10. Ignoring Vitamin Intake
As long as you eat a healthy, whole food diet, you shouldn’t need vitamin supplementation in your 20s and 30s. However, hormonal changes before, during, and after menopause can lead to a rapid loss of bone density (15).
Make sure you’re getting enough calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin D to prevent (or even reverse) osteopenia and osteoporosis. And – as mentioned above – keep up on your strength training!
11. Taking Care of Yourself Last
Arguably the most important item on this list: if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you certainly can’t help anyone else! In your 40s you can no longer put your mental and physical health on the back burner without serious consequences down the road (16).
In fact, you may already be suffering some of those consequences. It’s ok – it’s never too late to take control!
Schedule your annual exams, make time to exercise, eat right, and treat yourself.
Take a mental health day every so often and don’t forget to take care of yourself. With a bit of determination, you can overcome your bad habits.
It may seem daunting at first, but the more effort you put into self-care, the easier it will become. Best of all, it has short- and long-term benefits.