318: On Turning 43 and What This Decade Has Already Taught Me

Summer has always been my favorite season for so many reasons — ocean swims, pool dips, watermelon on repeat, warm evenings, longer days, fireflies, outdoor parties... But lately, I've been realizing something else. Something I never noticed: Summer naturally invites us to be more present. To look up from our screens, spend more time outside, and engage more fully with the life right in front of us. As I share in this episode, adulthood has a way of stealing a bit of summer's glitter with its pace, demands, and digital distractions. However, I've found that when we create a little more space, we make room for the magic to return. And that's exactly what's happened for me as I've become more intentional about being present and less attached to my phone this year. In this episode, I share: The connection between summer and presence — and why it's such a beautiful season to spend less time on our phones Why summer inspired me to create a guide called The Spacious Summer and how you can get access What I'm learning about midlife, transition, and paying attention to what matters A few recent favorites — a show, two books, and something I'm currently exploring If you've been craving a slower, more intentional summer, I think you'll enjoy this one. Resources & Mentions My Substack: blairbadenhop.substack.com Become a paid subscriber (includes The Spacious Summer Guide + Life Unlooped Experiment): blairbadenhop.substack.com/subscribe Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport The Four Seasons (Netflix) The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

It's my birthday week and I'm turning 43! Naturally, I've been reflecting on what my 40s have taught me so far—especially the last year because, wow, it was a transformative one. Some might call this season a midlife crisis (and there's actually science to support that, which I touch on in the episode). But I've come to see it differently: as a period of realignment. An invitation to question what's no longer working, reconnect with what matters, and begin authoring a new chapter. In today's episode, I share: What it felt like to question nearly everything after a major life transition The research that helped me understand why my priorities have shifted so much in my 40s How I went from feeling wound-up and irritable to calmer and more present The unexpected freedom that came from stepping away from social media Why this season feels less like a crisis and more like a homecoming Mentions: My Substack: https://blairbadenhop.substack.com The U-Shaped Happiness Curve: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-there-really-a-u-shaped-curve-in-happiness-over-the-life-cycle/ Laura Carstensen's Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: https://lifespan.stanford.edu/projects/socioemotional-selectivity-theory-sst

School is out and summer is here—and for the first time since becoming a mom, I'm heading into this season with a real vision for the next 8 weeks. It feels so grounding to have certain things thoughtfully planned while leaving plenty of room for spontaneity, too. As a sensitive mom who gets easily overstimulated, I know summer can quickly become disorganized and chaotic if I'm not intentional about creating space for myself alongside all the family fun. So in this episode, I'm sharing what that looks like in practice, specifically: how I'm planning our family's summer (without overplanning it) the specifics of how I'll create space for myself as a mom the small nostalgic moments I hope my kids to remember Whether you're a parent planning summer with little ones or simply thinking about how you want this season to feel, I hope this inspires you to approach the months ahead with a little more intention. And if this kind of conversation resonates, my Substack is where I explore this season of life more deeply in real time—writing about motherhood, personal growth, slower living, life transitions, and what it looks like to create a life that feels more aligned and fully your own. ✨ Join me on Substack: blairbadenhop.substack.com

In this week's episode, I'm sharing a few things that have brought me back to myself lately — a color analysis rabbit hole, a solo yoga class on Mother's Day, and wandering through an art fair alone. All of them felt like gentle reminders to step outside the usual flow and routine of life and make space for what truly fills me up. More importantly, I dive into one core topic: the duality of being human. How it's possible to feel deeply grateful for your life while also feeling unsettled, uncertain, or hungry for more at the exact same time. I share about the grief I still feel after our move to Georgia, the strange in-between season I'm navigating professionally, and why I think so many of us are quietly holding conflicting emotions beneath the surface. So if you've been feeling the tension of two seemingly opposing emotions at once, this episode is for you. MENTIONS My Substack, This Season You can find more of my writing and reflections on Substack, where I share weekly notes on presence, attention, and living more intentionally. Color Analysis

Recently, something happened that shook me. And it was such a big reminder of  just how quickly things can change. One day everything is normal, the next, it's not. It reinforced something I've been learning in this season: being less absorbed in the digital world and more present in real life isn't just a nice idea — it's essential. In this episode, I share what happened and what it brought up for me — reflections on resilience, a renewed pull toward nature, and the quiet ways the natural world calls to us. I also reflect on a question I've been sitting with: What kind of relationship do I want to have with nature? Mentions: My Substack, This Season You can find more of my writing and reflections on Substack, where I share weekly notes on presence, attention, and living more intentionally. How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell Sarah Wilson, Wild The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben  

