Women’s Health Unwrapped
Episode 149:
Boundaries: How to honour yourself and thrive in midlife
If you’re exhausted in midlife, this could be why…
“We need women to shift away from the narrow view of health, because obsessing over diet and exercise alone can actually harm long-term wellbeing. ”
— Nicola Farndell
“Midlife is not a decline — it’s a renovation. It’s the perfect time to look at your life and decide what stays, what goes, and what needs rebuilding from the foundation up. Because without a strong foundation of self-respect, values, and purpose, no amount of diet or exercise will make you feel truly healthy or whole.”
— Courtney Townley
In this episode of Women’s Health Unwrapped:
Midlife isn’t about fixing what’s on the surface — it’s about rebuilding from the foundations up.
In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Courtney Townley to explore why boundaries, self-care, and authenticity are the cornerstones of health and happiness in midlife. We talk about the renovation years — that stage where you start questioning what’s truly working for you, and what’s no longer aligned. We uncover why managing your stress, setting boundaries, and letting go of people-pleasing can completely transform how you feel, think, and show up in your life.
Courtney shares her simple, practical steps for creating and honouring boundaries — starting small so it feels doable — and we discuss why self-care isn’t about spa days, but about consistently honouring your energy, values, and priorities. If you’ve been feeling drained, spread too thin, or ready to reclaim your energy and confidence, this episode will help you reconnect with who you are and what really matters.
In our conversation we’re unwrapping:
Why taking time to know yourself is one of the most nutritious habits you can develop.
The power of journaling to reveal patterns in your thoughts.
What boundaries are — and why they’re essential for every aspect of your health.
How people-pleasing leads to self-abandonment and integrity pain.
Why health is a direction, not a destination.
How self-care and boundary setting are inseparable.
Why stress management is the ultimate midlife health skill.
How authenticity deepens relationships.
The value of starting small when practising boundaries.
About Courtney Townley:
Courtney Townley is a health and self-leadership coach, speaker, and host of the top-rated Grace & Grit podcast. She helps midlife women to cut through the noise of wellness culture and lead themselves with less overwhelm and more confidence.
With over three decades in the wellness industry, she’s discovered that deep health isn’t about following someone else’s manual—it’s about writing your own. A sought-after speaker and educator, she blends science with straight talk, helping women navigate behaviour change with grace, grit and self-trust.
When she’s not coaching, speaking, or podcasting, you’ll find her salsa dancing, traveling, or soaking up time with her family and her beloved Great Dane, Sully.
Connect with Courtney:
Download your free Power Pak from Courtney and unlock the secrets to ditching the self-doubt and restoring your confidence
Finding it hard to say no—even when you know you should?
You’re not alone—and it’s not because you’re weak.
If you’ve spent years holding it all together for everyone else, it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs. But here’s the truth: protecting your energy starts with honouring yourself. And that means setting boundaries that feel good, not guilty.
My free Perimenopause Revival Guide will help you reconnect with what matters most, so you can say yes to the right things and no to the rest—without burning out.
Inside, you’ll find simple, practical ways to:
💛 Create breathing space in your day
💛 Strengthen your energy and emotional resilience
💛 Build small habits that support your health and happiness in midlife
Download your free guide and start protecting your time, your energy, and your peace—because when you thrive, everything changes.
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