Midlife… It’s A LOT.

First of all… thank you for all the birthday messages yesterday! 🎉❤️

I turned 54, and as you may have read in the quick note I sent, I decided to fully embrace the day.

I played tennis.
Spent time with friends.
Had dinner with family.
Ignored my computer, emails and editing.
And reminded myself that sometimes other things can wait.

Which is ironic because this week’s podcast episode is literally about putting yourself first, especially in midlife…

And my life feels like A LOT right now.

It’s full blown May-cember, over here (when May feels even more chaotic than December) and my fellow Moms out there know that it’s not only BUSY… it’s often filled with really emotional events and transitions.

For me:

My daughter is graduating high school next week.
My son leaves tomorrow for a summer internship in Boston.
I’m growing my coaching business… and we recently lost our dog.

My life is literally changing right in front of me while I’m simultaneously trying to remember where I left my phone and wondering if my hip has always popped like this when I try to stand up?

And I know so many of you are feeling the same… Incredibly grateful… while also feeling overwhelmed, emotional and exhausted.

And that’s exactly why I wanted to have this conversation with my guest this week, Kristin Quackenbush - founder of Me First Club - a growing community of midlife women centered around the idea that prioritizing yourself is not selfish.

When we’re juggling aging parents, evolving marriages, shifting identities, kids leaving, hormones, friendships, work and exhaustion, it’s hard not to completely lose ourselves in the middle of all of it.

So Kristin and I sat down and talked about:
• why midlife can feel so emotionally heavy
• why so many women are feeling a little lost in this stage
• confidence and identity shifts
• learning to prioritize yourself without feeling guilty about it
• and how to prioritize yourself while protecting your relationships

You can watch on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify using these links:

It was a great conversation, and I hope you’ll give it a watch or listen.

And in the meantime, I will leave you with a few reminders if midlife currently feels like it’s taking a toll on you:

• You are allowed to rest.

• You are allowed to change.

• You are allowed to outgrow versions of yourself.

• You are allowed to need support.

• You do not have to hold everything perfectly together all the time.

• And you certainly don’t have to pretend you are.

And here are few things helping keep me sane lately:

• trying to move my body every day - even 15-20 minutes is enough

• saying YES to things that feel fun - we need it for balance

• spending time with people who make me laugh and fill me up

• letting some things be “good enough” - no perfectionism allowed

• and remembering that this is just a season, and it’s temporary - even when it feels overwhelming

And maybe most importantly…

Asking myself What do I want? or What do I need? Because prioritizing myself isn’t selfish - it’s essential. (One of my favorite Kristin phrases.)

And maybe that’s the real work of midlife… learning how to love and care for ourselves with the same energy, attention, and compassion we give to everyone else.

With love and belief in you,

P.S. Don’t forget to share this newsletter with your partner and your friends, and they can sign up to receive it themselves HERE. And if you want additional relationship support, check out these resources:

• Download my free guide: 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today

• Grab a copy of the new Couples Gratitude Journal (it’s the easiest daily reset you’ll ever try - just one minute a day!)

• Explore other free resources and learn how to work with me at jenfunkcoaching.com.

Jen Funk, CPC
Certified Professional Life & Relationship Coach
Helping people create deeply connected, fulfilling relationships.
www.jenfunkcoaching.com