Spring break was full — in the best ways. Slower mornings, more time together, spontaneous adventures, and long days with the kids that reminded me just how much I love being their mom. It was joyful, grounding, and a little messy — the kind of week that pulls you out of your usual rhythm and into the heart of real life. And when it ended, I noticed something familiar: that slightly scattered, overstimulated feeling that can come after a stretch of am especially full week. In this episode, I share how I've been coming back to center. I talk about what I've been learning from the book How to Do Nothing, how my relationship with my phone continues to evolve, and why presence isn't about getting it perfect — it's about returning to yourself, again and again, in the middle of real life. Mentions: My Substack You can find more of my writing and reflections on Substack, where I share weekly notes on presence, attention, and living more intentionally. How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

In this week's episode, I share how the change in seasons has brought me so much joy — and an immense amount of clarity about what's next. So much so that I decided to launch something new and share it with you today. I also share four things that made March special — a TV show, a book, a garden project, and a new treadmill exercise I'm testing out. If you're curious about this new thing I'm putting out into the world, be sure to listen to the whole episode. But in the meantime, I'll give you one hint: Life Unlooped. ✨ You can learn more — and join us — over on my Substack, This Season: https://blairbadenhop.substack.com 

Over the past year, my life and work have shifted in ways I never expected. After stepping away from the wellness branding and copywriting business I ran for a decade, I found myself in a season of not knowing what's next. But Instead of forcing a plan, I've been following something simpler: curiosity. In this episode I share: Why I chose to step away from my business The first clue that helped me begin figuring out what was next How writing weekly started revealing new themes in my life and work The four steps currently guiding my next chapter   MENTIONS: Ballerina Farm Bone Broth Hot Chocolate https://ballerinafarm.com/products/bone-broth-hot-cocoa Episode: We Moved to Georgia — The Beauty, the Mess, and Everything in Between https://blairbadenhop.com/podcast/we-moved-to-georgia-the-beauty-the-mess-and-everything-in-between/ My newsletter on Substack https://blairbadenhop.substack.com 

I can't tell you how many posts I've seen on Substack lately from people saying they're done with Instagram. Clearly, a lot of us are exhausted by the noise—rage bait, endless stimulation, videos that leave us feeling worse instead of better, and the pressure to keep posting just to stay visible. As I shared in previous episodes, I stepped away from my own IG era about six months ago, which facilitated a giant shift in how I live my life. That's why I love hearing other leaders in the personal growth space talk about this same topic. Because the truth is, there is a major cultural shift at play right now. In today's episode, I share something I've been pondering—how the massive pivot I experienced in my own life, as it relates to entrepreneurship and living authentically, mirrors what's happening in the world around us. In this episode, I share: A recent conversation with Lacy Phillips and Jessica Gill about this cultural shift that really spoke to me and brought clarity to what's happening right now How the social media fatigue we're noticing might actually signal the end of performance culture The identity changes I experienced after stepping back from my business, and how the shedding I've done helped reconnect me with who I really am A peek into my current weekday rhythm as a mom, writer, and creative—including my go-to hot cocoa recipe for cozy morning writing sessions. If this episode resonates with you, you'll probably enjoy my Substack as well. That's where I share deeper reflections, personal essays, and my new series Field Notes. Mentions: To Be Magnetic The Expanded Podcast The Pathway

Over the last year, I've been slowly untangling myself from my iPhone — removing the apps that distract me, reaching for books or magazines instead, and experimenting with what it feels like to make my device less interesting. Because the truth is, I want to be a more present person. Someone whose using idle moments wisely instead of mindlessly.  In this episode, I share all the details and the effect it's having on my life. Specifically: Why I stopped posting on Instagram The simple change that reduced my screen time almost immediately The "glittery apps" I removed (and why) The tension between needing technology and wanting space from it How I'm handling things like Google, email, and yes — even ChatGPT The tactile rituals I've replaced scrolling with (books, magazines, painting) A new daily noticing practice that's helping me retrain my attention So, if you've been feeling overstimulated, distracted, or just tired of your phone having such a strong pull on your nervous system — this might inspire your own experiment. Join Me over on This Season If you're not already subscribed to my Substack, I'm sharing monthly updates on this analog experiment — including what's working, what's hard, and what I'm learning along the way. You can join me at blairbadenhop.substack.com. Resources: 90s Nostalgia, the Pull to Go Analog, and How I'm Making It Happen The Energy Leak I Had to Plug Up, a Substack post from October 2025