The Distracted Dreamer
Get ready to confidently and unapologetically go after dreams! Welcome to The Distracted Dreamer Podcast.
Today is the day you’re going to pull your dreams off the shelf and bring them to the forefront of your life. You are never too tired, too busy, too old, too young, too anything to pursue your dreams.
Imagine… the joy and excitement of doing what lights you up. Your dreams are yours. No one gets to take them from you and no one gets to chase them - except you. Your dreams are there to guide you, to inspire you and to show you that yes, there is something more in store for you.
You see, the size of your dreams don’t matter - it could be running a marathon, reading a book series, perfecting that family recipe, traveling the world, or learning to dance.
I’m Carlene Bauwens, entrepreneur, Life Coach and now host of The Distracted Dreamer podcast. I’m here to show you how to kick distraction to the curb and grab hold of your dreams. Your happiness matters. You have a big, beautiful, amazing life to live. And you've only got one of them. Welcome to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast.
The Distracted Dreamer
#50: Midlife, Menopause, and the New Brain You Didn’t Expect
I’ve been flooded with messages from you since last week’s episode — so many of you said, “This is me. This is what I’ve been feeling. And I had no idea what to call it.”
You’re not alone.
If you’re in your 40s or 50s, and your brain suddenly feels foggy, unmotivated, or like it’s just… off — this episode is for you.
We’re talking about what’s actually happening to your brain in midlife, and why it’s not about aging — it’s about repetition, hormone loss, and disconnection. And most importantly, I’ll show you how to wake it up again.
Menopause and ADHD symptoms can look very much the same. You asked what you can do to help yourself? And today I'm going to give you exactly that. Because your brain needs a new kind of support.
THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
1️⃣ Your brain isn't slowing down because time is passing— it's slowing down from repetition.
2️⃣ Routines bring comfort, but too much sameness can make your brain go quiet.
3️⃣ Your dreams are THE fuel for keeping your brain firing on all cylinders.
SOURCES:
Burzynska, A.Z., wong, C.N., Voss, M.W., Cooke, G.E., Gothhe, N.P., Fanning, J., & Kramer, A.F. (2015). Physical activity is linked to greater white matter integrity in healthy older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 7, 139.
Cabeza, R., Nyberg, L., & Park, D.C. (Eds.). (2017). Cognitive neuroscience of aging: Linking cognitive and cerebral aging (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Par, D. C., & reuter-Lorenz,P. (2009). The adaptive brain: Aging and neurocognitive scaffolding. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 173-196.
Martensson, J., Lovden, M., Bodammer, N.C., Kuhn, S., Schaefer, S., Schmiedek, F., & Lindenberger, U (2012). Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning. Neurolmage, 63(1), 240-244
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Please consult a qualified professional before applying any material contained.
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