Giving It Another Try (And Being Surprised by What Sticks)
It’s kind of funny—if not wildly frustrating—how much we are all having to try again in this season of life.
Let me rephrase.
If you’re in midlife with me—somewhere in that 40–65 window (and wow… what a long stretch to ride the hormonal rollercoaster)—then you probably feel like you’re constantly having to try again.
And it can feel:
Overwhelming.
Debilitating.
Infuriating.
Because just when you think you’ve figured something out… everything shifts.
Hormones change.
Energy changes.
Mood changes.
And suddenly, the plan that worked last month doesn’t feel like it’s working at all.
Even When You’re Doing “Everything Right”
I wish I had all the answers for you.
As a health coach, I’ll be honest—this past year has challenged me personally.
I can try to do all the things:
8 hours of solid sleep
Heavy strength training
Protein, fiber, complex carbs, tons of veggies
Hydration dialed in
Alcohol out
Daily steps in
…and still have days where I think:
What the heck is going on?
Why am I irritable?
Why am I exhausted?
What am I missing?
That’s the part no one talks about enough.
Midlife isn’t just about discipline.
It’s about adaptation.
This Season Isn’t About “Figuring It Out”
Here’s what’s really unfolding for me:
This season isn’t about finding the thing that works forever.
It’s about being willing to revisit, relearn, and retry…
and being open to the possibility that something might land differently now.
Something you didn’t need before…
Something you didn’t have time for…
Something that felt unnecessary or uncomfortable…
Might actually be the thing that sticks.
The Habit I Didn’t Expect to Stick
For me, that “try again” started in September 2025:
Infrared sauna + cold plunge.
(Stay with me—don’t freak out yet 😉)
I didn’t go into it thinking it would become a habit.
I started it thinking about muscle recovery.
That was it.
I Started Small (Really Small)
I didn’t walk in and do 20 minutes in the sauna and 10 minutes in the cold plunge.
Not even close.
I started by just trying. Just showing up.
I would:
Sit in the sauna long enough to get warm
Hop into the cold for 30 seconds
Go back into the sauna
Take a nice long, warm shower and be done
That was the entire routine.
Nothing fancy. Nothing extreme.
The next time I went back, I added 20 more seconds in the cold plunge.
I layered in:
Slow, methodical entry into the water
Box breathing
Learning how to sit with discomfort instead of rushing through it
And slowly, something shifted.
What It Looks Like Now
Now?
I spend about 20 minutes in the sauna, followed by 8–10 minutes in the cold plunge—depending on what I need that day.
And I love this for me.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because I have to.
Because of how it makes me feel.
Why It Stuck
The benefits became undeniable:
Faster muscle recovery
Increased circulation
A noticeably better mood
Deep, restorative sleep (this one is everything)
Lower cortisol and a calmer nervous system
Reduced overall stress markers
Improved skin tone and glow
Support for natural detoxification
But the biggest one?
Sleep.
When cortisol comes down and your body finally feels safe enough to rest, you don’t just sleep…
You restore.
And in midlife, that kind of sleep changes everything.
Here’s What I Can’t Ignore…
My hips feel so good when I get out of the cold.
My entire body feels relaxed. Settled. Balanced.
It’s like my nervous system finally exhales.
And that feeling?
That’s what made it stick.
This Is What We Miss About Habits
We think habits stick because of discipline.
But in this season?
They stick because of feedback.
Because your body says:
👉 Yes, more of that.
👉 That helped.
👉 That felt different in a good way.
What This Season Is Really Asking of You
I don’t think there’s one answer.
But I do think there are many small answers…
and you only find them by being willing to try again.
Not perfectly.
Not all at once.
Not forever.
Just… again.
So Let Me Ask You
What is something you need to give another try this month?
Start it.
Do it.
Don’t overthink it.
Because when you try something again, you almost always get something out of it.
And when you try it again after that?
You’re no longer trying.
You’re practicing.
And eventually…
You’re living it.
And if you happen to try a cold plunge, let me know. Send me message and tell me all about it. I’d love to hear what you think. ❤️
