Live Your Best Midlife

We finally made it to Atlanta for a long-overdue visit with our daughter, and we packed a lot into one weekend! From seeing Turnpike Troubadours in concert to exploring the Atlanta BeltLine, eating some great food, and spending time together, it was exactly the kind of weekend I love.

Back home, we're almost halfway through my October Declutter Challenge, and I'm sharing how it's going so far. Who knew tackling all those little projects we've been putting off could feel so satisfying?

And speaking of trying new things, I've been learning to play mahjong! I'll fill you in on that adventure, along with a few other things happening in my world lately.

This episode is a little bit of everything: travel, family, new hobbies, getting organized, and all the fun (and chaos!) that comes with this season of life.

Grab your coffee, head out for a walk, or listen while you're tackling a little clutter of your own. Let's catch up!

You can still join my October Declutter challenge: https://jillblewis.myflodesk.com/declutter

Want more information on my FASTer Way to Fat Loss membership? Click here: https://www.fasterway.com?aid=jillblewis

I’m back from Europe, and we have a LOT to talk about.

In this episode, I’m recapping our trip through Vienna, Budapest, and Munich, including the places we loved, the food I’m still thinking about, a few things that surprised me, and yes… our Oktoberfest experience.

We started in beautiful Vienna, traveled to Budapest aboard the Majestic Imperator train, and finished the trip in Munich just in time for Oktoberfest. Each city was completely different, and I definitely came home with some favorites.

I’m sharing what we did, where we ate, what was actually worth it, what I’d do differently next time, and some of those little travel moments you can never really plan for. And if you listened to my recent episode about how I plan our trips, you’ll get to hear how some of those plans actually played out!

You can also read the details here: https://www.jilllewisliving.com/blog

Then we’re switching gears because tomorrow is October 1, and I’m ready for a little reset at home.

I created Declutter October, a FREE 31-day challenge where we’ll tackle one small area of our homes every day throughout October. No spending an entire Saturday cleaning out your house. No giant overwhelming projects. Just one manageable thing each day.

After being gone so much lately, I am more than ready to clear out some of the stuff we’ve accumulated and head into the last few months of the year feeling a little lighter and more organized. You can join my free October Declutter Challenge here: https://jillblewis.myflodesk.com/declutter

If your closets, drawers, bathroom cabinets, kitchen or random junk spaces have been quietly getting out of control, come do this with me.

One small project a day. By Halloween, we’re going to have a whole lot less STUFF. 🙌

Last year, I did an episode about why women in midlife need to learn how to use AI. And I still believe that.

But a year later, I'm also thinking...hang on a minute. 😂

My kids recently introduced me to the term “AI slop,” and now I can't stop seeing it. The identical inspirational posters. The social media captions that sound nothing like the person posting them. The AI-generated photos that barely resemble the actual person.

AI is an incredible tool, and I use it all the time. But there's a big difference between using AI to make your life easier and letting it take over your voice, your judgment and even your face.

In this episode, I'm talking about some of the biggest AI mistakes I'm seeing right now, including why so much online content is starting to look and sound the same, why you should never automatically trust an AI answer just because it sounds confident, and why the AI-altered photos we're posting are getting a little...cringe. 😂

I'm also sharing some of my favorite ways I'm actually using AI in everyday life right now: planning travel, figuring out what to make for dinner, troubleshooting random problems around the house, researching purchases, understanding things I know absolutely nothing about, and even using AI as a sounding board when I'm trying to make a decision.

I still think women our age should embrace this technology. But maybe the conversation has changed.

It's no longer just about learning how to use AI.

It's about learning how to use it well without losing the parts of ourselves that make us human.

And for the love of God...can we cool it with the AI posters? 😂

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If you travel enough, you learn a few things the easy way...and quite a few the hard way.

