Fall Rituals and Fresh Starts: Navigating Season Changes at 48

The moment I turned 48 last week, something extraordinary happened—instead of dreading this milestone as I might have five years ago, I found myself genuinely excited about the future. This unexpected shift in perspective forms the heart of our most personal episode yet, where I've traded my usual scripted approach for a candid, conversational exploration of midlife's surprising gifts.

Fall arrives with perfect timing as we discuss seasonal transitions as opportunities for personal reinvention. I share my detailed self-care rituals for the coming months—from crisp morning walks and cozy evening baths to seasonal cooking and fashion shifts—and how creating a visual inspiration board helps manifest these intentions. There's something magical about autumn's invitation to reset, particularly when you realize we still have four solid months to accomplish those goals we've been postponing all year.

Most powerfully, I reveal the transformative beliefs that have emerged through my midlife journey: focusing on health rather than appearance, embracing aging as expansion rather than decline, taking setbacks in stride, adapting to my changing body, deepening relationships, and prioritizing mental wellbeing above all else. After navigating serious depression and anxiety that once led to hospitalization, I've discovered that emotional health truly forms the foundation for everything else. I'm channeling these insights into an exciting rebrand and expansion of services coming in 2026, designed to build a community where women can navigate midlife's challenges and celebrations together. Join our growing circle by subscribing, leaving a review, or connecting with me on social media @JaxStys.

Chapters

• 0:00 Birthday Reflections at 48
• 4:34 Gym Restart and Fitness Routine
• 6:53 Fall Season Inspiration and Planning
• 10:31 Fall Self-Care Rituals and Activities
• 16:31 New Midlife Beliefs and Perspectives
• 22:38 Rebranding Announcement and Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:02

Well, hello, hello, hello. Happy Monday friends. This is episode 16 of the Midlife Glow Report. I'm Jax, I'm your host and it's so wonderful to be here with you today. So today we're going to run this episode 16 for this podcast a little bit differently, a little bit more freeform, a little more casual and friendly, not as script-based as I have been doing. I do write my own scripts, but I decided to jot down some notes of what I want to cover this episode and really just to be a bit more casual and a bit more conversational.

Speaker 1: 1:45

So last week was my birthday. I celebrated with my family. I turned 48 years old and I don't view it as scary or depressing for me. I would say five years ago I would have, but I no longer view it like that. I'm super excited and pumped about what's in the future. I just feel very lucky and blessed with my life and everyone in it and how it's going. So, yeah, I really had a great birthday, just had a very casual dinner and shared some laughs, so I really had a great, great party. So, yeah, that was my birthday last week.

Speaker 1: 2:33

Also, last week, my son and I were supposed to go to Charleston, south Carolina, for the week. That was going to be our vacation. We had it all booked at our favorite condo on the water in Folly Beach, right outside Charleston, and it's got the best views, the best atmosphere, best decor, best around everything. But we had to cancel, which is quite disappointing. We canceled about a month ago my son. This is not disappointing. My son got a new job. He moved up in his career. It's a new company, a lot more opportunity, much better salary, better benefits, better growth. He's doing more involved with what his degree more in line. So I'm super happy for him and because he started about two weeks ago, he could not take off so suddenly for the week. He's kind of in training. So I understand that I was quite disappointed. But at least we got a full refund and we were able to cancel in time to get that refund and we will plan something. We're going to do things a little bit differently next year. We're not going to go in September because it's a hit or miss with weather when you go down south during the fall, so we're going to go in May or June next year. I'm looking at the condo and probably going to book the same condo by the end of this month. But yeah, I was quite disappointed. But I completely understand and at least we got our refund back.

Speaker 1: 4:19

Another thing I did was I restarted my gym membership. I put that on freeze for the summer because I knew I'd be outside a lot during the summer getting movement in and I knew I could still work some dumbbells and some strength training at home. But I did find that I did not push myself as hard as I did at the gym. So I did find that with myself. So I restarted my gym membership. I met with my trainer to go over all the equipment Again. What I'm concentrating for the equipment is legs, glutes and upper body. I am going to incorporate HIIT About 15, 20 minutes of HIIT about three times a week. And then I am going to walk every day about 30 to 45 minutes. Oh, and when I do the strength training it's going to be three days a week. And then I'm also going to use the sauna at the gym about three days a week at the gym, about three days a week.

Speaker 1: 5:32

So yeah, super pumped with that, I kind of have a weekly ritual, set up a routine for my workouts and my movement. I did some reading and some blog reading and some book reading and kind of picked and choose what I liked and what I thought would work for me and my body and just my activity level. So I made a routine. I did post it on social media. You guys can find that like my weekly routine what I'm gonna do, what days I'm gonna work out at the gym, when I'm gonna use the sauna, when I'm going to walk, when I'm going to work out at the gym, when I'm going to use the sauna, when I'm going to walk, when I'm going to do HIIT. So, yeah, I totally have a planned routine. Hopefully I can stick to it. Right, that's the plan, but we'll see.

