TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, it's the ONLY place you have to live in.

You might think it's a cliché title, but as women, it's crucial for us to prioritize self-care so we can look after our family.

There is much to share about maintaining fitness and good health as we approach menopause or for those who have already gone through it. I believe it is even more crucial for us to stay fit to recover quickly from illnesses with minimal downtime. Here, minimal downtime means not just being able to work. As daughters and mothers, we don't like to burden our families with taking care of us, as it's in our nature to care for our loved ones. I'm sure many of you feel guilty when you're unwell, and your husband and kids have to manage on their own.

The only way to avoid it is to remain healthy and strong as we age. Many claim they have no time—no time to cook at home, no ti

me for workouts, no time for downtime. They say they can do it during family holidays. However, as a mother, I don't consider that a holiday because it involves packing, booking flights, managing kids' meltdowns or teenage attitudes, etc. Then, upon returning home, there's unpacking, doing laundry, ironing uniforms, and preparing for school the following week, all while catching up on work backlog. Where's the enjoyment in that? In my view, it's even more stressful than staying home during the holidays. The cortisol level generated by the stressful rush in two days likely counteracts the oxytocin produced over the five-day holiday.

Therefore, my dear friends, prioritizing consistency over intensity is ideal. Consider waking up slightly earlier, working out a bit later, or exercising during lunch (for the ladies, waterproof makeup might be helpful) to create extra time. Perhaps encourage your children to become more independent so they can manage some of their own needs at home, rather than hovering over them. You might also consider outsourcing tasks like laundry and transportation. Make time for yourself. A small effort to exercise not only helps you feel better but also allows you to age gracefully into retirement. We need our bodies to remain healthy so we can enjoy traveling with our hard-earned retirement funds. The last thing we want is to spend it on medical expenses or travel in wheelchair or tongkat.