With another international trip to Vienna and Budapest coming up, I’ve been thinking about how differently I plan and travel now than I did years ago. I’ve overplanned itineraries, booked early-morning excursions after exhausting travel days, stayed at beautiful hotels in not-so-great locations, packed way too much, gotten lost in foreign train stations, dealt with lost luggage and definitely eaten a few disappointing vacation meals.

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 of the biggest travel lessons I’ve learned along the way and the things I do now to make our trips easier, less stressful and a whole lot more enjoyable.

I’m also sharing what I’ve learned about traveling with other people, including the importance of talking about budgets, building in time to split up, and accepting that not everyone wants to vacation at the same pace.

Plus, I’m sharing some of my travel-day non-negotiables, from AirTags and portable chargers to what always stays in my carry-on.

And maybe the most important lesson of all: something will probably go wrong. Sometimes those mishaps end up becoming the stories you remember most.

Whether you have an international vacation coming up, a girls’ trip on the calendar or just want your next getaway to go a little more smoothly, I hope there’s something in this episode you can use.

And if you have a friend you love traveling with, share this episode with them before your next trip!

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Today is my oldest son’s 29th birthday, and it has me thinking about just how much birthdays change when your kids grow up.

There was a time when their birthdays meant themed parties, cakes, presents, decorations and me doing everything I could to make the day feel special. I’m sharing some of my favorite birthday-party memories from those years, but I’m also talking about the part of parenting adult children that doesn’t get discussed nearly as much: letting go.

My son spent the weekend in Chicago with his girlfriend, who cooked for him, surprised him with a custom-made putter and made him feel incredibly special. I loved that for him. But it also made me realize that one of the transitions of motherhood is watching other people become an important part of your kids’ lives and learning that you don't always have to be the one creating the magic anymore.

And then there’s the fact that he’s 29. When I was 29, I was married with three kids! His life at 29 looks completely different from mine, which opens up a much bigger conversation about timelines, expectations and why our kids don't have to follow the same path we did.

In this episode, I’m talking about the birthday years I loved, what it feels like when you can’t be with your adult kids on their birthdays, learning when to give advice and when to stay quiet, and the thousand little ways we have to let go as our kids build lives of their own.

Because raising independent adults is exactly what we wanted to do.

It’s just that nobody tells you how weird it can feel when it actually works. ;)

And I have a question for you: How old is your oldest child right now, and what were YOU doing at that exact age? I would love to hear your answer.

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California really did feel like three vacations in one.

In this episode, I’m recapping our 12-day California road trip through Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Napa Valley and Ventura County, including where we stayed, what we ate, the golf, wine tastings, our drive down the California coast and the experiences that made this trip so special.

We started in Monterey and Carmel before spending four nights at The Lodge at Pebble Beach. I’m sharing what it was like to play The Hay, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach, why having a caddie added so much to the experience, our favorite restaurants, and whether I think Pebble Beach is worth visiting even if golf isn’t the main reason for your trip.

From there, we headed to Napa Valley for private wine tastings, incredible food and a stay at the charming Harvest Inn. It had been 11 years since our last Napa trip, so I’m also sharing what has changed, what surprised me and why Napa now requires a little more planning than it used to.

Then we hit the road for Southern California, stopping in San Luis Obispo before finishing our trip in Ventura and Oxnard, where we had a very special reason for visiting: meeting our oldest son’s girlfriend’s family.

I’m also talking about something I’m passionate about: enjoying vacation without feeling like you have to completely abandon the habits that make you feel good. There was plenty of wine and amazing food on this trip, but there were also workouts, lots of walking and plenty of movement. That balance is what works for me.

If you’re planning a California road trip, a Pebble Beach golf trip, a Napa Valley getaway or simply love hearing about travel, food, wine and some of the unexpected moments along the way, this episode is for you.

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In today's episode, I'm sharing a few life updates, including a recent family health scare that taught us just how important sodium is as we age.

I also celebrate a personal milestone—I finally broke 90 on the golf course! Then I wrap things up by sharing the five simple foods that are always in my kitchen and help make healthy eating easier.

