Dr Lynda Shaw | Fab after Fifty | Information and inspiration for women over 50

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At Fab after Fifty we are passionate about women over fifty making the best of their lives. There has never been a better time to be 50! We'd love you to join in the conversation. Be Seen. Be Heard. Don’t be invisible. Be Fab after Fifty!

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Tips: What to do about Ageism at Work

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw As our working lives are extended, Dr Lynda Shaw offers her tips for addressing ageism in the workplace If you are the employee experiencing ageism Always try to look your best, and dress in a vibrant and business appropriate way. The sad fact of life unfortunately is we do judge a book by its cover – even if its subconsciously. Make sure you keep up to date with ever changing technology. If you don’t have the technical understanding look into libraries, courses at colleges or other venues where training is offered. Be on top of your game! Don’t look at your age as a negative in fact market it as a positive. If you are an older worker you know how to get a job done,...
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Tips on what to do if you are in a toxic relationship or friendship

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw You Can’t Change Who They Are It’s virtually impossible to change a person’s perception and behaviour, but you can change the way you deal with them. Those who possess bullying traits thrive on confrontation, but if you take a calmer and a more confident approach, they’re less likely to challenge you. Negative Energy Toxic personalities are very good at passing their negative energy onto others around them and using others as metaphorical punching bag. Show kindness and empathy where it’s due, but be aware that negative energy can very quickly be transferred onto you if you’re not cautious; and remember insults are simply unacceptable. Set Your Boundaries It’s very easy to give into their demands for a calmer and more peaceful life, but this is not healthy nor is it conducive...
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The Importance of Sleep to the Brain and our Psychological Health

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By Dr Lynda Shaw Uninterrupted Sleep Our brain works at its best – including our concentration, creativity and ability to retain information – when our mind is well rested. Uninterrupted sleep activates changes in the brain and establishes firmer connections between brain cells thereby transmitting information from one area of the brain to another more efficiently. Limit Your Working Hours Forcing your brain to work well into the night and depriving it of sleep is not conducive to career success, nor well-being. Sleep deprivation has been known to lower the immune system and can also affect our mental health, leading to problems such as depression and anxiety. Early Night Busy lifestyles and consistent sleep shortage is known to affect blood flow to the brain even causing brain cells to lack necessary oxygen which can contribute to...
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10 Reasons Why Women are Extraordinary

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw Compassionate Women Whilst there is no direct evidence to suggest that one gender experiences compassion more than the other, women naturally enjoy higher levels of ‘oxytocin’, which allows them to express compassion through bonding, nurturing and an ability to empathise with others. Better Memory The hippocampus area of a woman’s brain is known to be more active than men. Professor Stephen Lawrie, researcher from Edinburgh University led a study that revealed that women are on the whole quicker at recalling faces, events, names and objects. Language Women find it easier to acclimatise to sounds and words, with greater activity showing in areas of the brain responsible for language encoding. Unlike men who need sensory support to process the information, women respond better to audio stimulation and are four...
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Are You Ready to Become a Grandparent?

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw The role and demands on grandparents are changing because of new socio-economic pressures, so whilst you’re immersed in the anticipation and excitement of the new arrival, unexpected friction and conflict can often occur if you’re not prepared, according to cognitive psychologist Dr Lynda Shaw. “The role of the grandparents is ever changing. Baby boomer grandparents may take on a huge chunk of the childcare responsibilities whilst mums return to work, whether it’s doing the school run, helping when the children are ill or stepping in to lend a hand during the school holidays. This is not new in society. But now and in the near future the sandwich generation will find themselves still working well into their sixties,...
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5 Tips on How to Prepare for Retirement

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Article by De Lynda Shaw The period leading up to retirement can be one of the most stressful times of our lives but is not widely recognised as a time of greater risk of stress related illnesses such as stroke and depression. Consumers’ Association Which? * state the number of people who work beyond state pension age (currently 65 for men and 62 for women) is 1.4 million, up from 753,000 in 1993 and set to continue to rise steadily. Retirement is no longer stereotypically about hanging up your working gloves for good and living a sedentary lifestyle, particularly when your financial status is a cause for concern. Shaw believes proper preparation before we retire is needed to reduce our risk of stress related illnesses such as stroke, heart disease...
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Starting a relationship in your 50s

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw By 2020 it is projected that more than half the UK population will be over 50 and with divorce rates in Britain at a record high, an increasing number of people over the age of 50 are finding themselves newly single, placing them in daunting and unfamiliar territory. Yet according to cognitive neuroscientist Dr Lynda Shaw, the over 50s are happily getting back into the dating scene and are seizing the chance to embrace an exciting opportunity far better than their younger counterparts. Those in their mature years have a wealth of life experience and acquired skills that help them on their dating adventures: “When we are over 50, we will have experienced some serious highs and lows whether it be bereavements, divorces,...
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Have you written your will or do you keep putting it off until later?

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Article by Dr Lynda Shaw Do we avoid writing our will? Dr Lynda Shaw discusses some of the reasons why we might be putting it off and why we fear our own death. Our culture’s preoccupation with suppressing feelings and fear of facing our own mortality means Britons are not successfully managing their will and estate, Is it the fear of death? So what is the psychology behind our fear of death? To put it simply, it is the fear of the unknown or the terror of the emotional impact that there is nothing. There is a psychological concept called the Terror Management Theory. This focuses on our fear and possible denial of death despite knowing its inevitability. We try to hide from the...
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How to Overcome Panic Attacks

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Article By Dr Lynda Shaw At least one person in 10 experiences occasional panic attacks, which are usually triggered by a stressful event. In the UK, approximately one person in 100 has a panic disorder. Panic attacks are very common and can be triggered by all manner of things, which also means they can sometimes come on quite unexpectedly. Research shows that changes in the brain correlate with the severity of a panic attack, but the good news is that treatment for panic disorders and anxiety are very effective. Tips to help you through a panic attack When you are about to suffer a panic attack two different things can be done, if you are in a position to prevent the panic attack there are methods and calming techniques to help you...
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How to Stay Sane at Christmas!

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Article by Lynda Shaw Most of us think of Christmas as a joyous, colourful and fun time of year but we always seem to forget that hand in hand with that goes a hectic, busy and stressful time of year. They don’t mention the lugging around of shopping bags for hours in Christmas carols do they?? Fa la la la la. It goes without saying that Christmas can be joyous and magical, that is, if it goes completely according to plan, which it rarely does. It can be difficult to enjoy Christmas when it sometimes feels as though it is one giant ‘to do list’, with a big pile of washing up at the end. There can be a lot of pressure put upon us during the festive season; it has...
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