Permission to Pause: Why You Don't Have to Be Superwoman Today

Let’s talk about the Superwoman cape.

You know the one—the invisible accessory we’ve all been strapped into for decades. It’s heavy, it’s restrictive, and honestly? It’s really starting to clash with my hot flashes.

We’ve spent years conditioned to believe that "doing it all" is the baseline requirement for being a woman. We juggle careers, families, aging parents, and household chaos, all while trying to remember where we put our keys five minutes ago.

But here is the truth that the Tribe needs to hear today: That cape is dry-clean only, and I am officially too tired to drive to the cleaners.

If you are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or just plain "over it," it’s time to make a change. It’s time to stop trying to be a superhero and just start being you. Here are three ways to hang up the cape today.

1. The Laundry Chair is Valid Decor (Lower the Bar)

It’s time to lower the bar. I don't mean giving up; I mean redefining "success" for this season of life.

Somewhere along the line, we decided the house had to be magazine-ready while our hormones are throwing a rave in our bodies. Let that expectation go. The pile of clean clothes on the "laundry chair" in the corner? That’s just valid home decor now. Cereal for dinner is a balanced meal if it means you get to sit down 20 minutes earlier.

Perfection is exhausting. "Good Enough" is the new goal for the Tribe.

2. "No" is a Complete Sentence

Why do we feel the need to offer a thesis statement every time we decline an invitation or a request for our time?

"I can't do that because [insert 5-minute monologue explaining your guilt]."

Stop it. "No" is a complete sentence. It doesn't require footnotes. It doesn't require an apology. Protecting your energy during midlife isn't selfish; it's an essential survival strategy. Practice saying it politely, with a smile, and then—this is the hard part—don't fill the silence with excuses.

3. Schedule Your "Do Nothing" Time

We schedule dentist appointments, oil changes, and Teams meetings with religious fervor. Yet, we treat rest like a luxury we can only have once everything else on the list is done.

Spoiler alert: The list is never done.

You have to treat rest with the same respect you treat a doctor's appointment. Block out 15 minutes on your calendar today. Label it "Meeting with Myself." What do you do during that time? Absolutely nothing. Stare at a wall. Breathe. Pet the dog. Just be. If it’s not on the schedule, it won’t happen.

Midlife isn't about powering through until you crash; it's about learning to listen to what your body and mind actually need. So, hang up the cape. Pour yourself a cup of tea (or wine, no judgment here), and let the world spin without you for a few minutes.

Trust me, it will still be there when you get back.

Keep thriving, Tribe.

Tracy 💗

💭 Reflection:

Before you go, I want to leave you with a question to carry through your week. Take a moment, close your eyes, and ask yourself: “Where have I been making myself small to make others comfortable—and what happens if I stop today?”