In this episode:

• Why low sodium can be serious, especially in older adults
• My journey to breaking 90 in golf
• The power of consistency
• My top 5 kitchen staples for simple, healthy meals

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In this episode, I’m catching you up on a little bit of everything happening lately.

First, I’m recapping my girls golf trip to Pinehurst, North Carolina. I’m sharing what the trip was like, what stood out, and why Pinehurst is such a fun destination for a golf getaway with friends. If you want more of the details, I’ll link my full Pinehurst blog post here: https://www.jilllewisliving.com/blog

I’m also talking about our Fourth of July weekend because for the first time ever, all three of our kids are coming home at the same time WITH their significant others. It feels like such a fun and full-circle moment in this season of life, and I’m sharing a little of what that’s like as a mom when your house fills back up in a very different way than it used to.

And then I’m diving into something that’s been on my mind lately: social media stress. I’m talking about how social media can quietly start creating anxiety and mental clutter if we’re not careful, and how I’ve been trying to be more intentional about what I consume. I’m sharing how I’m “training my algorithm” to give me more of what inspires me, makes me laugh, teaches me something, or simply makes me feel better — and less of what leaves me feeling drained, irritated, or not enough.

As always, thank you for being here! If you enjoy this show I would so appreciate you giving it a rating and a short review!

We're doing something a little different today. I'm catching you up on life lately, sharing some thoughts on cancel culture and how we talk about the past, and then we're going deep on something that started as a funny Instagram account and turned into a genuine rabbit hole.

Have you seen the Goldcrown Brothers on Instagram? Three brothers who roast songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that got massive radio play but, looking back, are wildly inappropriate. I went down a research rabbit hole on these songs and what I found is even more interesting than the songs themselves: some artists apologized, some retired their own songs from live performance, and some just shrugged and said "it was the 80s."

And it's not just the music. We're talking the whole era. Things our kids look at now and genuinely cannot believe were just... normal.

Buckle up. This one is equal parts eye-opening, hilarious, and "I cannot believe we all just sang along to that.

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Learn more about my fitness and nutrition program for midlife women here: https://jillblewis.myflodesk.com/interest

Who Are You When You're No Longer Needed Every Day?

Lately, I've been thinking about something that I don't hear discussed very often.

For years, my life revolved around being needed. My kids needed rides, help, advice, support, and a million other things. My days were full, my schedule was packed, and there was rarely a quiet moment to myself.

Then, little by little, things changed.

The kids grew up. The house got quieter. The calendar looked different. And I found myself with something I hadn't had much of in decades: space.

In this episode, I'm talking about a side of midlife that I think many of us experience but don't always talk about. What happens when you're no longer needed in the same way you once were? Why can having more freedom feel both wonderful and uncomfortable at the same time? And how do we begin to create a meaningful next chapter when so much of our identity has been wrapped up in taking care of other people?

This is a conversation about empty nest life, retirement, identity, purpose, and learning to embrace a season that offers more freedom and more possibilities than ever before.

In this episode, I share:

• Why having more time and freedom can sometimes feel surprisingly uncomfortable

• The connection between being needed and how we see ourselves

• Why it's possible to love this season of life and still miss parts of the past

• My thoughts on retirement, empty nest life, and navigating major transitions

• Why I think we should be careful about rushing to fill every open space on our calendars

• The importance of leaving room to think, reflect, and discover what we truly want

• How podcasts, social media, and constant busyness can sometimes keep us from hearing our own thoughts

• The opportunities that can emerge when we stop filling every quiet moment

• Why I believe an empty nest doesn't have to mean an empty life

I don't have all the answers, but I do know this: many of us spent years preparing financially for this stage of life, but very few of us prepared emotionally for it.

If you've ever found yourself wondering what comes next, I think you'll relate to this conversation.

If you would like more information about my FASTer Way Coaching program check it out here: https://jillblewis.myflodesk.com/interest

Follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jillblewis