In this week’s episode, Laurie introduces you to the perfect gift to give yourself this year: a spot in the Gap Year. The Gap Year is the School of Midlife’s yearlong program for high-performing midlife women to figure out who they are, what they actually want, and what matters most in this season of life.

Claim your spot in the 2025 class before the doors close on December 20th!

If you’re looking to make 2025 your best year yet, it’s time for your Gap Year.

LINKS + MENTIONS:
The Gap Year

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In this special Friday episode of the School of Midlife podcast, I'm talking with Moya Dolsby, one of the members of the Founding Cohort for the Gap Year.

The Gap Year is the School of Midlife's 12-month experience-based group coaching program for high-performing midlife women. The yearlong course help women figure out who they are now, what they actually want, and what matters most to them in this season of life and beyond.

Doors to the 2025 Class are now open! This only happens twice a year, and the class roster will be final when the doors close at 11:59pm on December 20, 2024. You can learn more about the Gap Year and claim your spot in the 2025 Class at www.schoolofmidlife.com/gapyear.

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In this episode, Laurie is talking about how embracing imperfection can minimize some of the stress and burnout of the holidays. She's discussing the importance of giving yourself permission to have a "C+ Holiday." For the Straight-A students, this concept may feel a little strange, but C's are passing grades. By using Laurie's planning framework, you can create A+ holiday experiences for yourself and others...with C+ effort.

Let this be the year that you write your own permission slip to focus your time and attention only on the things that will bring you the most joy this season...and let everything else go.

LINKS + MENTIONS:
School of Midlife's FREE Living Trainings in December

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It is easy to get a little lost amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. There is a seemingly unending list of "to do's" to be completed before the end of the year, both work-related and those related to the holiday season.

In this episode, Laurie offers up one question that will help you avoid holiday overwhelm: is it an obligation or an opportunity? With that simple test in mind, you'll learn how to stop doing things this season that no longer bring you joy, and you'll know how to mindfully create holiday traditions that honor your personal boundaries.

If you're doing things this season solely because of a sense of obligation, Laurie gives you permission to take it off of your "to do" list. As Laurie reminds you, "your personal happiness, peace, fulfillment and joy around the holidays are just as important as everyone else's."

LINKS + MENTIONS:
School of Midlife's FREE Live Trainings in December

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In this week's episode, Laurie is discussing her recent vacation in London and Paris, and sharing all of the incredible experiences she had "across the pond." She's also talking about the most surprising thing she learned while away.

This episode is full of great recommendations for any midlife woman interested in spending time in two of the best European cities. You'll want to be sure to download it to refer to when planning your next vacation in London or Paris!

Links + Mentions:
School of Midlife's Free Live Training in December
Best Life Planner

Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday Episodes:
Enjoy Thanksgiving This Year -- Yes, Even with Family Drama
Why the Best Holidays Are C+ Holidays
Boundaries to Fight Holiday Burnout with Erica Davis
Beating the Holiday Blues: When Festive Feels Like a Farce

LONDON:
Private Tours in London - We toured with Rob Humphreys for a Government Tour one day, and a Rock-n-Roll Tour another day
London Bicycle Tour Company - The Classic Tour
Chelsea F.C.
Hamilton - London

PARIS:
Dinner Cruise on the Seine
Food Tours: Paris by Mouth and We Taste Paris - can't say enough great things about our guide Aurelien Laban!
Cooking Class - we did the market tour + lunch cooking class

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In this episode, Laurie is talking about the importance of setting and holding healthy boundaries to protect your time and energy during the holiday season. In particular, I'm discussing why boundaries are the very best gift to give yourself this year.

Key Takeaways:

-Learn how to say “no” without guilt, manage family expectations limit commitments, and make self-care a priority

-Tips to stick to your holiday boundaries...even when you experience pushback from family and friends

LINKS + MENTIONS:
Best Life Planner

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In this week’s episode, Laurie is discussing how focusing on healthy habits now — instead of waiting until the New Year — will not only help you enjoy the holidays this year, but will also set you up to start 2025 strong.

The best part: if you focus on your health and wellbeing now, you’ll likely enjoy the holidays  more, end the year on a high note, and use that momentum to carry you into next year so that you can make 2025 your best year yet!

Key Takeaways:

-The holidays bring packed schedules and oftentimes, neglected health. Protect yourself by prioritizing healthy habits.

-Don’t deprive yourself or wait until January — start building momentum right now! You’ll have a head start on any 2025 goals.

-Establishing healthy habits now makes it easier to set boundaries and say “no” to holiday obligations that won’t serve you.

-The momentum you build now will make next year’s goals feel like a continuation…not that you’re starting from zero.

-Healthy habits like daily exercise, good sleep, nutrition and mindfulness will reduce stress and support you starting next year feeling recharged.

Links + Mentions:

Best Life Planner

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Today is Election Day of what feels like a marathon election season.

In this week's episode, Laurie is sharing five simple tips to assuage Election Day anxiety and stress: cast your ballot, practical tips for self-care, reduce exposure to the news, limit consumption of alcohol, and more.

Everything Laurie shares in this episode also works beyond Election Day to limit periods of stress and anxiety.

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In this week's episode, Laurie is making the case that while SMART goals may be great for business goals, they are not serving you when it comes to your personal life. She talks about how SMART goals create an all-or-nothing, success or failure framework from which to judge whether we achieved the goals we've set...or not achieved them. While that works for business goals -- especially pertaining to sales numbers or customer service ratings -- that same approach hurts us when we try to apply it to our personal goals. Finally, she introduces you to "throwaway goals," and explains why those should be relegated to your "to do" list.

This is a must-listen episode for any woman who seems to start each year with the same set of SMART goals...just to end the year with not a lot to show for them.

LINKS + MENTIONS:
Gap Year

Best Life Retreat 

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It's Halloween season! In today's episode, Laurie is discussing all of the masks that midlife women wear in their lives. She's talking about how we use masks to hide our truest and most authentic selves behind a persona that is more approachable to those around us. But at what cost?

You'll want to stay to the end, when Laurie removes her own mask, and candidly shares why it's hard to wear certain masks day-in and day-out.

This episode is a great reminder for all times of the year, not just Halloween.

LINKS + MENTIONS:
Episode 84: Who Run the World? Why the School of Midlife Is Not Co-Ed

Best Life Retreats

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