Thriving With Tiff

Improve Your Life, Body & Bank Account

My Simple Daily Routine That Keeps Me Fit, Focused, and in Control After 40

This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without any additional cost to you. Thank you for your support. Some website content was generated with the help of AI.

by

There was a time when I thought I needed the perfect routine to get my life together.

A strict workout plan.
A perfect schedule.
More discipline.

But the truth?

That’s what kept me stuck.

Because every time I couldn’t keep up with that “perfect plan”…
I’d fall off—and feel like I had to start over.

What finally changed everything was this:

👉 I stopped trying to do everything… and created a simple routine I could actually stick to.

This is the exact routine that helps me feel:

  • more in control
  • more consistent
  • more like myself again

And the best part?

It’s simple.

woman in her 40s with wavy hair standing on path outside holding a pink water bottle

I don’t do anything extreme.

I just do a few things consistently—and that’s what makes the difference.

Why Simple Routines Work Better After 40

At this stage of life, you don’t need more pressure.

You need something that:

  • fits your real schedule
  • doesn’t overwhelm you
  • works even on busy days

Because life isn’t slowing down.

So your routine has to work with your life—not against it.

My Daily Routine (Real Life Version)

This isn’t a “perfect day.”

It’s what I actually do most days—and that’s why it works.

a woman in her 40s with long blonde hair walking on a suburban sidewalk wearing a gray fitted t shirt and light gray jacket and gray leggings and athletic shoes with houses trees and green grass in the background during golden hour sunlight

1. I Move My Body Daily (But Keep It Simple)

I don’t rely on long workouts.

Most days, I:

  • go for a short walk after dinner
  • sometimes walk after lunch too

And a few times a week:

  • I go to a fitness class (and I do teach a fitness class every Saturday)

That’s it.

No pressure to do more.
No guilt if I keep it light.

👉 The goal is movement—not exhaustion.

In our 40’s we do need some strength training to keep or improve our muscles so if you’re not doing a fitness class with weights, add in a short weight routine when you can.

I’ve heard of people doing 100 jumps in the morning. If that’s what works for you, do it.

It really is more about moving our bodies rather than just sitting all day and night.

a woman in her 40s with long blonde hair walking on a suburban sidewalk wearing a gray fitted t shirt gray leggings and athletic shoes with houses trees and green grass in the background during golden hour sunlight

2. I Built My Routine Around Walking

Walking is the foundation of everything for me.

It’s simple, but it does so much:

  • clears my mind
  • boosts my energy
  • helps me stay consistent

And because it’s easy…

👉 I actually do it.

That’s what matters most.

I walk by myself, but I also walk with friends. After doing a potluck dinner with friends I am usually the one to suggest a walk after. Most people join in. I love it.

It is easier to chat with someone while moving. If the TV is on, people are watching the TV.

Or if people are sitting around, they often pull out their phones and it’s hard to have a conversation with someone while they’re phone is out.

So not only is walking giving us exercise, but it’s also great for discussions.

woman in car drinking out of pink water bottle wearing a green blazer

3. I Drink Water (And Keep It Basic)

I don’t overcomplicate this either.

I mostly drink:
👉 water

That’s it.

I carry around my pink water bottle where ever I go. It’s a metal water bottle so it keeps the water cold for long periods of time.

I bring it in the car with me. I bring it to potlucks. I bring it to the park.

If I have water on me then it’s easier to drink water. 🙂

No complicated routines.
No trying to be perfect.

Just staying hydrated in a way that feels natural and sustainable.

And honestly?

That one habit alone makes a bigger difference than people think.

woman in her 40s sitting at a desk with her hand on cash and a leather planner in front of her

4. I Do Small Daily Money Check-Ins

I’ll be honest, I love checking on my money. I love seeing investments grow.

I love paying off debts (which I’ve done COMPLETELY now).

Watching my net worth go up is one of my favorite things.

I get that not everyone feels that way.

So, keep your money check-ins simples.

I love using Empower to see my complete financial picture in seconds.

I’ve hooked all my financial accounts (savings, checking, investment accounts, credit cards, etc.) to Empower and I can see when a return hits, when my credit card has been paid.

It will also show upcoming possible payments, like yearly subscription I may have forgotten about so I can cancel the subscription before I actually get charged.

I think Empower is very convenient and it’s free.

If you don’t like apps, start a simple spreadsheet and update at least monthly.

Nothing complicated—just:

  • checking my accounts
  • staying aware of what’s going on

This helps me:

  • feel more in control
  • reduce stress
  • make better decisions

👉 Awareness creates confidence.

Woman in her 40s with long light brown hair kneeling on a woven rug indoors in a peaceful softly lit room with eyes closed and hands resting in a prayer position wearing a beige knit sweater and dark pants with warm natural sunlight coming through a window creating a calm spiritual and mindful wellness atmosphere

5. I Practice Gratitude (On Bad Days And Good Days)

This is something I have been doing for a long time and it has made a huge difference in m life.

Most days, I take a moment to thank my Heavenly Father for:

  • what’s going well
  • what I’m thankful for
  • what I’ve been able to accomplish
  • my hardships (because I know they are making me stronger)

Nothing long or complicated.

I do it naturally throughout the day and I kneel in prayer at night.

If I’m driving and hit the green lights, I say a little thank you.

My roses are in bloom, I say thank you.

They have my favorite cookies at Swig, a little prayer of gratitude.

Sometimes I will go on for awhile about all the things I am grateful for because there really are so many things I am truly grateful for, but a simple gratitude moment during the day is a great start.

Just a simple shift in focus.

And what I’ve noticed is this:

👉 When you focus on your blessings, the negative things don’t seem so bad or they even dissipate.

Plus, I am able to focus more on others instead staying in the, ‘wo is me’ mentality and having a pity party for myself.

While it’s important to feel all the feelings, staying in the sad, discouraged state isn’t really helpful.

Realizing how blessed we truly are (I mean, if you live in America, you are definitely blessed and if you have the internet and are able to read this, also very blessed) means more blessings will come our way.

We aren’t limiting ourselves by thinking about what we lack. We are more expansive and are open to receiving more when we show gratitude.

woman in her 40s sitting on a couch with a laptop on her lap smiling at the camera

What This Routine Is NOT

Let me be clear…

This is not:

  • a perfect routine
  • a strict schedule
  • something I do flawlessly every day

It’s flexible.
It’s realistic.
It fits my life.

And that’s why it works. That’s how I stay consistent.

If You Want to Build a Routine Like This

You don’t need to copy mine exactly.

But you can follow the same idea:

  • keep it simple
  • make it realistic
  • focus on consistency over perfection

Start with:

  • one movement habit
  • one money habit
  • one mindset habit

That’s it.

These small habits turn into:
👉 Real lifestyle change

If You Loved This Post, You’ll Love These Posts

woman in her 40s with wavy hair standing on path outside holding a pink water bottle with text overlay daily routine to keep you fit focused and in control in your 40s