Rewrite the Rules Stage of Life

My weeks don’t look like they used to. I’m embracing this rewrite-the-rules stage of life. Upon review, the constant scheduling, pressed commitments, and hurry are excused. Replaced by gentle refinement, grace, and flexibility. When was the last time you refreshed the rules you set for yourself?

Rewriting doesn’t mean walking away from your dreams, goals, or relationships. It means showing up in a true, genuine light, better because you remove or tweak what no longer resonates. You’re free to show up in all the ways that matter to you. 

Below, I’m sharing nine areas to reassess and ask yourself, what works now? Give yourself permission. You may be excited to recraft, edit, or delete a few old routines and replace them with a new energy and vision.

1. Does work need to be 9am-5pm? Are you still squeezing all the appointments and errands into your lunch hour, out of habit? As long as the work gets done, the “when” is up to you. Half days, skip a day, work an evening, a weekend. Know which hours are the most productive and creative for you, and start from there. You’re allowed to have seasons of work too. Weave the work you love around a life that fulfills you (not the other way around). 

2. All the fabulous, none of the feel bad. Have you picked at least one spirit-free beverage to expand your options? The variety and quality of spirit-free drinks make this choice appealing. You can enjoy and celebrate, not worry about the drive home, and be clear-headed and creative tomorrow. Cheers to that! 

3. The notion of naps. The quicker picker-upper. Let go of the power-through mentality, and re-energize with twenty minutes of rest. (Or, see #6 below.)

4. Reinvent recess. Say yes to a mid-day ice cream with sprinkles, where you spin the cone at Olympic speed to keep it from melting down your arm - loving every lick. Insert your own favorite splurge or escape for a few minutes of fun! This mental break gets you out of the grind and back to fresh energy.  

5.  Friendships are rarely forever. I talk with so many who echo this sentiment. It’s hard, it’s normal, and it’s okay. You can honor their place in your past and move forward with new possibilities. 

6. Movement brings the magic. Skip one scroll session and walk outside for 15 minutes instead. Science tells us that motion, exercise, is the key to our health and happiness. Your brain loves a walk, to be outside in nature. How can you weave motion into your day? 

7. Savor the solocation. Are you carving out time alone to reflect and refine who you want to be and the direction you’re going? My hope is that you set aside at least one full day, or more. This time is precious, and only in the calm can you hear yourself clearly. 

8. Refinement is the royal treatment. Make a list of things to stop doing. We are the queens of adding more. What do you need to quit doing today?

9. Self-care isn’t indulgence; it’s sustainable living. Do you ask your body to show up above and beyond the norm? Working long hours, caring for others with little sleep, expecting mental sharpness without proper nutrition, or wondering why you feel bad exercising when you haven’t moved regularly in weeks. (No judgment here, I’ve done them all.) Take care of your body. Either schedule appointments or care for yourself at home with beautiful music, a lovely candle, and a relaxing bath. I’ve made it a priority to support my body so she’s here for my next best self. Decide to age powerfully. What’s one thing you can do to show yourself that rest and rejuvenation are the new plan? This is one rule worth having.

   If someone you know needs a refresh and a note of inspiration amid their life changes, I invite you to send portable moments of beauty to encourage and uplift them.
   
   

When You're Standing at the Trail Head

Every meaningful journey begins at the same place: standing still long enough to decide to move.

For a moment, we survey the scene, consider our options, evaluate risk. We ask if this is something we genuinely want to do. Then, a decision happens. After all, we are women of action.

Let this be the month you stop admiring the life you want to live and start building it. You’ll still have concerns and see challenges that try to derail you, which is normal. When those moments arise, consider these insights to keep you moving.

Here’s what often shows up at a new beginning:

This photo of me was taken over ten years ago, in telluride, co. no doubt, i was thinking about where i was, and where I wanted to go next. It wasn’t long after this trip that red & rugged became a kernel of thought.

• Excitement mixed with uncertainty - part of choosing a new path is embracing the unknown. Lean into the excitement. Here’s what I know: when the mystery looms large, find evidence that you are capable. “I am capable” is a believable, calming trait that I find most people will adopt. Try it on. 

• Comparing your beginning to someone else's middle - when all the influencers and “everyone” (usually exaggerated) is doing “better” by your assessment - ask yourself: Are they in their first month, an initial launch year, or am I looking at their results after a decade of consistent effort? Usually, it’s the latter, which isn’t helpful to measure against. 

• Waiting until you feel completely ready - there’s no such thing, period. You’ll never have full, complete data on every aspect. When you’re not ready, be willing. 

• Forgetting that confidence grows while moving, not before - Confidence is in the doing, not the waiting (or reading, or researching). 

Use these four practical actions to get you started:

• Choose one next step instead of planning twenty - you don’t need to know the next five years to start. Too many things shift in year one; you’ll revise and tweak as you learn. 

• Celebrate movement rather than perfection - done is better than perfect. Be proud that you are trying something new, different, and willing to learn and grow. Most people never leave the comfort of their current situation (even when it’s miserable); they’re too afraid of change. You’ll have lots of good stories to share around the campfire. 

• Let curiosity become your compass - ask yourself, what if this is possible? What would success look like for me? How can I make this work? 

• Trust that clarity often arrives after you begin - just like confidence, most things become clear in the movement. Some elements you just can’t forecast or imagine until you start. 

A reminder: Every path you've admired was once someone else’s scary first step. 

They didn’t have all the answers either. Like you, they decided to move with courage and confidence - as a capable problem solver. 

Sunset What Isn't Working

There’s something about this season that speaks truth to growth and change.

Nature gives us all the tips on vibrant transitions if we pay attention.

What was once the norm evolves. And, not everything makes it through winter.

What this looks like is different for all of us. For me, I’ve let go of old eating habits, of foods that happened out of boredom, not nourishment. That habit wasn’t in line with my goal of aging powerfully. And I feel better for it. I let go of clutter, one room at a time. (This one will take a bit longer, perhaps you can relate?!) I love the result thus far - happier, lighter, more ease. I’m meeting with friends and let go of the urge to sacrifice play for more work. Connection is important to me, and catching up with friends is good for my soul.

It’s a gentle awareness of what needs to happen next.

And awareness is what allows savvy women to make their next move.

If you’re building a business in this chapter of life, you don’t have the time - or interest - for what doesn’t work. For what isn’t meaningful or genuine. You’re not here to manage drama, overextend yourself, or carry other people’s opinions.

You’re here to bloom. Which means you need to sunset a few things.

Not everything needs to come with you in this next chapter.

What can you sunset today?

1. Drama disguised as “how things are.” The client who drains you. The friend who subtly undercuts your ambition. The endless loop of second-guessing decisions.

You’re not obligated to keep doing what exhausts you.

2. Habits that once made sense - but don’t now.

Overworking. Undercharging. Saying yes when your gut says no.

It’s okay to reflect on an opportunity before you answer. Hit pause and check in to see if this idea makes sense. If not, decline it. Trust that the right opportunity is coming.

Remember, this is your chapter to define.

3. The belief that your age is a limitation. Here’s the truth: you don’t need to wait longer and learn more. You’re informed now. You bring experience, knowledge, a

willingness to learn - and a much lower tolerance for nonsense.

That’s not a liability. That’s an asset.

Instead of overhauling everything, try this:

Be aware. Notice where you feel heavy, frustrated, and what is draining you.

Be specific. Name it.

• Are you doing so much for others that you have no time for yourself? Your decisions show others how to treat you, set an example, and demonstrate that your priorities matter.

• Do you have a customer who keeps shifting expectations, taking more time, overstepping?

• Are you working all day and evenings? You’ve allowed no time for rest, a refresh, you’ve made no space for creative, pure fun?

  
  Sunset it.

  No need to make a scene or a big announcement.

• Establish boundaries.

• Create space in your day.

• Shorten the meeting.

• Say, “I appreciate the suggestion.” Instead of yes.

• Raise the price.

• Or simply….opt out.

A Few Powerful Thoughts to Keep in Mind

Letting go isn’t about becoming someone new or reinventing yourself.

It’s about becoming a more genuine you - minus the baggage.

And here’s what you need to know: The women who thrive in this season aren’t the ones doing more. They’re the ones carrying less.

This week, don’t focus only on what you’re growing, building.

Look at what needs to go.

Because something fabulous is trying to rise - and it needs room.

Permission to Simplify

I heard a woman tell her friend that she was now in her late sixties and realized she didn’t want to work until 5 o’clock every day. It was a routine she had always done, and she decided to change it. When was the last time you took a moment to revisit your routine? This woman shared that she now works fewer days, and less hours. “I’ve earned it!” she declared.

Most of us entering what I fondly call the “seasoned and savvy” years were raised in an era of rigid job environments. Working from home wasn’t a real thing yet, and personal appointments? All squeezed into your lunch hour or after work. Sound familiar? I’ve caught myself in this pattern many times. It’s no wonder I hear so many women looking for a refresh.

Today, grant yourself permission to simplify. Instead of racing into the next project, take a moment to reset.

Notice how often your mind tries to turn back to old, ingrained work habits. While there is always more to do as a business owner, there is also more time than we tell ourselves. Watch how often your brain suggests that more work and more hours are the only answer.

This time, question your thinking. Redirect with one simple question: How can I make this easy? Your answers might surprise you. You can continue to learn and grow without the stress and pressure. Choose to simplify.

Here are examples of how to invite more ease into your plan:

• Can you expand your timeline by a day, a week, or a month? Not from the energy of procrastination or fear, but from a place of completing the details with a fresh and rested perspective.

• Can you launch your project in two stages instead of finishing everything upfront? This allows you to keep moving forward with flexibility.

• Who can help you? It takes a village.

• Do you need to fully bake every step in your plan? Or, can you begin with solid first steps and outline the rest? Tweak and update as you go.

As you explore ways to simplify, avoid letting your mind turn to thoughts of shutting the whole idea down or giving up. That’s not the point of a refresh. When you find yourself white-knuckling, limiting your creativity, or struggling to enjoy the flow of ideas, take a step back.

Adjusting your plan comes with the confidence of having a strong, centered foundation. It’s what I call dialing into your brilliance. Once you’ve dialed in to who you’re becoming and where you’re headed, every decision becomes much easier.