The Midlife Shift: A Good Kind of Pandemic

There’s a change happening among successful, professional women in their mid-life years. (Okay, maybe it’s a midlife crisis… but it’s more than just that, I promise!) Call it a trend, a movement, or just a sign that we’re tired of burning the candle at both ends.

Here’s the deal: Sooooo many of my friends and colleagues are burned out. You can see it and feel it. Physically, emotionally, and existentially.

We’re juggling high-powered careers, managing homes, families, and (let's be real) everyone’s expectations. The world embraced women in the workforce, but it didn’t change the expectation that we do it all. Now we’re just doing two jobs instead of one, right?

Research shows that women experience higher levels of stress compared to men, and burnout is at an all-time high. A study by the American Psychological Association found that women in their 40s and 50s report feeling the greatest levels of chronic stress, with many juggling both career and home life at the same time. It’s no wonder that the body and mind are rebelling.

When I quit my job, I thought, “How will I fill all this time?!” Spoiler alert: I’m still busy AF - even without running a business and I've spent a lot of time thinking, "how did we do all of that year after year?"No wonder we’re burned out.

And it's not just a feeling; chronic stress impacts our health. It can lead to increased cortisol levels, which are linked to anxiety, sleep problems, inflammation, and weight gain. You know, just a few of the lovely side effects of doing it all.

But here’s the thing—I’m doing my thing, and more and more women are joining in. It’s spreading like wildfire. Two of my close friends have already left their jobs to start their own ventures, and guess what? They’re sleeping better and smiling more. It’s a movement.

I’m not here to tell you what to do or that you should quit your job. What I am here to do is help redefine what success looks like. I promise, it’s not always the Chief HR Officer role or that vacation house in Spain. And honestly? It’s not about glorifying burnout and neglecting your health just to show how hard you’re working. You don’t have to bake cookies for school before 7 am, get the kids ready, hustle for 10 hours at work, manage dinner, and run bedtime routines to be a superhero. You already are one. 

Your body and mind deserve rest, and putting yourself first isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for longevity. So this summer, I’m shouting from the rooftops: Prioritize your happiness. Whatever that looks like. Whether it’s taking a vacation, reading a book in a hammock in Brazil, quitting your job, or just stopping to notice how many shades of green are in that tree outside your window.

Do it. Because at the end of the day, we don’t get out of here alive. And as we said back in 2000—YOLO.

So, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the women around you doing it all, and blaze the trail to do what we want to do. Because damn it, we’ve earned it. Also, a big shout-out to the partners who are championing this movement. We see you, and we appreciate your never-ending support." (Special wink to my husband, who embraces every wacky, stress-inducing project I take on—I'm still working on my chill.)

Love, Vanessa

xxx