Month: September 2025

Ever notice how in the summer you feel like a wellness rock star? You’re walking after dinner because the sun’s still out. You’re eating peaches that drip down your chin, tossing together big salads that actually taste good, and thinking, “Finally. I’ve cracked the code.”

And then – bam! – it’s October.

The sun sets at 5:30. The thought of eating salad feels like punishment, and all you want is bread, cheese, and something warm in a bowl. Suddenly, those “healthy habits” you were so proud of don’t just slip… they take a nosedive.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t about willpower, laziness, or being “bad at sticking with things.” This is changing habits in midlife colliding with the reality of motivation and seasons. Your body, your energy, even your cravings – they’re seasonal.

The real problem is that no one ever taught us to expect it. So when the shift happens, we panic, blame ourselves, and quit.

But if you start to notice the cyclical pattern of your health – the way your habits rise and fall with the weather – you can plan for it. And when you plan for it, suddenly, it’s not a mystery anymore. You’re not “failing.” You’re just experiencing the same seasonal dip you can now predict – and outsmart.

Want a deeper dive? Listen to my podcast Episode 238: Changing Habits and Changing Seasons.

Habits Aren’t Broken – They’re Seasonal

When I first moved from Austin to Mexico, I completely lost track of time. Not metaphorically – literally. In December, I was still wearing shorts. In January, I was eating watermelon. The only socks I owned were for exercising.

It sounds dreamy (and it is), but it also messed with me. Because back in Austin, my seasonal health habits kept me on track without me realizing it. Summer was for big salads and grilled chicken. When the air turned crisp, I craved chili, roasted veggies, and casseroles that fogged up the kitchen windows.

It wasn’t just food, either. In warm months, I walked everywhere, almost without thinking. In colder months, I hibernated indoors, curled up with a blanket and Netflix. My energy shifted. My sleep shifted. Even my mood shifted.

And here’s what clicked: my habits weren’t random or fragile – they were seasonal changes in appetite, energy, and behavior.

If you’re a woman in midlife, you already know your body has its own rhythms. Hormones, energy, cravings, even sleep… they ebb and flow. Yet we’re told to treat every day, every season, like it should feel the same.

But if you find that there are times when you’re motivated and others when you’re not, that’s totally normal. You’re not failing. You’re human. And your health – especially midlife women’s health – is meant to bend and flex with the seasons.

The Real Culprit: Surprise Resistance

Here’s the trap most of us fall into: when things are going well, we assume it’ll always feel that way. If I’m motivated today, I think tomorrow-me will wake up equally jazzed to hit the gym, eat the salad, and skip the wine. But after observing my own behavior for a few years now, tomorrow-me usually wants mashed potatoes and Netflix.

That dip in energy – that craving for carbs when the air turns cold – it’s not proof you’re unable to keep the momentum going. It’s just resistance showing up right on schedule.

This is where the Think–Feel–Act cycle matters. Every action (or inaction) starts with a thought. You think, “It’s too cold to walk,” which makes you feel tired or blah. And so – you act. You skip the walk and eat crackers out of the sleeve. Not because you lack discipline, but because the thought created the feeling, which drove the action.

The good news is that resistance is predictable. The thought will show up. The feeling will show up. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’re normal.

This is why habit change without willpower is possible. You don’t need to white-knuckle it. You need to expect the dip. When you plan for it, those “I don’t feel like it” moments stop being landmines. They’re just mile markers on the road.

And suddenly, you start to see why habits don’t stick – and how to build ones that actually can. Even when emotional eating and seasons collide.

Reframe and Empower: Working with Seasons

One of my clients in the Midwest is a die-hard runner. In the summer, she’s outside logging long miles, sun on her shoulders, trails under her feet. But when winter hits? Snow, ice, and wind turn up that make your eyes water just walking to the car.

Old her would’ve felt like a failure when those long runs disappeared. New her? She pivots. She swaps outdoor runs for treadmill sprints and adds hot yoga classes to stay warm and flexible. Same routine, different execution. That’s not weakness. That’s resilience and flexibility.

