Summer Travel in Your Forties Looks a Little Different — Here’s What I’m Buying to Stay Active and Feel Good

I get super carsick in the back seat of cabs and seasick on some boats and ferries in rough weather. It’s something I usually just suffer through, but editor Sophia DeVito tested these patches, and they may be the solution I need. She gets carsick, too, and said these patches truly worked for her. Each tiny patch contains 1 milligram (mg) of ginger root, 1 mg of peppermint, and 5 mg of vitamin B6. They steadily release into your body for relief you can feel in about 30 minutes, and a patch lasts for 8 to 12 hours. “I also like that they’re small and discreet,” DeVito said. “I've used other patches that are so big and brown and noticeable, and with these, I don't have to worry about people wondering what's on my arm.”

Conversations with my friends these days always pivot to one of three things: Heated Rivalry, insomnia, or other perimenopause symptoms. I don’t think magnesium glycinate can help with anyone’s HR obsession, but it’s been recommended to me a lot for the latter two afflictions. Nutritionists and my doctor agree that it’s helpful for people who wake up in the middle of the night. I finally tried it two weeks ago, and wow — I haven’t slept so well since I was in my thirties!

If it’s not my hormones, aching bones, or racing thoughts keeping me awake, it’s my husband’s snoring. Last month, I made the very mature decision to stop jabbing him with my elbow in the middle of the night and instead buy a pair of these very cute earplugs. (I already own the Experience earplugs, which let me enjoy loud concerts as an old lady.) These are really comfortable, and because they include a range of ear tip sizes, they stay in while I sleep. Now both of us can sleep through the night.

On my last big vacation, I wore flimsy shoes, took 20,000 steps a day, and gave myself a wicked case of plantar fasciitis. The idea of a summer in hefty arch-supporting sneakers made me sad. I’d be missing out on all the cute, strappy sandals and sporty ballet flats! Then I found Archies Arch Support Slides. They live up to their name and hug my arches almost as much as my doctor-prescribed orthotics, and they have a bit of a lift in the heel, which is also a recommended feature for anyone suffering from plantar fasciitis.

The special foam they’re made of gradually molds to your feet for extra comfort. It also makes them very lightweight, so they’ll be easy to pack for my next trip to anywhere with a beach, pool, or warm weather. Meanwhile, they look cute as heck! I’m loving the bright red pair I bought (which are currently sold out), and I’m eyeing a second pair, maybe in peach or trendy brown, to be my indoor slippers.

I’ll be wearing the standard knee-high compression socks for long flights and car rides, of course. But they aren’t great for walking around on a hot summer day. These ankle socks from Comrad provide 15 to 20 mmHg of compression (mild to moderate) around the arches of your foot to help with support and circulation. That’s not medical-grade compression, but it’s enough to keep fatigue and swelling at bay during a run or a long day of trekking through museums, parks, and city streets. Plus, the denim, pink, and neon-green colors are lively enough to make me forget such mundane things as foot pain.

It’s still too early to report on whether it’s actually helping ease my plantar fasciitis, but I do like the comforting warmth it provides in the meantime. It also forces me to lie down and relax for 20-minute stretches. For travel or moving around the house, there’s an adapter that lets you plug the device into a rechargeable battery pack.

Sure, I look for the running shoes that will make me feel faster and lighter on my feet, the way I always have. In middle age, however, I have added stability to the top of my criteria. After a catastrophic knee injury, I’m afraid of falling, twisting an ankle, or even just moving in a way that will cause pain. I tested these Diadora sneakers earlier this year, and they absolutely live up to the brand’s promise that the sole will “reduce gait asymmetry and enhance overall balance.” I feel confident in every step. My podiatrist (of course, in middle age, we say things like “my podiatrist”) just gave these sneakers his seal of approval, too. Now that the weather is warmer, I also like that the mesh upper keeps my feet cool.

Injury prevention can only go so far, and eventually, I will wind up with a throbbing muscle or joint pain. Apparently, simply walking too much on vacation is enough to make both of my overdramatic ankles act like I pulled a Kerri Strug (and if you get that reference, you are also in your perimenopause years!). While rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the first prescription for this type of injury, I don’t always have time to sit still. These flexible ice packs have an adjustable strap that lets me walk around the house while still getting that sweet, sweet pain relief. You can microwave the very same pack for soothing heat on those muscles later.