Fifty and fearless (mostly)
I’m turning 50 in 2025. Rather than quietly mourning gray hairs or hiding under a duvet, I’m launching my 50 in 50 Challenge. Half stubbornness, half ambition, all very me. This isn’t just about sweating over strange gym machines (though yes, there will be plenty of that). It’s about self-love. I am embracing challenges and figuring out what genuinely makes me feel alive. I do this without pretending life is tidy, Instagram-perfect, or ever quiet.
“This isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving.”
Lessons from the last decade
Looking back at 40 feels almost like another lifetime. That was the year I became a mum to Cyrus, my brilliant, slightly terrifying little human. Suddenly, my midlife world revolved around tiny socks and spontaneous vomiting. I found myself negotiating with a toddler. I once spent twenty minutes trying to explain that yoghurt does not, in fact, belong in the DVD player. These early years have taught me patience I didn’t know I had in my perimenopausal years. They also gave me stubbornness I didn’t want and I have learned that laughing more, often at myself, is essential.
The last ten years have been exhilarating. I’ve survived toddler tantrums in the middle of supermarket aisles. I’ve spilled coffee on white tops immediately before important meetings. I’ve endured countless gym sessions where my body refused to cooperate. This proves yet again that my muscles have their own agenda. I’ve also learned that strength isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and mental.
Thriving at fifty
Fifty is different. It’s about taking care of myself so I can show up fully for H, for C, and, yes, for me. It’s about remembering that uninterrupted sleep is now a rare luxury. I have more wisdom. I possess more patience and I also have a new appreciation for life’s craziness. This is the decade for setting boundaries. It’s about celebrating small victories and for laughing at the ridiculous moments like sending a WhatsApp rant about the neighbours to the neighbours.
“Midlife isn’t winding down, it’s rewriting the rules.”
Small goals, big wins
I’ve broken the year into monthly themes, each with small, achievable goals. Some days will be huge wins. I might crush a spin class. I may finally nail a recipe I’ve attempted six times. Or I’ll catch my reflection in the gym mirror and think, actually, that’s not bad. Other days will be sofa days. I will have coffee in one hand and cheesecake in the other. I will mutter at the cat for being far too lazy.
I’ll be honest: there will be wobbling cellulite. There will be failed attempts. I will have moments when I feel utterly ridiculous in my attempts training to be a fitness instructor. Just like the time I tried to demonstrate a combat kick to Cyrus. Instead, I tumbled backwards and knocked over a stack of books. But those moments make life richer, funnier, and real.
Why the next chapter matters
The last ten years have taught me more than any milestone ever could. Life doesn’t slow down just because you’re older. It keeps throwing curveballs: work challenges, family dramas, the odd health scare, and the relentless drama of everyday life. But they’ve also taught me resilience. I’ve found happiness in unexpected places. It’s perfectly fine to be messy, exhausted, and proud all at once.
Monthly goals for a balanced and motivated 2025
- Drink 1 shot of wheatgrass or barleygrass every morning.
- Drink at least 2 litres of water every day.
- Hold a plank for 1 minute a day.
- Try a new gym class. I plan to choose Cyclone at David Lloyd Newcastle and aim to do 4 sessions of it this month.
- Take a multivitamin or vitamin regime daily in January.
- Incorporate resistance training into my gym routine 3 times a week.
- Walk at least 8,000 steps every day this month.
- Write down 3 daily affirmations focusing on health goals for February.
- Prepare a weekly meal plan every Sunday throughout February.
- Dedicate 10 minutes every day to stretching to prevent injury.
- Dedicate at least one evening a week this month to a DIY spa experience, including a beauty treatment with sefidab.
- Choose at least one outfit that boosts my confidence in March.
- Declutter our living space by tackling one room at a time (tackle 1-2 rooms this month).
- Celebrate Persian New Year or other cultural date in our diary during 2025.
- Focus on building core strength and reducing body fat to achieve visible abdominal muscles. Check my Boditrax stats!
- Commit to a month of lowering my sugar intake, focusing on healthier alternatives.
- Experiment with a new haircut or hair colour to mark my 50th year.
- Read 12 books by the end of the year (start with 1 book this month).
- Incorporate lemon juice every morning during April.
- Drink apple cider vinegar with water every day during April.
- Get to 50 Zumba, Ignite, or Blaze classes during 2025. (Start with 4 classes this month).
- Spend 50 minutes per week doing something enjoyable, like reading, studying, meditating, or blogging.
- Join in a Zumba charity event in 2025.
- Take up learning Farsi and set small goals for daily practice to improve this month.
- Get a health MOT (schedule check-ups).
- Do 50 small acts of kindness (paying it forward, writing notes of appreciation) in 2025.
- Create a bedtime routine to guarantee at least 7 hours of sleep this month.
- Take one photo per day to document my journey in my 50th year.
- Spend one day this month completely unplugged from technology.
- Lift heavier weights this month (progressively increasing weights each week).
- Dedicate time each week to core strengthening with Russian twists to improve posture and stability.
- Cook and eat at least one healthy, home-prepared dinner together, but no bread for the month.
- Replace one cup of coffee with herbal tea daily this month.
- Cut alcohol consumption during August.
- Try a plant-based diet for a month to see how it affects my energy.
- Practice intermittent fasting for the whole month (16:8).
- Spend 50 minutes per week doing something enjoyable in August.
- Step outside my comfort zone at least once this month.
- Celebrate my progress by reviewing my 50th-year vision board or diary.
- Focus on building core strength and improving posture this month, increasing flexibility with Pilates.
- Journal daily about my nutrition and fitness progress in October.
- Reduce any lingering processed food urges and replace with healthy options.
- Reconnect with five friends and prioritise friendship goals.
- Celebrate my birthday in style.
- Commit to a final push toward achieving my body fat and muscle tone goals. Reflect on Boditrax stats.
- Focus on consistency in core training and do whatever I’ve found that works.
- Set up a final stretch of exercise goals ahead of December.
- Achieve my target body fat percentage on Boditrax – and visible abs!
- Complete my 50th-year photo project by looking at the entire year’s journey. Journal about the highs and lows of my 50th year.
- Celebrate any remaining milestones and reflect on lessons learned. Set my intentions and goals for the upcoming year based on the lessons of 2025.
I want you to follow along. Roll your eyes with me or at me. Celebrate the wins with me. Laugh at me if you want. Maybe even start a challenge of your own. Share your plans in the comments!
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Saffron and Cyrus is a Newcastle-based family lifestyle blog, covering health, wellness, days out, travel, reviews, recipes and more from our family life.
The blog is written by new mum over 40, Aranda, with input from hubby H and son, Little C.
