Last April, Prague was taking too long to warm up, and I remember sitting in my apartment thinking, I do not have to wait for anything. I could just go. There was no debate and no long internal process. I wanted sunshine. I wanted warmth. I asked a colleague from North Macedonia a couple of questions about Tirana, and that was enough. I booked a weekend getaway to Albania and felt an unexpected lightness in the decision.

It was not dramatic. It was a quiet recognition that I could choose something for myself without checking in with anyone or needing permission. At this stage of my life, I live alone, I work remotely, and I have more freedom than I had in my twenties or thirties. Back then, I would have asked a few people for their opinions and spent days researching. Now I simply thought, I want the sun, and let that desire be reason enough.

Listen to Episode 4

Midlife changes how you travel

I am very much in a slow travel season of my life. The urgency I used to feel in my earlier years is gone. I no longer feel the need to see everything or squeeze every moment out of a trip. Simplicity feels easier now. I can let an experience be meaningful without making it intense. I can sit on a bench, people watch, read a book, or soak in the feeling of a place without focusing on the checklist of sites.

That is one of the reasons I believe midlife is such a powerful time for a first solo trip. It is not because you suddenly become fearless. It is because you finally see yourself clearly. You know what you enjoy and what you do not. You know how to listen to your energy. It’s no longer an option to pretend that rushing around or pushing yourself to exhaustion is the definition of a good trip. Midlife brings a kind of honesty that makes travel richer, not smaller.

The hidden rules women carry

Before going deeper into this shift, I want to name something that many women feel but rarely say. There is a lifetime of quiet expectations that shape our choices. Be responsible. Choose something safe. Do not waste money. Do not make a mistake. Make sure other people are okay before you even consider what you want.

Even travel has unspoken rules. Do not be selfish. Do not pick something too adventurous. Do not inconvenience anyone. When you have carried those rules for decades, choosing something entirely for yourself can feel unfamiliar, sometimes even rebellious. Not because the act is big, but because choosing yourself goes against what you were taught about being dependable and thoughtful.

Midlife softens that internal conflict. You start noticing the weight of other people’s expectations, and you begin to realize how tired you are of performing the version of yourself that makes sense to others but not always to you.

The surprising freedom of letting go

One of the biggest changes in my travel life has been the sense of peace I feel. I do not need to do anything. I think about what feels good, what would delight me, and what might surprise me. There was a trip to London where I specifically chose a hotel because it had snacks, dinner, and a pantry. I needed rest. I wanted ease. And for one full day, I did not leave the hotel at all. I ate in the restaurant, enjoyed ice cream from the pantry, visited the rooftop, and rested. Twice on the ice cream, if we are being honest.

My younger self would have judged me so harshly. She would have worried about missing out. She would have tried to do London properly, whatever that even means. Midlife me knows rest is a valid part of the experience. Sometimes the quietest moments end up creating the most meaningful memories.

You do not have to earn your joy. You do not need to justify your peace. It’s the perfect time to let go of the fear of missing out and follow what feels right in the moment. That is the beauty of this stage of life. The self-trust is deeper. The confidence is quieter but steadier. You know you can figure things out because you have spent decades figuring things out.

You already have the skills you need

When women tell me they want to travel alone but do not feel ready, I want to remind them of something important. You already have the skills solo travel requires. Not the logistical skills. Those you can learn easily. I mean the life skills. The intuition. The discernment. The ability to make decisions. The sense of your own limits. You have built these skills through every chapter of your life, often without realizing it.

This is why midlife is such a powerful time to travel alone.

You are not trying to prove yourself to anyone.

You are not chasing anything.

You are not shaping yourself around someone else’s plans.

You are finally able to savor an experience for what it is, not for how it looks or how it should be done.

A small place to begin

If something inside you lifted even slightly while reading this, just a quiet sense that this could be possible for you, I want you to honor that feeling. You do not need to plan a full trip. You can begin with something simple. Think about one thing you want from your next journey. One feeling or one experience that your body is craving. That is enough. Desire is information. Let it come through without judging it.

If you want support or want to explore this gently, you are welcome in the Skool community. It is a space for women who are curious, tired of delaying themselves, and ready to see what freedom might look like at this stage of life. You can begin with the five day kickstart and take it at your own pace.

Midlife does not limit you. It reveals you. If you let it, this can become the perfect moment to choose yourself in a way you may not have allowed before.

Join the community

And if you want a place to explore this shift with other women who are feeling the same pull toward freedom, you’re welcome in my Skool community. It’s a warm space for support, clarity, and steady momentum as you take your first steps into becoming the woman who travels.