How I’m Using Señora Era Habits To Have A Better Year

I’ve reached an age where I am in the later part of my career (can’t believe it’s been 20 years!), and I am now closer to retirement than I was when I was 20. That means that my hustling years are behind me.

Don’t get me wrong; I love working hard and putting in sweat equity into a startup. I wrote a 70,000 word book under a deadline for the love of god. But I also love spending time with my family, reading a book, writing just because and getting lost in an exciting new Netflix series. Years ago this would have been here say for me. Back then, when hustle culture was in full force, I bought into it completely. I lived and breathed boss babe. That was when sleeping underneath your desk was like a badge of honor, and after work you’d go to parties to network, not to have fun.

But I’m in my 40’s and I’m tired, and I have a preschooler.

For the past few years I have chosen a theme to my life (as has Christina); that of being a Señora, and relish the fact that we are in, in fact, deep in our señora eras. An I really do think it has improved my life. How I cope with challenges, and how much happiness and motivation I feel day to day.

This means several different things for separate parts of my life:

Leaving Work At Work

I leave work at the door (proverbially, given I work from home), and I make sure a bad work day doesn’t ruin my entire day. I love my job, but everybody has those days when you’d rather stay under the covers. When that happens, I know that when the work day ends I am through worrying about whatever that deadline was that I missed. There’s always tomorrow.

Not Doing Things For Money Only

Before, you couldn’t catch me doing anything that didn’t involve making money. Now, if I start learning how to sew, it’s not because I want to put my stuff on Etsy. It’s because I want something to do with my hands that make me feel good and that makes me calm. Having hobbies that nourish you are important for your mind and for your balance.

Being Present

I live on my phone, and I know most people do too, which is why it’s so hard to let go of the bad habit of too much screen time. But with research studies that are showing just how bad too much screen time is for our health – and for our kid’s health – it’s probably best we all start to figure out how to soothe ourselves without pulling up Tik Tok or refreshing our gmail. Lately, I’ve been trying to set rules for myself and my family, where we put our phones away when we have dinner or lunch. There’s something special about sharing your favorite parts of your day, or talking about colorful stories.

Not Caring What People Think

Remember how focused we were during our 20’s (and maybe even early 30’s) about what people thought of us? That time is done, and I no longer care about what people think about what I am doing. It’s so refreshing to set yourself free of something that was so limiting before. You tap into your creativity, adventure, and find yourself doing thigns that would have scared you ten, twenty years ago. It’s good for your career, good for your self-esteem, and good for your future.

Not Dwelling In the Past

It’s important not to dwell on the past because while our memories provide warmth and wisdom, they can also hold us back if we let them define our lives. Clinging too tightly to what once was may prevent us from fully embracing the vibrant, ever-changing present and the endless possibilities of the future. By honoring our past as a valuable part of who we are without allowing it to overshadow our current experiences, we free ourselves to grow, innovate, and create new memories. This balance lets us appreciate our history while keeping our hearts and minds open to the fresh joys and challenges that each new day brings. This means letting go of mistakes you may have made, dumb moves when you were young, or anything you are embarrassed about. You know what? So what. It’s in the past. Let it go. No one remembers, only you. Free yourself.

Living life more like a señora isn’t about cleaning your house a certain way or dancing with the broom to Luis Miguel. It’s a way of life that you can use to improve every aspect of your life.