School of Midlife

Welcome back to the School of Midlife podcast, where we're delving deep into the complexities of relationships during this transformative phase of life. Joined by the insightful life coach Kellie Resue, specializing in relationships, we're exploring the evolving dynamics we encounter with partners, friends, and ourselves in midlife. 🎙️ Prepare to uncover invaluable insights on the import...

Today, we're diving deep into the transformative landscape of midlife, especially for women questioning their purpose and direction. Joining us is the phenomenal Jolene Atkinson-Kruse, a seasoned mental health professional and coach, here to share her invaluable insights on navigating this pivotal life stage. 🎙️ We kick things off by shining a light on those all-too-familiar patterns and role...

In this episode of the School of Midlife podcast, Laurie shares a deeply personal story about her aging in-laws, and the difficult decision to move them to memory care. This is a follow-up episode to Episode 26: When Roles Reverse: Caring for Aging Parents with Compassion. Laurie will share more life-lessons learned about this difficult season of parenting parents. LINKS + MENTIONS: Episode 26: Wh...

Season 2 of the School of Midlife podcast drops on May 7! As an attorney who walked away from her dream job and left the law in her mid-40s, I know exactly what it's like to be living a great life by all outward appearances with the perfect family, the career, the nice home, the vacation home, and a passport full of stamps...and still feel like something is missing. This is the podcast for hi...

It's been one year since the first School of Midlife episode dropped! To mark that milestone, it seemed only fitting to discuss how the School of Midlife was borne, and Laurie's vision for future of the company and this podcast. Suffice it to say, she has BIG PLANS for the role that the School of Midlife will play in the lives of midlife women everywhere. We may be one year in, but we&ap...

What do you think is the biggest thing that's holding you back from living the life you want to live? From becoming the person you want to be? It's you. Just like the Taylor Swift song. "It's me, hi. I'm the problem. It's me." Technically, it's your limiting beliefs. The stories you're telling yourself about yourself about why you're not good enoug...

Here are the School of Midlife, we talk a lot about making midlife our best life. What, exactly, does that mean? What is a best life? What is a dream life? In this episode, Laurie is discussing the importance of knowing what your dream life looks like so that you can make it a reality. Most high-achieving midlife women are accustomed to chasing all of the promotions and the accolades. What they&ap...

Somewhere between waiting until everything is perfect, and saying "yes" to all of the new shiny objects, is the sweet spot that I call "good enough." This episode discusses how to overcome perfectionist tendencies by taking action when things are "good enough." Shondra Rhimes had her "Year of Yes"; I'm exploring my "Year of Good Enough." LINKS...

In this episode, Laurie talks about how a hectic lifestyle and the chronic stress that it produces can make you more susceptible to cold and flu viruses. By using her own out-of-control schedule as an example, she discusses -- in a very non-scientific way -- what happens to the body's immune system when we're constantly operating in fight-or-flight more. This episode will make you rethin...

Have you noticed the photos and videos on social media of women attending retreats? Doesn't it look like they're having the BEST time? Honestly, it's because they are. They're away from all of the obligations of work and family life, and focusing on themselves for once. At a luxury resort. Eating incredible food, getting massages, taking hikes. Sounds pretty good; doesn't...

Have you ever noticed that the life goals on your list seem to be the same from year to year? Lose those last 15 pounds, write the book, learn to speak a new language, save more money. They're all laudable goals, and yet, they never seem to be achieved. In this episode, Laurie discusses the top 3 reasons you're not living the life you want. But as she explains: it's not your fault t...

In this week's episode of the School of Midlife podcast, I'm joined by Jen Fox, the founder of the Zero Proof Project, a one-year, alcohol-free challenge.  Whether you're currently doing Dry January, or are someone who is "sober curious," or just someone who finds herself thinking about how many glasses of wine she's had or justifying the number of drinks she's h...

Many of us want major life changes but struggle with where to start. The key is beginning with simple, repeatable actions that over time, become habits and ultimately add up to your ideal lifestyle. In this week's episode, Laurie breaks down the progression of turning single decisions into automatic behaviors into your realized best life vision. She'll explain why you need to level-up yo...

In this episode, Laurie talks about the importance of choosing just one big goal -- your one thing -- to focus on to create your best year ever. She explains the difference between "throw-away goals" and "real goals," and how just one action or decision can have a profound impact on your year. Then, she walks you through the process to breakdown the one thing to minimize overwh...

If you want 2024 to be your best year yet, your year-end review contains the clues for how to make it happen! Tune in to hear Laurie explain how to harness your answers from the year-end audit discussed in last week's Closing Time Series, and in particular, what you want more of (and less of) in 2024 as well as the one decision or change that could be a total game-changer. Get ready to turn t...

One of the best ways to set yourself up for your best year yet is to spend some time completing a comprehensive year-end review! In this 3-episode series, Laurie walks you through her proven year-end review. If you are looking to make 2024 your best year yet, you don't want to miss the Closing Time series. LINKS AND MENTIONS: ✏️ Download CLOSING TIME: Year-End Review Guide https://www.schoolo...

One of the best ways to set yourself up for your best year yet is to spend some time completing a comprehensive year-end review! In this 3-episode series, Laurie walks you through her proven year-end review. If you are looking to make 2024 your best year yet, you don't want to miss the Closing Time series. LINKS AND MENTIONS: 🎙 Listen to CLOSING TIME: Episode 1 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2147...

One of the best ways to set yourself up for your best year yet is to spend some time completing a comprehensive year-end review! In this 3-episode series, Laurie walks you through her proven year-end review. If you are looking to make 2024 your best year yet, you don't want to miss the Closing Time series. LINKS AND MENTIONS: 🎙 Listen to CLOSING TIME: Episode 1 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2147...

In this special birthday episode of the School of Midlife podcast, Laurie Reynoldson is reflecting on some hard lessons learned about herself in the past year. This unfiltered episode is Laurie at her most honest and vulnerable. Laurie talks candidly about unrealized dreams, ways in which she's self-sabotaging her growth and success, and what she plans to do differently in the coming year. LI...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...or is it? What happens when you're feeling a little blue during the holidays? When you're just not feeling as festive as everyone else? In this sixth episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday series, Laurie shares actionable advice on limiting obligations, finding meaning over perfection, and other ways to care for your wh...

In this fifth episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday series, my guest expert Erica Davis and I are talking about how chasing holiday perfection often saps our joy, adds stress, and feeds people-pleasing habits. Erica makes the case for embracing imperfection through her unique boundary setting process. Erica outlines her 4-step reflection guide to set boundaries around traditi...

In this fourth episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday Series, we're talking about how embracing imperfection can minimize some of the stress and burnout of the holidays. In this episode, host Laurie Reynoldson discusses 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. B...

In this third episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday series, we're talking turkey and gratitude because it’s Thanksgiving week! I'm discussing some things I've learned over 25 years of hosting Thanksgiving dinner—and I'm sharing all of my secrets, including my famous grocery shopping list and Thanksgiving Day timeline. I'm also covering the history of...

In this second episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Holiday series, I'm talking about the importance of setting and holding boundaries to protect your time and energy during the holiday season. You'll discover why boundaries are the best gifts to give yourself this year. Key takeaways: - The importance of setting and holiday boundaries for self-care - Learn how to say no without g...

Welcome to the first episode of the Have Yourself a Merry Little Midlife Holiday series! Each week until New Year's, I’ll be covering different topics to help you not just survive the holidays, but really enjoy them, too! In future episodes, I'll be discussing how to manage holiday stress, avoid burnout, deal with anxiety, set boundaries, host events that you enjoy, and more! Each episod...