

              I really appreciate you taking the extra steps to leave comments—it means a lot! I’ll look into my blog settings to see if there’s anything I can tweak to make things easier for readers like you. In the meantime, thank you for sticking with it and for your support—it truly brightens my day! 😊

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  11. If you don’t take care of your body, your body will revolt. Take some down time to prioritize what is most important to you. Give yourself time to just sit a veg, everyday if possible.

    40 sounds so gloriously youthful to this battered and bruised 72 year old body. 🥴

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    1. Thanks for the suggestion! I try to avoid pills when I can, but it’s good to know Tylenol works for you—I might consider it if nothing else helps.

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