How was this past year a big year for you? Maybe you experienced your first hot flash while you continued to kick butt and take names. Perhaps you've achieved some real wins in your career or on the family-front while experiencing less sleep, or a few other common perimenopause or menopause symptoms. It is a big deal. Women are no longer just surviving in midlife—we’re thriving.
Menopause marks the start of a new and exciting chapter in life, giving you an extra reason to celebrate. New year, new you… in a new way.
Let’s finish the year in celebration!
What to wear on New Year's Eve when you're over 40?
Whatever. You. Want.
We’ll say it loudly for the women in the back: celebrate your body, no matter your age or size. New Year’s Eve isn’t the time to be shy! However, we know that changing bodies sometimes lead to lowered confidence or an evolving approach to clothes, as old favorites just don’t fit the same.
A few fashion ideas for a fabulous NYE (and always)
- Play up your favorite features. If you’re feeling less than confident about, say, your midsection, play up your face, legs, super-toned arms, or décolletage.
- Fancy night out? The Little Black Dress is always in style. Wrap dresses, sheathes, and “fit and flare” dresses look good on every body type.
- Casual party? Go for midrise straight or bootcut dark denim jeans and a sparkly tank top with a blazer, cardigan, or moto jacket. Dark denim is universally flattering, and you can easily shed a layer and still look cute if a hot flash hits in the middle of Auld Lang Syne. And yes, you can absolutely rock black leather.
- Remember to layer. Whether you’re crossing Times Square off your bucket list, watching fireworks at the Space Needle in Seattle, or just going to a friend’s house to watch the ball drop on TV, you want to be comfortable. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer and add on clothes that can easily be removed, quickly.
Celebrate responsibly
New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate, so don’t pressure yourself to hold back just because you’re in menopause. After all, you’ve achieved a lot this year, and you did it while sweating through hot flashes and mood swings.
However, the alcoholic beverages we raise to toast the new year can be high in calories, trigger hot flashes, and we know that alcohol use can contribute to risk of chronic disease. We have a few suggestions if you’re planning on being mindful of what you drink.
Bring on the bubbles
If it’s not New Year’s Eve without a champagne toast, good news: champagne (or Cava, Prosecco, or generic supermarket sparkles) has fewer calories than red or white wine and may even reduce your risk of dementia. Plus, fizz (in general) encourages you to pace your sips (though if you want to relive your youth or impress your adult kids, there is a solution for slow champagne consumption).
Look for “Ultra brut,” “brut natural,” and “extra brut” on the label. These varieties have little-to-no added sugar, which your body will thank you for on New Year’s Day.
Lower alcohol options
If you’re looking to have a good time without going overboard, consider one of these lower alcohol sparkling options—in a champagne flute, of course.
- White wine spritzer: Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond recommends a 3:1 wine to club soda ratio, but you can play around with the proportions or sub ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, or your favorite seltzer for the club soda.
- Black velvet: At 4.2% ABV, 125 calories per serving, and even some fiber and folate, Guinness has a lot of flavor for what is, essentially, a light beer. Make it festive with a splash of sparkling wine.
- Cranberry champagne cocktail: Pour sweetened cranberry juice into a glass and top it off with sparkling wine and a squeeze of lime.
- Stasi’s fruit and vegetable cocktail: Gennev Menopause Coach Stasi Kasianchuk has a recipe for a sparkling cocktail that’s delicious with or without alcohol.
Make it a mocktail
You don’t need alcohol to have fun! You could stick with water, or you could treat your tastebuds to something fancy, like one of these mocktails:
Hydrate
Your liver doesn’t realize that age is just a number. Hangovers do get worse when we hit our 40s and 50s, and one reason may be that the water content in our bodies decreases as we get older. Stay hydrated on NYE: alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass or two of water.
Happy new year!
DVR the Rose Parade, hit snooze a few times, turn on a college bowl game, and enjoy a few new—and old—traditions.
Work (alcohol) out
While working out may be the last thing you want to do after a late (and boozy) night, moving your body produces mood-enhancing endorphins and improves blood flow to the brain. Stick to gentle exercise like stretching, yoga, or a short walk or jog; strenuous activity will dehydrate you further, and you’re more prone to accident or injury with a hungover head.
Say yes to Hoppin’ John
It’s a tradition (and superstition) in the American South to eat black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day for good luck and financial prosperity in the new year. These nutritious foods are also packed with fiber, which is essential as your digestion slows in midlife.
Save leftover champagne
Don’t fret if your friends leave a few fallen soldiers at the end of the night. That half-full bottle of Veuve Clicquot (or Cook’s) still serves a purpose: as a facial toner!
Like all wines, champagne has resveratrol, an antioxidant with anti-aging benefits. Chill your leftover bottles and then apply the wine as you would any other toner in your skincare regimen.
Alcohol can dry your skin, however, so don’t worry about using up the whole bottle; a few applications are all you need.
Now that the new year is here…
Do you make resolutions or set intentions?
If you’re looking for something to work towards in the new year, we have a few ideas for midlife health—feel free to pick one, or all, of ours!
- Meditate
- Start (or step up) a daily waiking routine
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Take your vitamins
- Drink more water
- Get fit without getting hurt
- Take care of your breasts
- Understand your body
Here’s to continued thriving, your way, in the new year!
How do you plan to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Let us know in our Community forums.
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