This year, I turned 40. And while I didn’t have a life-changing epiphany the moment I blew out the candles, I did take some time to reflect. On life. On business. On what really matters. I wanted to commemorate turning this milestone age by jotting down things I’ve learned in my personal and professional life—and how I learned to balance both with intentional time off. Here’s what I learned at 40—how logging off and building a business helped me reclaim my life.

The past year taught me more about who I am and what I want than any other year. I had realizations, epiphanies, moments of reflection, a few stops in trauma realizations, and then ended up with insights on the person I genuinely want to be.

Let’s get to it!

10 Things I’ve Learned About Being a Person at 40

1. Rest is not a reward—it’s essential. I used to feel guilty for taking breaks, thinking I hadn’t earned them yet. Now, I realize that rest makes me a better version of myself—as a mom, a partner, a friend, and a creator.
2. Saying “no” is self-respect, not selfishness. I’ve learned to set boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable. Saying no allows me to say yes to what actually matters. And sometimes, how and who we say no to means more to our lives than who we say yes to.
3. Slowing down often leads to speeding up the right things. When I stopped rushing, I started noticing what was worth my time. Slow doesn’t mean stagnant—it means intentional.
4. Peace > productivity. A checked-off to-do list is nice, but a calm heart? That’s priceless. I’ve started prioritizing peace over pressure.
5. Presence is more powerful than perfection. My kids don’t need a perfect mom. They need a present one. That truth changed everything for me.
6. My body is wiser than any to-do list. When I’m tired, I rest. When I’m energized, I move. Listening to my body is now non-negotiable.
7. Boundaries are love in action. For myself and others. They keep me safe, focused, and fully aligned with who I want to be.
8. Gratitude shifts everything. Even hard days look different when I lead with thankfulness.
9. Real connection beats constant communication. I don’t need to be in constant contact to maintain meaningful relationships. Depth matters more than frequency.
10. You can do less and live more. I stopped chasing “busy” as a badge of honor. Simplicity has brought me joy.

At 40, I’ve learned that “balance” isn’t something you find—it’s something you create. And it starts with being honest about what matters. Not in the hypothetical, Instagram-quote kind of way, but in the real, daily-life kind of way.

I used to treat rest like a reward. Something I’d earn after crossing off every to-do, answering every message, chasing every metric. But that approach burned me out.

Now, I know that rest isn’t a reward—it’s a requirement. Being fully present with my family, giving myself time to think, laugh, and breathe? That’s where my best ideas and happiest moments begin.

10 Things I’ve Learned About Being an Entrepreneur at 40

1. You don’t need to be everywhere—you need to be where it counts. I stopped spreading myself thin and focused on platforms that actually drive results.
2. Evergreen content is the smartest investment you can make. One blog post can bring traffic for years. One pin can keep working while I sleep. That’s powerful.
3. Consistency > virality. I don’t need to go viral. I need to show up steadily. That builds trust, and trust builds sales.
4. Not every idea is meant to be a business. Just because I can monetize something doesn’t mean I should. Some ideas are better left as hobbies.
5. If you build systems, you build freedom. Systems let my business run without me babysitting it 24/7. That’s the real win.
6. You are not your metrics. My worth isn’t tied to how many followers I have or how many people clicked on my email.
7. Simple sells. Overcomplicating offers confuses people. Clear, simple solutions are what convert.
8. Your energy is your brand’s best asset. People don’t just buy products; they buy into people. When I’m energized and authentic, everything flows better.
9. Creating for service beats creating for applause. When I focus on helping rather than impressing, my work has more impact.
10. Burnout is not a business plan. Hustle without rest is not sustainable. I’ve been there. Never again.

Entrepreneurship at 40 feels different than it did at 30. Back then, I was hustling hard, always looking for the next strategy, the next growth hack. And while I still believe in working smart and showing up consistently, I’ve let go of the myth that more = better.

I’ve stopped chasing every trend and started doubling down on what works for me. That means creating systems, saying no more often, and designing offers that truly serve people—like my course that helps creators turn their existing content into traffic-generating gold on Pinterest.

Spoiler alert: it’s working better than ever.

10 Things I’ve Learned From Stepping Away From Social Media

Here’s the part that might surprise you: the biggest business breakthrough I had this year came after I stopped showing up on social media.

I was tired. Tired of the algorithm, tired of the noise, tired of feeling like I was shouting into a void for a few likes and a handful of clicks. So, I stepped back.

Instead, I focused on optimizing my blog, creating value-packed freebies, and putting energy into long-form content that lasts longer than a 24-hour story. I leaned into Pinterest—my quiet powerhouse of a platform—and built a system that let my content work for me.

And guess what?

I saw more traffic, more email signups, and more course sales than I had when I was posting every single day.

You can learn all about my Pinterest experience in my blog post Instagram vs. Pinterest: Where I Actually See Results (and Protect My Peace)

So here’s what I learned from taking my “break” that now has become more of a maternity leave, and verging on becoming a full-fledge retirement.

1. The algorithm is not your boss. I stopped letting apps dictate how I spent my time and energy.
2. My best content ideas came when I stopped scrolling. Quiet moments brought clarity. Constant input drowned out inspiration.
3. Pinterest is a traffic goldmine (especially when you stop ignoring it!). Once I took it seriously, the results blew me away.
4. Social media rewards urgency—business rewards strategy. Quick wins on Instagram faded fast. Strategic content brought lasting results.
5. My email list matters more than my follower count ever did. Those are real people who actually want to hear from me. That’s priceless.
6. Content with a long shelf life > content that disappears in 24 hours. A Story vanishes. A blog post ranks. Guess where I’m spending my energy now?
7. The less noise I consumed, the clearer my voice became. Without constant comparison, I found my own message again.
8. My audience didn’t forget me when I stopped posting—they actually paid more attention. Real value gets remembered.
9. When you create with intention instead of obligation, everything changes. I started creating from inspiration, not pressure. The difference shows.
10. Logging off helped me build the business I actually wanted. Slowing down, stepping back, and trusting my process made space for real growth.

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What I Know for Sure at 40

If I could pass one thing on, it’s this: You don’t have to do it all to succeed. You just have to do what matters—consistently and intentionally.

Whether you’re growing a business, raising a family, or trying to figure out what’s next, give yourself permission to pause. To rethink. To walk away from what’s not working.

Sometimes the best growth comes when you stop chasing and start trusting yourself.

Here’s to building a life—and business—that actually feels good.

PS: If you’re a creator feeling burned out by social media but still want more traffic and income, I’d love to show you how I did it with content you already have. Check out my course, How to 25x Your Traffic and Make More Money with Already-Created Content.

xo,

𝓡𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓵