Slow Living for Women Over 40: What It Looks Like When You’re Starting Over
“Slow living” sounds lovely…
Until you’re midlife, burned out, and trying to rebuild a life from the ashes of what used to be.
You’re not sipping tea in a linen dress by the sea.
You’re juggling grief, career changes, hormone shifts, caregiving, and a quiet but constant question: Is this all there is?
Here’s the truth no one’s putting on Pinterest:
Most slow living advice isn’t made for women like you.
It’s either too idealistic to be useful—or so fluffy you want to scream.
This post is different.
We’re going to unpack what slow living really means when you’re starting over, over 40, and completely done with chasing systems that never worked for you anyway.
So… What Is Slow Living, Really?
Let’s start here:
Slow living isn’t about giving up.
It’s not about laziness, avoidance, or throwing in the towel.
It’s about doing the right things—at a pace and rhythm that’s actually sustainable.
It’s about making decisions from your intuition, not your conditioning.
It’s:
Taking rest before burnout demands it
Saying no without the two-paragraph explanation
Building a life that doesn’t need to be posted to feel valid
Slow living is what happens when you finally decide that “busy” isn’t a badge of honor anymore.
Why Slow Living Is Different in Midlife
Most of us weren’t taught how to live slowly.
We were taught how to produce. Prove. Perform.
We were told that exhaustion was noble, achievement was currency, and rest was suspicious.
So when you hit a point in your life—whether it's career disillusionment, empty nesting, divorce, grief, or that silent internal nudge—you’re not just questioning your schedule.
You’re questioning your self.
And that’s why slow living in midlife isn’t a trend.
It’s a reclamation.
It’s saying: “I get to do life differently now. And I don’t need anyone’s permission.”
What Slow Living Actually Looks Like (for Real Women in Midlife)
Let’s ditch the aesthetic nonsense. Here’s what slow living looks like in real life:
Declining the meeting that could’ve been an email—without guilt
Taking a walk instead of answering every notification
Choosing work that energizes you over work that just pays the bills
Designing your day based on your energy, not your to-do list
Letting go of “shoulds” that no longer make sense
Sleeping in because your body asked you to
Making decisions from calm, not chaos
None of this has to be big or flashy.
In fact, the best parts usually aren’t.
Want help starting?
Try the free 7-Day Slow Living Challenge. It’s a gentle, no-pressure way to reconnect with what you actually want—and start living from that place.
What Makes This Kind of Slow Living Work
This isn’t about manifesting on a vision board and waiting for your life to change.
This is about:
Small shifts, made consistently
Support that meets you where you are
Tools and reflection that ground you in your own clarity
I know it works—because I’ve lived it.
I went from a high-level career (and a life-threatening illness brought on by burnout) to a business that supports my energy, my values, and my health.
Not because I gave up.
Because I decided to opt out—and start over on my own terms.
That’s also why I created The Opt-Out Club—a slow-living membership for women who are done with hustle, and ready for something real.
Inside, you’ll get:
Monthly “Shifts” that support your inner and outer transformation
A private podcast for gentle guidance on the go
Personal feedback from me—so you never feel like you’re doing it alone
A growing vault of tools, prompts, and support for your journey
Final Thoughts (and a Gentle Nudge)
If you’ve been craving something quieter, softer, or slower…
If you’ve been wondering whether you’re “allowed” to reimagine your life…
Let this be your permission slip.
Slow living in midlife isn’t indulgent.
It’s necessary.
It’s revolutionary.
And it’s yours for the taking.
💛 Start with the 7-Day Slow Living Challenge—or if you’re ready for more, come join us in The Opt-Out Club.
Because this isn’t the end of your story.
It’s the beginning of one that finally makes sense.
