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It’s one of the great ironies of life: Your reward for surviving the tumultuous teen years, establishing a career and nurturing a family culminates in dry skin, a thickening waist and too many moments peppered with “Now, where did I leave those car keys?” You know ... that time of your life that seemed so far away when viewed from a distance.

As the calendar pages keep turning, you may find yourself greeting this new phase of life with mixed feelings: a sense of accomplishment, sure, but perhaps also apprehension for the unknown and even surprise from unanticipated changes.

“With age comes wisdom and experience, but it can also include new and unexpected signs of growing older that can impact your body and life,” said Barbara Hannah Grufferman, positive aging expert and author of the best-selling book “The Best of Everything After 50.”

Fortunately, in many regards, age is but a state of mind. With these practical tips, you can glide into the future with vitality, grace and confidence.

Stay true to your style
There is no written rule that once you achieve a certain age, your hair must be cropped close, your wardrobe frozen in time or your favorite vibrant lipstick shade cast aside. True, with age you may make a few modifications, such as a new hairstyle that accommodates thinner strands or one that shows off your gorgeous grays. But your personal style is an important aspect of your identity, and simply tweaking or slightly evolving your look lets you remain true to your familiar self as you enter this new phase of life.

Resist the urge to rest
Filling your time with low-demand pursuits is a perfectly natural response to the liberation of an empty nest or the newfound freedom of retirement. You’ve earned a break, for sure. However, be wary of letting your brain languish to extremes. Find ways to stimulate your mind to help keep you sharp and ward off those “senior moments.”

Make your physical wellness a priority
For decades, you’ve heard admonishments about taking proper care of your body: eating right, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and excess drinking, and getting plenty of rest. If you ignored that advice, remember this: It’s never too late to introduce healthier habits. Taking care of your body will help ensure you have the physical stamina to continue enjoying your favorite activities, and will give you the best shot at keeping your health condition optimal.

Not only does keeping in shape provide overall health benefits, targeted exercises can help with other concerns, as well. For example, after 4-6 weeks of working out your pelvic floor muscles regularly, you may start to notice an improvement in your sensitive bladder.

Embrace confidence boosters
Change is at the very heart of midlife, and most of us can come to acknowledge, even appreciate, how life has a way of evolving. But changes can sometimes cause confidence to lag, especially when it’s your body that’s changing.

“The loss of a job, upheavals in a long-term relationship, financial hardships and empty nests are just a few of the big challenges we frequently confront – not to mention the new health issues that we might face,” Grufferman said.

One common confidence breaker: a sensitive bladder. A recent survey by Always Discreet found that women with sensitive bladders feel less confident than those who don’t experience leaks, in certain situations like traveling long distances or being in an unknown or unfamiliar area.1

However, you don’t have to let your sensitive bladder stand in the way of living your life. In fact, the same survey showed that most women with sensitive bladders (72 percent) who use bladder protection, such as Always Discreet liners, pads and underwear, say they feel more confident because of these products. The full line of bladder leak protection products provides women incredible comfort, protection, discretion and odor control so you can get back to enjoying life, no matter your age.

To learn more about managing a sensitive bladder, including advice for how to talk with your doctor, visit AlwaysDiscreet.com.

1The Always Discreet U.S. Survey was conducted using the IPSOS Panel that surveyed a total of 400 American women (aged 35 to 65 years old). Of the 400 women, 200 have experienced urine loss/bladder weakness in the past three months and 200 had not experienced urine loss/bladder weakness. Significance testing between the two groups was done at a 90 percent confidence level. The survey was implemented between September 15, 2015 and September 25, 2015. In the study were 65 women with sensitive bladders who use products specifically designed for bladder leaks.

Age Gauge
Ever looked at your driver’s license and thought, “Is that really my age?” It’s time to find out how old you really feel.

1. Are you confident enough to wear the clothes and styles you love?

a. Absolutely, I don’t let anything stand in the way of fashion.
b. Sometimes – I’ve definitely outgrown some styles.
c. Not really ... I tend to go for safe, sensible outfits.

2. Long-distance adventures or local delights: What’s your travel preference?

a. The further the better – the best adventures begin with a long-distance flight.
b. I love the idea of long-distance travel, but I’d have to be well prepared.
c. Close to home – I don’t like veering too far.

3. What’s your first thought when someone mentions bladder sensitivity?

a. It’s an old age issue – it only affects older women over 65.
b. Many moms like me experience it after childbirth.
c. I have it and I know it can happen to anyone, regardless of age.

4. What’s your fitness regime like?

a. Intense – exercise is the highlight of my day.
b. Average – I do my best to keep fit but there are challenges.
c. Non-existent – I don’t feel confident enough to work out.

Results:
Mostly As: You feel younger inside than your real age.
Mostly Bs: You feel exactly your age.
Mostly Cs: You feel older inside than your real age. Empower yourself to live the age you want to be.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (three women on beach)

Sponsored by Always Discreet