The same goes for food. Healthy eating by season isn’t about deprivation – it’s about listening to your body. No one really wants a cold salad when it’s 30 degrees and sleeting. In winter, soups, stews, and roasted vegetables are nourishing and comforting. In summer, it’s fresh fruit, lighter meals, and big bowls of greens. When you plan meals by the weather, you’re not “falling off track” – you’re respecting what your body actually needs.

This is what I mean by healthy routines. It’s not about rigid rules. It’s about building flexibility and adaptability that flex with real life. When you adapt, you stay consistent. And when you stay consistent, you get results.

Because true exercise for midlife women isn’t about punishing yourself into shape. And real holistic midlife health isn’t about pretending your energy, appetite, or motivation will never change. It’s about expecting the shifts, and planning for them – so you stop quitting when the seasons shift and do what seasons do.

Practical Tips: How to Make Habits Last Year-Round

So how do you actually keep your habits going when the seasons (and your cravings) flip on you? Here are a few strategies that work for me and my clients:

Save Recipes Seasonally

Create folders (digital or old-school binder – I used to use colored index cards) for summer, spring, fall, and winter meals. That way, when July hits, you’re not staring at your fridge wondering, What the heck did I eat last year when it was hot? And when it’s October, you won’t be forcing yourself to chug down a green smoothie when your body’s screaming for warm.

Have Indoor and Outdoor Options

If your only workout plan is “walk outside,” you’re one rainstorm away from quitting. Instead, set up flexible choices: yoga or bodyweight circuits at home, treadmill or rowing machine indoors, walking or biking outdoors. Movement isn’t all-or-nothing – it’s a menu.

Expect Dips in Motivation

This is the big one. Don’t wait to be blindsided. Write it in your calendar: resistance will show up in October, February, and sometimes Tuesday. If you plan for it, you can pivot instead of quit.

This is what maintaining healthy habits actually looks like. It’s not about perfection – it’s about adaptability, seasonal health habits, and building healthy routines that bend with life instead of snapping in half.

Preparation beats shame every single time.

Your Health Is a Year-Round Relationship

You don’t struggle with consistency with your habits – they’re seasonal. Just like the weather shifts, so do your cravings, your energy, and your motivation. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human.

When you stop expecting yourself to be perfect every single day, and instead lean into healthy lifestyle changes that bend with real life, everything feels easier. Flexibility isn’t weakness – it’s the key to consistency.

Think of it this way: your health isn’t a summer fling. It’s a year-round relationship. And the more you plan for the ups and downs, the steadier and more peaceful it becomes. That’s what true holistic health in midlife looks like.

If you’d like simple tools to get started, grab my free 8 Basic Habits Guide. And if you want to go deeper, you can listen to Episode 238: Changing Habits and Changing Seasons for even more ways to make your habits stick – no matter the forecast.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are your habits seasonal? Have you noticed a shift now that summer is getting closer to its natural end? What foods are you craving these days?

What did the future king say?

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Retirement can feel both wonderful and disorienting – joyful one moment, restless the next. Here’s what those early months are like, and how you can begin shaping a daily rhythm that feels meaningful, connected, and truly yours.

The last thing I did before retiring from my career as a professor was deliver one final conference presentation. On the drive home, I felt a swirl of emotions – excitement about the freedom ahead, gratitude for my career, and worry about how I would fill my days. I felt a deep awareness that I was stepping into a brand-new chapter.

A few days later, I went back to campus with a box for the final office purge and a handful of thank-you notes. Writing those notes to my colleagues felt like an important step in letting go.

What I left behind was my “Damnit Doll,” a floppy little paisley figure I’d occasionally whack against my desk during frustrating moments. I left it for my successor – because she’ll probably need it – and I won’t. (The doll comes with instructions: whack, repeat as necessary.)

This article follows a series I wrote leading up to my retirement. In my own first months of retirement, here’s what I’m learning. If you’re just beginning your journey, I hope these reflections help you feel less alone and inspire you to shape a daily life that truly fits who you are now.

The Honeymoon Phase of Retirement

My honeymoon phase is alive and well. It is wonderful. No alarm clock, no meetings, no deadlines. I can linger over coffee, head to a yoga class, or say yes to a spontaneous afternoon tea with a friend.

