| | | | Thanksgiving is behind us. The leftovers are finally out of the fridge. Our college-aged kids have returned to campus, the tree is up (thanks to your husband, who managed to assemble it mid-football game… or, more likely, managed to bribe the kids to do it while you were hunting down Tupperware lids—but that still counts!), and the last of the pie tins are rinsed.
Now should be the moment to sit back and exhale—right?
And yet, for many women in midlife, the holiday season can feel like a marathon of invisible labor. From remembering every relative’s dietary restriction to keeping peace in the group chat, kinkeeping—the emotional work of holding a family together—tends to fall on us.
Raise your hand if you’re surprised. Oh, nobody?!?
It's become so commonplace that it’s essentially the status quo now. Last week, Amazon Prime released a new Christmas movie, Oh. What. Fun., featuring Michelle Pfeiffer as the under-appreciated and fed up mom who does everything she can to make the holidays picture-perfect for her ungrateful family. And it takes her running away—and their holiday festivities crashing to a halt—for them to appreciate all the work she does!
Still, this year (holiday movies, aside), there are signs of progress. A recent survey shows more partners and adult children are stepping up, taking on tasks like gift-wrapping and tradition-making. It may not be much, but it’s a start.
So wherever the season finds you—resting, gathering or opting out entirely—we hope you’re able to let go of what’s not yours to hold. That’s our plan, too. You won’t find us in your inbox on December 25, but we’ll be back on January 8, as if we never went away.
The Flow Space team and I wish you a Merry Christmas—and we’ll see you in the New Year! |
| The Author Reclaiming Joy, One Chapter at a Time Tembi Locke is no stranger to transformation. The New York Times bestselling author, actress, screenwriter and producer has spent years exploring the intersections of grief, resilience and creative reinvention—both on the page and on screen. Now, with her newest memoir Someday, Now, Locke turns her lens inward once again, capturing the emotional complexity of watching her only child leave for college.
But instead of accepting the outdated narrative of the “empty nest,” Locke reframes this moment as an opportunity to re-nest—a conscious return to self, full of curiosity, creativity and connection. Flow Space recently caught up with her to talk about aging, joy and what it really means to thrive in the “in between.” |
What’s a message you have for women who are afraid of aging? OK, so my message for women who are afraid of aging is that aging is a privilege. It is a privilege to be alive, to be wise, to be learning more each day. Also, I think our relationships strengthen. I think we know ourselves more. So, instead of looking at it as something that is a loss or something that is gone, I choose to look at all the additive things about aging—and also vitamins. Just take vitamins.
How do you encourage women to find their creativity, especially if they feel they've lost it in midlife? So finding, rekindling, reconnecting with your creativity in midlife… First, it has to be intentional. It's not just gonna happen to you. I usually say, go back to something you really enjoyed—either as a child or a teenager or definitely in your early 20s—and pick that thing up again. Just do it, like whatever it is. That is a perfect way to kind of open the door to discovering what things you like to do creatively now, because creativity is so much a part of our vitality in midlife. And I think that we should dabble in lots of different things to find the thing that brings us joy.
What is a habit you swear by each day to bring you joy? A simple habit, I swear by each day to bring me joy is at least five minutes of and… I’m gonna use “shake your butt!” Shake whatever you need to shake. But you need like five minutes a day of just that joyous movement. Sometimes it's just as simple as putting on your favorite song or a playlist, anything that gets you doing that.
How do you find flow—that moment, or ability, to be fully immersed and present in the moment—in your life? So the way I find flow most frequently is I have to really slow everything down and turn inward. And what I mean by that is like, in a moment where everything feels very, very chaotic, but I know I need to access something better, something deeper, something fuller, I will usually take a very deep breath, turn in, and then go, what is the one next thing I can do now? What that usually does is it puts me toward that flow state, right? That gets me in flow with what I want to do—and putting everything else off to the side, because when you're looking out, left and right, it's sort of hard to stay in the flow state. |
Turn Up the Heat at All Your Holiday Parties When temperatures drop, women over 40 often face a familiar style dilemma: how to show up for holiday parties and winter events looking fabulous without sacrificing warmth—or comfort. This year, Flow Space’s winter style package offers a joyful solution, combining chic silhouettes with cozy fabrics and foot-friendly heels, proving that style in midlife doesn't have to come with frostbite (or foot pain).
First up: festive dresses that don’t leave you shivering. From plush velvets to sculptural sweater knits, our roundup of 14 shimmering winter dresses proves that elegance and insulation can go hand-in-hand. Whether you're headed to a work gala or your niece's cookie swap, these picks—paired with strategic accessories like glittering boots and plush velvet clutches—will help you stay warm and Insta-ready.
Of course, what’s a perfect dress without the right shoes? For our editor-in-chief, finding a stiletto that didn’t destroy her feet felt like a midlife miracle—until she discovered Inez’s cushioned Mia heels. Designed by a female-founded brand and tested on the dance floor at a Manhattan anniversary party, these pumps were proof that supportive heels can still sparkle.
If you're not ready to commit to just one pair, we’ve got you covered with our expert-vetted roundup of the most comfortable heels for women in midlife. These aren’t your daughter’s fashion shoes—they’re podiatrist-approved picks with built-in arch support, roomy toe boxes, and stability that doesn’t skimp on style. Whether you’re eyeing a sleek slingback or a block-heeled boot, you’ll walk (and dance) away with zero regrets. |
MOBILIZING with movement and fascia expert Jessa Zinn , whose signature “Zinn Method” helps women unlock energy, flexibility and strength in just 15 minutes a day. As the go-to Structural Integrator for Peloton instructors and fascia lead for Halle Berry’s Re•spin, Zinn is in high demand. Flow Space readers can now access her transformative membership for 50% off—exclusively for newsletter subscribers. Sign up here.
LEARNING from Savvy and 65: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Medicare, a clear, compassionate resource from HealthyWomen that helps demystify enrollment, coverage options, and what midlife women need to know before making decisions. Whether you’re approaching 65 or helping a loved one navigate it, this guide is a must-read.
SAYING GOODBYE to parched winter skin with OLAMIC’s Retin-Algae Body Butter, a velvety formula powered by encapsulated retinol and marine algae. It hydrates, smooths, and firms—leaving skin soft, glowing and anything but dry. Think retinol-level results with the softness of your coziest cashmere.
READING Age Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz, a science-meets-sisterhood guide to navigating menopause with clarity, strength and—yes—joy. Drawing on the latest research and hormone insights, Pelz reframes menopause as a powerful neurological upgrade, helping women harness this transition for renewed energy and confidence. |
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