Midore Takada is a trauma-informed-certified holistic life coach in Richmond, Virginia in the US, specializing in helping high-achieving women in midlife who feel stuck, stretched thin, and disconnected from themselves by realigning their energy and priorities so they can feel fulfilled, present, and in control of their lives again. The image captures a woman with a face covered with an opened hard-covered book in blue color. She appeared to be on her back on a floor or a bench, top of her head is facing us and seems to be in stressed. Her hands touching the book cover and she’s wearing an orange shirt.

Midore Takada is a trauma-informed-certified holistic life coach in Richmond, Virginia in the US, specializing in helping high-achieving women in midlife who feel stuck, stretched thin, and disconnected from themselves by realigning their energy and priorities so they can feel fulfilled, present, and in control of their lives again. The image captures a copper singing bowl and a stick in a foreground and a seated short haired black woman on a grey yoga mat on a wood floor in the background. There is a sense of calm and groundedness in a space.

Midore Takada is a trauma-informed-certified holistic life coach in Richmond, Virginia in the US, specializing in helping high-achieving women in midlife who feel stuck, stretched thin, and disconnected from themselves by realigning their energy and priorities so they can feel fulfilled, present, and in control of their lives again. The image captures a marble table top scene with plan sketches, architect’s scale, a black spiral bound memo book, a black covered calendar book, a cup of espresso & saucer, a white laptop, a pencil and female hands flipping the sketches.

Many high-achieving women carry an unspoken belief that failure means something is broken—that they’ve miscalculated, fallen short, or simply weren’t good enough. When things don’t go as planned, their first instinct is to fix it quickly, push through, or quietly “do better next time.”

But what if failure isn’t a flaw in the process—what if it’s part of the process?

This morning, I lost it.

Not dramatically. Not publicly.
Just here, in my quiet, historic townhouse on a tree-lined street, before 9am.

Our next-door neighbor asked us to take care of their cat for a few days while they’re away. My husband, post-coffee, stepped outside to take care of feeding and litter duty. A small ask. A normal morning.

Meanwhile, I noticed the mess our cat had made overnight—dried flower petals scattered across the living room floor like botanical confetti. So, I vacuumed. Nothing big.

Midlife can often feel like a crossroads, a time where the future feels uncertain, and the question of “What’s next?” looms large. It’s easy to believe that by this point, the paths we’ve chosen are set in stone, and that reinvention is reserved for the young. But here’s the truth: Midlife can be the perfect time to reinvent yourself. In fact, it might be the best time. With the wisdom gained from years of experience, the desire for something deeper, and the courage that comes from realizing that life is short, midlife offers a unique opportunity to explore new paths.

If you resonated with Part 1 of this series, you now understand why so many midlife women feel stuck. You’ve likely identified some of the pressures, burnout symptoms, and limiting beliefs that have been keeping you in place. But awareness is just the beginning.

Now, it’s time to shift from recognition to action. In this article, you’ll discover practical strategies to break free from exhaustion, realign with what truly matters, and move forward with confidence and clarity.

Midlife is often portrayed as a time of wisdom and confidence, yet for many women, it feels anything but that. Instead of stepping into a phase of ease and self-assurance, you may find yourself questioning everything—career choices, personal fulfillment, and even your own worth. You juggle demanding work, family responsibilities, and the mental load of managing everything, yet still feel like you’re falling short.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty, constantly putting out fires but never making real progress toward a life that feels truly fulfilling, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explore the hidden struggles you may be facing and why so many midlife women feel stuck in cycles of exhaustion and self-doubt.

Your career should serve you, not drain you.

Does your work feel like an endless to-do list, leaving you exhausted and uninspired? If you find yourself constantly chasing deadlines, sacrificing personal time, and feeling stuck in a role that no longer fulfills you, it’s time to shift the dynamic. Your career should enhance your life, not consume it.

Do you ever feel like something is holding you back from the success, happiness, or fulfillment you desire? You might be working harder than ever, yet still feel like you're spinning your wheels—stuck in the same place, unable to move forward.