GRACE'S MUSINGS: Not another resolution?

I’ve always loved the idea that a new year can mean a new start. I’m not talking about that whole “new year, new you” thing – it’s impossible to tackle change like that, I now realise – but about taking a moment to reflect on our life, on what we’ve achieved, where we’re headed, and what we need to do in order to get there. 

Resolutions – particularly the ones about giving stuff up and being miserable – are a crazy idea right now, when we all need to be a bit kinder to ourselves. Studies show that around 80% of new year’s resolutions fail anyway, so isn’t it about time that we took a new approach to achieving our goals?  

I’m constantly astonished by the achievements of the women around me, and they’re my first port of call when I’m looking for inspiration in order to make changes in my life. It’s important for us to have aspirational figures who are visible to all. For women to succeed, we need to see other women in the roles we aspire to – particularly where we are under-represented in terms of ethnicity, sexuality or age. 

Without inspirational mature women, in particular, in the public eye, it’s hard to imagine our own success. This new year, once again, I’d like to celebrate a few of my much-loved midlife icons in the hope they’ll become your favourites, too – and inspire us all to reach the heights I know we’re capable of. So be well, be happy and follow the advice of these five inspirational angels to get you where you’re going in 2022. 

Say yes to everything 
Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes is the ultimate role model for women who want to transform their life – and what better way to do it than by rewriting our own narrative? Like many of us, Rhimes had lost her mojo and needed to battle to rediscover her joy for life and work. In this TED Talk, she shares her journey through a year of saying yes to everything – and reveals how it saved her career. 

Her top tip?  
“Everyone’s got some greatness in them. You do. The girl over there does. That guy on the left has some. But to really mine it, you must own it. You must grab hold of it. You must believe it.”

Find your fitspiration
Instagram fitness can help you visualise the look you want to achieve, but sometimes goals are so unrealistic, the whole process can be demotivating. A practitioner who is both authentic and accessible is a must. I love Elisabeth Halfpapp, co-founder of CoreBarreFit, who began ballet at five and who’s still working out more than five decades on.  
Her top tip? 
“Even if you’re starting with 10 minutes a week, just start to do something. I always find when you start moving, you feel better. When you move a muscle, you change a thought. Just start slow. And you will find that it will happen organically, and you will just want to keep moving because you are feeling better.” 

Transform your energy levels
Now’s the time to give yourself a health MOT and think about how to make small adjustments to increase your energy levels. Gabriela Peacock is passionate about the impact that good nutrition and high-quality supplements can have on our sleep, immunity, fertility, energy and wellness. She created GP Nutrition to simplify the way we shop for nutrients. I love it.
Her top tip?
“There are two big misconceptions about nutrition – the first is that we eat too much protein: in fact, most people don’t eat enough good-quality vegetarian protein; and the second is that gluten-free is better for your health – it is not, unless you have an issue (intolerance or sensitivity to gluten).”

Know your style
Search for the hashtag #AgelessStyle and you’ll find plenty of older women absolutely rocking their look. One of my faves is stylist Kat Farmer, of Does My Bum Look 40 in This? Her Instagram feed is packed with great looks, clever advice and excellent styling tips, all conveyed in a fun, friendly manner. She’s an absolute hoot.

Her top tip?
“Forget fashion ‘laws’, instead find the style you enjoy wearing and update it seasonally.” 

Make time for your skin
The one-size-fits-all approach to beauty championed by Big Pharma clearly doesn’t work – 86% of women have skin issues and advanced ageing because the products they use do not match their DNA. That’s why the brilliant Dr Barbara Geusens developed Nomige, a DNA-based skincare brand that creates products tailored to your unique genetic skin profile. 
Her top tip? 
“Introduce new things into your life. When we’re young, we explore and try so many different things. Then our life can become smaller with work, children and family, and there’s not much room left for anything outside that. Start to explore once more. Open up your view again and find confidence in that.”