Speaker 1: 6:18

And then what I wanted to talk about here is September and fall. I completely love September and fall. It's probably my second favorite season behind summer. Fall is amazing. With the change of season and the change of activities, the change of fashion, the change of taking care of yourself, it's really time you could rebrand yourself.

Speaker 1: 6:45

Even so, what I did do this weekend was I went on Pinterest and created a fall 2025 board, an inspirational board. I just pick and choose different pictures of what I want my fall to look like. It included just what kind of outfits I want to wear. You know the different denim jeans, the dark denim, the barn jackets, the boots, the scarves. You know the plaid, all the different things, the turtlenecks. So, yeah, I did pick a whole bunch of different seasonal outfits.

Speaker 1: 7:27

I want to incorporate that I have and that I may want to buy a couple affordable pieces. I don't buy anything really expensive for myself just because I still have about 80 to 90 pounds to lose. So I, yeah, needless to say, I do shop, but I buy affordable. But eventually, when I do lose more weight, I'll buy more affordable pieces. Other things on my board were the activities I want to do, all different fall activities, what I want to cook healthy meals, simple meals, healthy stews and soups and the fall decor for my house, what I want incorporated in my house, what I already have, what I want to buy. So yeah, just a whole bunch of fall inspirational Pinterest stuff I got really excited for, and different self-care rituals bubble baths, lots of creams to help my glow. So just self-care rituals as well.

Speaker 1: 8:39

I do see fall as a reset time to rebrand in this new season, so that's what I did with the Pinterest board. Also, this past weekend, I pulled out a whole bunch of fall decor in my tote boxes and everything I have to decorate with. I did start decorating my patio, my porch, my inside, you know, with all the fall decor leaves, pumpkins, spooky stuff. So yeah, and I'm going to hit some of the stores or Amazon and purchase a little bit, you know, new decor, refresh it. So yeah, I'm really excited about that. I'm going to buy a new coffee cup, a hot fall coffee cup, just to drink my fall coffee or tea at home. So a ceramic, something with a fall motif. So with fall, I'm totally looking forward to fall self-care rituals.

Speaker 1: 9:43

I do have a running list I'm going to share here that I'm going to tackle on the weekends when I have off from work. That I'm going to tackle on the weekends when I have off from work. So early morning fall walks in the crisp, fresh air Really enjoyed that last year and just to get out there. I know the sun goes down later and later in the mornings, but just getting out there with a jacket, tennis shoes, some stretch pants, a scarf maybe, and really really getting that really good walk-in with the fresh, cool air. So looking forward to that.

Speaker 1: 10:24

Making some seasonal soups that are healthy and filling Hello Pinterest, it is prime crockpot season, so making some really healthy stews and soups Looking forward to that and I'm going to, you know, find some new recipes and share them online, you know. Maybe getting a fall seasonal candle from Bath and Body Works, which I'm going to do, or some aromatherapy oils in my diffuser that are fall and seasonal. Early mornings doing that with drinking my coffee in a fall coffee cup, while watching the news and while journaling at the kitchen table. I really look forward to that. It's a really cozy season. Now I'm hitting the gym in the am I told you about getting my gym membership back, Really getting back to that. Going at 5, 5.30 am it's about five minutes away and hitting the gym Wearing fall fashion again Layers, scarves, boots, cardigans, half-sit pullovers, barn jackets, dark denim, suede boots so really looking forward to fall fashion.

Speaker 1: 11:40

Lots of browns and taupes and dark greens, blacks, maroons so really looking forward to those colorways. Really hydrating my skin daily with lotions and creams and oils so I'm looking forward to that. Maybe trying out a new lotion or cream that has some good reviews that I've never tried before. Taking warm bubble baths in the evenings with some oils and salts so I'm going to look forward to that. So taking some warm bubble baths. Let's see, it's football season, so football foods, trying to making them healthy, football parties you know the football game playing in the background while cooking or reading. You know, really doing all the fall things. I love the change of the season and the change of the leaves. Again, I don't like the sun coming down later in the mornings or rising later, you know, having it more dark, but I really love the change of the leaves and the change of the season and the crisp air, drinking chai tea and other herbal teas. I'm going to look forward to that.

Speaker 1: 13:02

I want to get into some fall shows. I want to watch the Twilight series in the fall. You know Twilight. You guys remember Twilight, right, you know watching the different series of Twilight in the fall and enjoying that in the season. Maybe watching Harry Potter, having a Harry Potter-thon with my son. He was into Harry Potter growing up. Maybe he'll veg with me on a Saturday and we'll order pizza and have all the foods and the drinks and watch the Harry Potter series. I don't know if he'd be into that. We did that when he was younger, when he was in grade school, but maybe now that he's 26, maybe he would be nostalgic and maybe he would enjoy that. I want to watch the Vampire Diaries. I've watched a couple shows. I've never really watched the full series, so I want to watch that. I want to watch One Tree Hill and Gilmore Girls. I hear so much about that, so I want to take the time and watch those two series as well.

