Over 50 with huge amounts of energy?

[Serendo]

Musing about a friend in her mid 50's. Not a close friend, we see each other at a social event regularly. She works full time as a surgeon, has 2 children she is very hands on with and she entertains or hosts guests or travels to somewhere new almost every single week end.

She is always 'on', never misses a beat and always the first to respond to texts, organise things, etc. I'm a similar age and have nowhere near those energy levels. Do you know anyone like this and wonder how they do it?

No but I wish it was me!

I would too! Mentally, I need a break to recharge. I wonder whether it's physical energy or mental energy at play. I think some of us are recharged by being surrounded by others and chatting and engaging, and some of us need smaller doses. But that constant 'on', it must be exhausting.

I'm 51, demanding full time job, keep fit, do something most weekends. Watch very little TV, too busy.
Had a full on weekend and am feeling it this evening.

Does energy come back post menopause? I have a friend aged around 57 who is always out and about, travelling etc whereas I am peri menopause and struggle where I used to be very active, I struggle to get off the sofa nowadays.

Does she have a lot of help? Someone I knew like this had a gardener, cleaner and nanny!

I’ve had more energy since the menopause, certainly. I’m never anemic these days, and I run marathons etc

I’m a bit younger than your friend, and have a very demanding job with long hours and frequent overseas travel. I do have a gardener but no cleaner. I’m running on fumes most of the time, but try not to let it show. I usually collapse in a heap at Christmas and on our annual holiday.

Sounds like my sister OP though she is 48 but in every other respect the same!

Surely it's just to do with how fit you are, generally people who exercise have more energy, at whatever age

They do say the less you do, the less you want to do.

I found I had a lot more energy after taking spirulina/chlorella supplements to boost my iron levels.

I'm 44 though so a bit younger. Also I don't have endless energy, definitely not

Nah, I think it’s mostly personality type

I didn’t have the energy for this much interaction at 25 and I certainly don’t at 55. I can do a couple of weeks if it but then I have to step out.

Other than being extrovert, she is probably also naturally organised, and not given to introspection/rumination or anxiety. She probably also has domestic help, a supportive partner (I hope) and has brought up her kids to be self sufficient. I’m guessing neither kid is naturally needy either.

She’s just got a good mix of factors going on

It’s probably nervous energy. I have a few friends in their 50s who are frenetic and never seem to relax. They are all, without exception, psychologically focussed on what others think of them. Their ego is entirely built around an image they have to chase to maintain. Slobbing around with a cup of tea reading the papers would mean the skirting boards didn’t get dusted or the house was less than perfect or they might put on weight or their husband would disapprove etc.

Many women in their 50s have given up
people pleasing for the misogynistic bollocks it is, but others have built their whole lives around it and don’t know how to live differently.

Yes, one, and I strongly suspect she has ADHD and she barely sleeps.

Female surgeons are incredible people. Just getting through the training and all the macho bullshit.

I wouldn't be comparing myself to them!

@Serendo what is your general health and fitness like, do you exercise much? e.g. is it occasional walks, or regular cardio for example? How often do you exercise and are you overweight? these things make a big difference even if you are older.

I’m nearly 50 as my energy is the same as it was when I was 20. I would say most of my friends are the same. I work nearly full time, am a lone parent, entertain regularly, travel, go out loads, do my sport etc etc. I think it’s pretty normal. 50’s is young.

I seem to mostly know women like this.

I don't know how they manage it.

I do think it's about personality type. The extroverts I know seem to be less tired than other people and I assume that's because they find interaction less exhausting.

I am not an extrovert but my energy levels are fairly good. I'm pre-menopause and terrified of losing my energy.

I'm always bemused by the 50 somethings on MN who are "on their knees" with exhaustion and longing for retirement. Teachers are particularly prone to this attitude.

And if there's a thread about having a baby post 40 there are squeaks of "how will you cope with a toddler, a teen?"

In RL we're working full time, raising primary aged kids, teens, waving kids off to uni and just generally getting on with life.

i have a friend like this. Has always made sure she goes to bed early - when she’s on, she’s on then makes sure she properly recharges. Also much more extrovert than me and far less prone to introspection. I don’t think it would be easy to cope with being a surgeon if you were someone who spent a lot of time (and therefore mental effort) worrying.

Maybe we are not all as brilliant as you with our hot flushes and disturbed sleep and increased levels of anxiety whilst juggling stressful careers, elderly relatives and complex family developments. But maybe it’s just as easy as ‘getting on with life’ eh?

I expect she has a lot of help at home.

ADHD inattentive as an extrovert - she is bloody thriving!!

I love being busy then I absolutely crash!

We are all different, some sail through peri-menopause. Alas many of us do not.

I'm 51 and am trying to figure out how to have more energy. I'm going to be reducing my simple carb and sugar intake as I'm suspicious I'm having blood sugar spikes and crashes.

Not sure it's an extrovert thing, I'm an introvert. I'm also not fit, but always on the go.

Mid 50s, 2 teenagers, who I taxi around 3 evenings and both weekend days today was 90 mile round trip for a match. Elderly parent I do all their live admin for, plus occasional taxiing around. Plus I'm the go to person in wider family to arrange things/ sort issues.
Work 4 days, 5th day is largely to support parent so weekends free for teens.
Married but no external support, so no cleaner, gardener etc.

Just get on with it, because I need to.

I have a friend like this, she has heaps of energy. Always having friends over for the weekend, cooking elaborate meals, always the life and soul. Apart from fog walking she doesn't do exercise do that's that theory out of the window...

Menopause has robbed me of my energy and motivation and it makes me so sad. All the things I loved to do I just cannot be arsed with any more.