This “retirement honeymoon” is real. It’s worth savoring.

Learning to Live Between Restlessness and Spaciousness

In my first months of retirement, I’ve noticed two feelings that seem opposite – but actually go hand in hand.

Sometimes there’s only so much relaxation I need. After a while, I crave more engagement – writing, creating, or diving deeper into my coaching craft. Rest is wonderful, but fulfillment also comes from challenge and contribution.

Other times, I’ve felt a different tug: a hesitation around spaciousness itself. I imagined doing art projects every afternoon or reading each day, but instead I defaulted to to-do lists and scheduling activities – anything to create structure. One woman I coach told me that when she wakes up and sees nothing on her calendar, it feels “terrifying.” I can totally relate. After so many years of living by a schedule, unstructured time can feel intimidating.

What I’m learning – and what I also hear from the women I coach – is that this is part of the acclimation process. We’ve been trained to stay busy, so resting can feel wrong. It takes practice to release those old expectations and give yourself permission to simply be.

Reinvention, Identity, and the Opportunity to Become

When you leave behind a long career, something big shifts. It can feel like a void – or like a wide-open space. Either way, it’s an opportunity.

Retirement offers you the chance to continue the process of becoming. That might mean reconnecting with who you were before expectations shaped you, or experimenting with new hobbies and friendships until you find what fits.

The women I coach often tell me this stage feels exciting but also disorienting. Who am I without my career? What do I actually want? These big questions often lead to new joy and clarity.

There is important work here – shedding what no longer serves you, especially other people’s expectations, and asking instead: Who am I now? Who do I want to be?

That’s why I created my free resource, Who Am I Now?  – a 10-minute identity reboot to help release outdated roles, reconnect with what lights you up, and design days that feel like you.

Connection Is Medicine

One of the sweetest discoveries in retirement is how much energy I have for connection. Now I can talk with my husband over coffee, meet a friend for dinner on a weeknight, and attend book club. Those moments – when we laugh, share stories, and cheer each other on – are medicine.

Connection isn’t extra in retirement; it’s foundational. If you’re feeling isolated, cultivate new and existing connections. You don’t need a packed social calendar – just a couple of anchors that make you feel truly known.

Becoming Your Own Validator

Without the built-in feedback loops of work – in my case, things like performance reviews, thank-you notes from students, or kudos on a project – you might quietly wonder, How do I feel worthy now?

Part of the emotional adjustment to retirement is learning to validate yourself. It’s about noticing what nourishes you and acknowledging it. Did your morning walk make you feel alive? Did you help a friend today? Did you try something new? Give yourself credit. You’re building a life, not chasing gold stars.

Designing Your Ideal Day

One of the most powerful practices I’ve discovered – for myself and with the women I coach – is designing your ideal day.

It starts with asking: How do I want to feel? Then explore what supports those feelings. How much social interaction do you want? How much movement? How much time for spaciousness? How much structure helps you feel grounded?

Sketching this out shows what matters – not the idealized version of retirement, but the daily rhythm that feels right now. Then, little by little, you can bring pieces of that ideal day into your life.

Permission to Be a Work in Progress

Retirement is a huge transition. Some days feel joyful. Others feel uncertain. Both are normal.

Just as I felt both excitement and fear on that drive home from my final presentation, you may feel a mix of gratitude, worry, and anticipation. The gift of retirement is learning to hold all of it – and still design a lifestyle that lights you up.

Ready to Explore Who You Are Now?

If some of this resonates – craving both rest and engagement, feeling unsure how to structure your days, or wondering how to redefine yourself now that work is behind you – you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why I created a free resource called Who Am I Now? A 10-Minute Identity Reboot. It’s a simple, thoughtful way to navigate identity shifts in retirement.

Download the Who Am I Now? guide here and begin exploring what’s possible for you.

You’ll also find other valuable resources on my website to help you navigate the emotional side of retirement with more clarity, purpose, and joy.

I’d Love to Hear from You:

What does your ideal retirement day include? What do you do when you wake up and see nothing on your calendar?