Second Act Wellbeing

Last Updated On | 24 Sept 2026

Inspiring stories

Angellica Bell, 50, has learned some surprising new skills in midlife – and the brain-health benefits are huge

Trying new things in midlife could protect you from Alzheimers as well as being fun - and it's TV presenter Angellica Bell's approach to getting older

I started an entirely new exercise regime at 69 – and it's done wonders for my knees

Glynis Barber is 70 now, but for the past year she has added a whole new element to her exercise regimen. Here's how she's getting on...

I’m a Grief Coach and this is what Practical Magic 2 really teaches us about grief and loss

After tragic loss, grief coach Rachel Hart-Phillips realised Practical Magic’s true curse isn't magic - it’s the fear of loving again.

Glynis Barber: I'm declaring 70 the new 50 - we girls know how to work it these days

Actress and Second Act columnist Glynis Barber thought she'd feel past it at 70 - but she and her midlife friends are thriving

To the overworked woman on the brink of burnout: 'You were never meant to live for your job'

After a decade of corporate overwork, burnout expert Jo Hooper reveals why rest alone will never fix your exhaustion. She wants you to stop living for your job.

My empty nest at 59 shocked me into changing my life

After struggling with an empty nest, Lesley Holder found a new way to embrace life – and she feels better than ever.

Is perimenopause sabotaging your eyebrows?

Beauty editor Cassie Steer reflects on her disappearing brows and suspects hormones are to blame

What Deborah Meaden wishes women knew about money

Dragon's Den star reveals the secrets to getting back financial power in midlife

The group chats I'm ready to leave behind in midlife - and how to do it without causing a drama

WhatsApp overwhelm can take over in midlife - here's how to avoid it, by serial group muter Jenny Holliday

Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s how to reset your life in three science-backed steps

Perimenopause made Rosie Nixon look at her life differently - and now she's helping other overwhelmed women do the same

Menopause was a shock - but should we blame it for everything that goes wrong in midlife?

Comedian and author Lucy Porter makes an honest point of meno-washing and wonders, have we gone too far?

'I'm 52 and I assumed my issues at work were down to stress, but it was actually hearing loss'

Amanda Philpott was diagnosed with hearing loss at 52 – and it changed her life. Here she talks about the impact hearing aids have made.

Psychologists call it 'self alienation' and at 52 I realise I've been doing it for decades

Faye James decodes the subtle but persistent gap between who you are internally and how you present yourself externally.

'It’s odd not having mum here to talk about the menopause'

BBC Proms presenter Katie Derham’s world was changed forever when her mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers at 56.

I'm a personal stylist and these are my 6 styling hacks for my midlife tummy

Struggling to dress your midlife middle? Personal stylist Helen Richardson, 54, is here to bust the ‘side-profile paranoia’ with six styling tricks that will help.

How my hair and makeup has evolved over 5 decades in the spotlight

Since finding global fame as an actress in the 1980s, our columnist Glynis Barber has experimented with different looks - but her natural glow has never waned

How Jenny Powell’s honest hysterectomy story has helped thousands of women feel less alone

Presenter Jenny Powell suffered years of agonising symptoms before undergoing a hysterectomy at 56 - and now she's built a supportive community of women going through the same

I'm a 48-year-old Joyologist and I have never felt more alive

Joyologist Donna Easton shares how she found happiness in midlife by ignoring her inner critic and retraining her brain to find joy.

5 midlife lessons Meghan Markle taught me - and no, none of them involve jam

Meghan Markle is proof that your mid-forties aren't the beginning of the end; they are the moment you finally take the steering wheel of your own life.

I'm a doctor & if you told me you were burnt out, here’s everything I'd advise you to do

From the frontlines of trauma to burnout recovery, here's how to get your sparkle back with Dr. Sarah Nicholls. Let’s make life easy, fun, and full of adventure again.

Psychology says you need to ditch black clothes and start ‘peacocking’ - and this TV star says it helped kick depression

Celebrity chef Andi Oliver tells the Second Act podcast how embracing colour helped her overcome depression and live her best midlife

Why the internet is forgiving this man for 'mansplaining' menopause

If mansplaining looks like this, we have no complaints. David Maher has gone viral on Instagram and TikTok with his menopause explanation.

Wicked star Kerry Ellis: 'I still pick my body to pieces in pictures'

West End icon Kerry Ellis opens up about performing for The Royal Family, taking up running in midlife and how she inspired Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked career

These ‘healthy habits’ could actually be making you hungrier in midlife

Leading midlife nutritionist Emma Bardwell says some of us are getting it wrong when it comes to eating healthily in midlife

The menopause heatwave survival guide: Practical, expert tips for aching joints, brain fog and frayed nerves

Osteopath Nadia Alibhai has some great tips on surviving the heatwave in midlife - including avoiding difficult conversations...

She lost her mother - then discovered the healing power of joy

Sharing happy pictures on Instagram helped Paula Sutton cope with the loss of her mother. Here grief expert Lizzie Pickering says why joy and grief should go hand in hand

I've found the secret to feeling ageless - and you might not have done it since childhood

Second Act columnist Glynis Barber uses her imagination and love of creativity and play to boost her health and happiness

I'm a doctor: If you told me your HRT isn't working, here's what I'd do next

Functional Medicine doctor Dr Nirusha Kumaran reveals simple hacks to make your hormone treatment more effective

Neurologists reveal the personality trait that helps lower Alzheimer's risk by 38%

Science has found the ultimate longevity tool. Discover the simple daily habit neurologists say can delay cognitive ageing

Not to brag, but I think I've put together the ultimate Second Act menopause-friendly goodie bag

London calling! If you're contemplating coming along to our live podcast recording with Ateh Jewel and Jo Good, this might help make up your mind...

I asked Victoria Beckham’s facialist how she keeps her celebrity clients glowing at 50 - and her best advice is completely free

Facialist to the A-List Keren Bartov shares her ‘no-tox’ wisdom on how to achieve a glowing complexion in midlife

'Who am I if not a bestselling author?' Jane Green on losing her identity in midlife - and 3 expert exercises to help you find yourself again

Author Jane Green lost her sense of who she was after the life she knew fell apart, but according to life coach Mhairi Todd she had a lucky break

Shania Twain just dropped some serious truth bombs about menopause that we can all learn from