A New Year To-Do

Hi friend,

This past week, we were finally able to find the time to sit down and watch Beyoncé’s full Christmas Day halftime show aka the Beyoncé Bowl. Ignorant of football, we were aware that it had happened, but hadn’t caught it live.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s fabulous. Astounding. A work of art, really. We went into it totally cold, with no expectations or prior information, and were completely blown away. We appreciated this reaction from the host of podcast This Ain’t Texas, Peter Rosenberg, which boils down to “flabbergasted.”

It was clear that the performance was layered with symbolism. And yet, when we went looking for insightful cultural writing about it, there was little to be found. The most interesting was this chat Harper’s Bazaar had with stylist Shiona Turini. (Here’s another small glimpse into how massive a lift this project was.)

What Beyoncé managed to pull off was a statement about America and Americanness, as relevant a topic as ever. She performed tracks from her first country album in the heart of Texas during a football game, the sport of America. She proudly and confidently asserted her right not only to be “there” – in the genre, in the place – but also how essential and, really, how fundamental Black Americans are to these hallowed American cultural institutions. At the same time, it was an interrogation of American iconography and myths. 

We were surprised that people would be critical or dismissive of what was clearly an impeccable performance, but they were. Even in the normally sedate New York Times comment section. Guess she hit a nerve.

As we slowly ease into the new year, we’re catching up on unfun things, too. You know: paperwork, house stuff, and doctor appointments. Thankfully, we have a helpful guide (below) to get us started.

PS: If you’re also thinking about getting up-to-date on vaccines, check out our reported features on shingles and HPV.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

As you enter your mid to late 30s, you embark on a new chapter of preventative healthcare. Up until now, your annual appointments were likely fairly straightforward: physical, gyno exam, and dental checkups — done. Midlife is a new opportunity to take charge of your well-being. But it can also spur questions like: How often should I see my gynecologist? When — and how frequently — is it appropriate to have specific screenings, like a colonoscopy or mammogram? When do I need to bring up perimenopause with a provider?

Women’s health specialist Melissa Loseke, D.O., medical advisor for Joi Women’s Wellness, points out that women in their mid-30s and beyond are dealing with hormonal shifts and life stressors — from intense professional lives to potentially raising little kids and dealing with aging parents — that can impact their physical and mental health. “Being in tune with your body and listening to it becomes crucial,” she notes, adding that you’re your own best advocate when seeking thorough healthcare. 

While the appointments and screenings you should make will depend on your individual health and family history, there are general guidelines to keep in mind. Here, the five medical must-dos experts recommend from 35 on. 

1. Pap tests 

Annual gynecologist visits are still encouraged, says Dr. Malone, because there is a lot you might want to cover with your doctor, such as:

• STI screening and counseling

• General health counseling

• Breast cancer screening

• Contraception counseling

• A routine pelvic exam, which checks for abnormal discharge as well as polyps, ovarian cysts/masses, and fibroids

Recommendations for cervical cancer screening have changed, points out Sharon D. Malone, M.D., FACOG, and chief medical officer of Alloy, a telehealth company focused on menopause treatment. Since 2013, annual Pap tests are no longer routinely recommended because, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), researchers found that yearly screenings can be associated with unnecessary follow-up tests. 

If you’re in your 20s, ACOG recommends getting a Pap, which screens for HPV (which can be a precursor to cervical cancer) every three years. From 30 to 65, you have three options:

• A Pap test and an HPV test (co-testing) every five years, recommended if you have multiple sexual partners or a history of abnormal Pap smears

• A Pap test alone every three years

• HPV testing alone every five years

If you’re over 65, have a conversation with your gynecologist to determine if continued screening is necessary, says Dr. Loseke. 

The reality is that most patients aren’t comfortable with testing every five years, given that, for decades, women have been told that they need annual Paps, says Dr. Malone. The solution: “Most doctors screen every three years with or without HPV co-testing,” she says. You still might be a candidate for annual screening if you have other risk factors (like a history of cervical cancer, HIV, or a weakened immune system).

Dr. Malone also recommends discussing perimenopause with your gynecologist around age 35. “Keep a menstrual diary as well as a list of any symptoms you may be having,” she advises. “You should know how old your mother or older siblings, if you have them, were when they went through menopause. Educate yourself about the signs of perimenopause, and ask questions.” 

Added to one glass of water per day, a scoop of this green powder gives you an organic greens blend for added nutrition (including spirulina and chlorella); a mushroom complex for immunity; and adaptogens, vitamins, and minerals for energy and stress support. We love how it amps up our daily nutrients, covers the bases when it comes to vitamin intake, and is formulated for easy digestion. Try it here, and get up to 40 percent off, with the code Gloria. #partner

TO STREAM If you are after a mystery with some silly twists that you may or may not see coming a mile away, Missing You (out now on Netflix) is just the thing. A detective whose fiancé disappeared 11 years ago is shocked to see him pop up on a dating app; her subsequent investigation digs up a lot of secrets from her past. 

TO TRY 2025 will be the year we trade time spent on social media for time spent learning a new language with this language-learning app. It makes it easy and fun — they have award-winning lessons as well as games to help you stick with it. As a bonus: Gloria readers can use this link to get up to 67 percent off. #partner

TO LISTEN We just started listening to Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud, which is one of the most gentle conversational podcasts we’ve experienced in recent memory. Freud, who is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, sits down with fashion-y people to talk about what they like to wear and why. Her primo guest list includes Kim Gordon, Zadie Smith, Kate Moss, and Rick Owens.

Laughed the entire way through this nightmare story about rats in toilets. • Seniors are asking for studen loan forgiveness, too. • Love this analysis of Yacht Rock and Luther Vandross. • On Y2K, 25 years later: “All people could do was hope the nerds would fix it.” • This extreme body makeover story is both fascinating and horrifying.

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