Speaker 1: 14:05

So, yeah, all the fall TV shows and movies, cozy PJs and sweats in the fall I'm really looking forward to that. Maybe doing a digital detox and playing some board games or puzzles or reading a book you know, reading a book with a cozy, fluffy blanket in my recliner, you know. So, really looking forward to that. I'm going to declutter my spaces, especially my basement. I'm going to work on that in the next month really declutter my basement, and so, yeah, that's some of the fall. You know self-care rituals I want to do. Also looking forward to fall activities like apple picking and pumpkin patches, farmer's markets, maybe antique shopping, taking an afternoon Sunday drive with my parents to see the fall foliage, decorating for fall and passing out candy for Halloween. So maybe I'll be able to get to go to a following party this year and get to dress up. So really looking forward to that. So, yes, I'd say fall is my jam. So much to look forward to, so much to plan and enjoy. It's kind of a reset. And, plus, this is time to really dial in. You have four months till the end of the year and you know all the goals you haven't accomplished or you've been putting off. This is really the time to dial in and focus on your goals. So, yeah, that's all the fall things I'm looking forward to and really excited for.

Speaker 1: 15:56

So, yeah, finally, in this episode I'm going to touch on a segment of some new beliefs that I acquired, being midlife. You know I did turn 48 last week, so I thought I'd share some new beliefs I've acquired the last couple years some new thoughts, new beliefs in midlife, new ways of thinking about things. So, first and foremost, I focus on health and not appearance. But when you focus on health, your appearance glows, right. So I've learned by focusing on my health, my appearance is even better, with better glowing skin, shinier hair, whiter teeth, softer skin. So that makes sense, right. And you focus on nutrition and movement and longevity, really nourishing and taking care of myself now, putting my health and wellness first above anything else. So that's something I've acquired the last couple years and I really thoroughly enjoy it and it makes such a difference in my life.

Speaker 1: 17:05

I've learned to embrace the aging process. You know, I don't think of aging as getting old and decrepit. I don't think of it. I think of it as getting stronger, more knowledge, more confidence, more experience, more memories. Confidence, more experience, more memories, more amazing friends and family, more things to look forward to, more things to appreciate. So yeah, just more depth in. You know, with aging it's not a negative, it's a positive. So much more life glows, so much more when you age and you appreciate so much more.

Speaker 1: 17:45

I've learned to take setbacks with stride and I view them in my mind as learning tools and stepping stones, not really obstacles or roadblocks anymore. Really learning from when you know I have a setback. So yeah, it really is an opportunity to grow. I've learned to adapt to my changing body. Now that metabolism is slower, my body has changed. I still view it and I started viewing it more as strong and resilient. I now have to eat, move and care for it in a new and different way. So that's just sort of a kind of a setback, but you have to grow and learn with it and see what works for you and improve every day. So I adapt to my changing body and improve every day so I adapt to my changing body. I have deeper relationships with my family and friends, deeper conversations with them, more important deeper experiences, better memories, much more appreciation than I did in the previous years. So I really appreciate my family and friends and just have a much deeper connection.

Speaker 1: 19:08

Finally, I have learned to prioritize emotional and mental well-being for myself and others. Really, I would say above everything else, even above. You know, like health and nutrition and movement. Mindset is huge in my life and how I share it with others. I really try to give tips and what I've learned through therapy, through reading, through experiences, you know, and I try to just give good advice and, you know, really help people improve their mindset as well as improve mine.

Speaker 1: 19:50

This really was a hurdle for me for many years. I don't know if I have mentioned this. I know I have. I don't know if you've heard on my podcast or through my blog, but I was on much medication for several years for depression and anxiety and it really took its toll on me and I was hospitalized about 20 years ago when my son was super young and that really just rocked my world and I learned that mental health is number one and it really is the tippy top priority for me and it really rubs off every area in my life and for others as well. So, yeah, really taking care of my mindset and my mental health is number one and always will be, and I have learned through the years how to improve it and what works for me. And you know that comes with the aging process you learn what works for you. So, yeah, mental health and emotional health is top and emotional health is top. So, yeah, those are my midlife themes of what I've learned and what I'm carrying with myself right now. So it was really glad to chat with you today.

Speaker 1: 21:14

This was more free form. I hope it turned out okay. I hope it made sense more conversational. If you'd be so kind to leave a review or a comment, it helps this podcast grow for other women our age to find it to build a community. That's my goal is to build a community that we could grow and learn from. So let me know your thoughts on this podcast and how I ran it today and just the different subjects. You could definitely, you know, send me a message on socials at Jack Styes J-A-X-S-T-Y-S. You can find me on my website blog at wwwjackstyescom.

Speaker 1: 22:03

Some new news I will be rebranding myself. I know it's under my name, but I'll be doing it as a type brand. It's going to be a different name. I'm going to redo my websites and I'm going to be offering coaching and a course or two and digital guides come spring of 2026. I already kind of have my website figured out of what I'm going to do and who I'm going with and I'm going to rebrand my socials. I started rebranding the colors and the branding that way and the fonts, but I'm going to rebrand the name of my socials. So heads up on that. That'll come out in the next couple months and I'll let you know. But a lot of it's in the works and I'm really excited about it. But it was really wonderful to speak to you today and I hope you have an amazing week ahead. Thank you for listening today and I will talk to you next Monday. I'll see you soon. Love, jax.