28. Why You Should Take That Girls Trip in Midlife

When was the last time you took a trip just for you?

Not for your kids.
 Not for your partner.
 Not squeezed into what was left over…

Just… you?

And be honest...have you ever thought about a girls trip… and then immediately talked yourself out of it?

Because of the time…
 The money…
 Or that little voice saying it’s “not necessary”?

Friend… we need to talk.

In this episode, I’m sharing what I was reminded of on my 50th birthday trip with my girlfriends, and why taking that time away isn’t selfish… it’s essential.

✨ We talk about:

•  Why your friendships need real investment (not just texts) 
•  How getting away helps you reconnect with yourself 
•  Why your family actually benefits when you leave 
•  The healing power of laughter (yes, it counts as self-care) 
•  And the truth about the “we don’t have the money” excuse 

💬 A few truths from this episode:

“When was the last time you took a trip just for you?”

“Girlfriends are the secret to a long, happy life.”

“Leaving actually helps your family grow stronger.”

🌊 Your takeaway

Book the trip.

If this hit home, DM me on Instagram and tell me—are you going? 

🔥 Ready to go all in and stop playing small? Apply now for my 1:1 Mentorship—personalized support for women who are serious about creating real transformation. Limited spots available.

https://dianaguintuspeaks.com/coaching

✨ Want to stop doubting yourself and finally silence your imposter? Grab my free guide 5 Secrets to Overcome Imposter Syndrome right here! https://dianaguintuspeaks.myflodesk.com/silenceyourimposter

💕Come hang out with me on Instagram—I share daily encouragement, behind-the-scenes, and real-talk for midlife women just like you.https://www.instagram.com/dianag_speaks

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:24

When was the last time you took a trip that was just for you? Not for your kids, not for your husband, not even for the family calendar. Just for you. And be honest, have you ever thought about taking a girl's trip? And immediately talked yourself out of it because maybe the money, maybe because of the time, or maybe it just didn't seem practical, or maybe because somewhere along the way, you decided you weren't allowed to want that. If that's you, this episode is especially for you. Welcome back to her next chapter, the podcast for the woman who knows there's more for her, even if she's still figuring out what that looks like. I'm your host, Diana Gintu, speaker, coach, and imposter syndrome expert. So I just got back from a weekend trip celebrating my upcoming 50th birthday. And I did it the best way I know how, on a beach with a few girlfriends, and we laid out in the sun. We started our mornings with rum and coke, because why not, ladies? And we ate too much fried food and got sunrash. Yes, like for real. Um, that happened, and we laughed. I mean, the kind of laughter where your stomach hurts, tears streaming down your face, and you're just like a little concerned that you might actually pee in your pants. Yes, that kind of laughter. And I'm sitting there in that moment thinking, my heart could not be happier. So today I want to talk to two types of women. The ones who already take girl trips. If that's you, let me just say, keep going, don't stop, you're doing it right. And the ones who are still on the fence, the ones who feel the pull but haven't made the leap. To you, my friend, I want you to come a little bit closer. Because maybe you've been conditioned to believe that your vacation time belongs to your family, or that the extra money should go to everybody else first. And listen, this might upset some people, it might ruffle a few feathers out there, but I'm gonna say it anyway because I know this for a fact. If your kids needed something, if your husband wanted something, those funds would somehow be found. And friend, I am not judging that, okay? Truly. We all have different priorities, but what I am saying is this don't let money be the excuse that keeps you from doing something that your soul is craving. Because I promise you, you will not regret taking that trip. In fact, consider this your official permission slip. And if you need more convincing, stick around because I want to share some reasons why you need to book this trip as soon as possible. Reason number one, your friendships matter more than you think. I remember watching this interview with people who lived past a hundred. There was a segment in one of the shows where they were interviewing different people that had lived past a hundred years old. And they were interviewing this one woman, and she was 102, if I remember correctly. And they asked her what the secret to her long life was. And do you know what she said? Girlfriends, it wasn't green juice, it was not a perfect workout routine, it was connection to her friends. And I felt that in my bones because I don't know how I would have navigated some of my hardest seasons of my life without my girlfriends. And here's the truth: you don't get those deep soul-sustaining friendships by accident. You have to invest in them. Not just the occasional text or the birthday dinner or um the liking each other's posts, but real time, intentional time. In a girl's trip, friend, that's where the magic happens. Okay. So invest in your friendships. Make time for connection. Reason number one is you need space to hear yourself again. Friend, I don't know about you, but life is loud. There is constant noise, constant demands, constant output. And the only way to come back to yourself is to step away. Step away from the calendars, from the to-dos, from all the mom, mom, ma, mom. And just even from all the projects, there's a reason why that old Calgan Take Me Away commercial worked in the 80s. It's still relevant today because we need to be taken away sometimes. On this trip, we played the game where we asked each other random questions throughout the day. Things like, where would you travel if money didn't matter? What's a fear you haven't said out loud? What's your biggest ick? Those were pretty funny. What's your biggest turn on? And it wasn't just fun, it was freeing. Because we weren't just reconnecting with each other, we were connecting with ourselves, parts of us that had been quiet for a long time. So taking a girl's trip doesn't just connect you with your girlfriends, but it also gives you space to hear yourself again. Reason number three: laughter is medicine and science backs it up. Now, here's for my type A girls because I know you're out there, and here's a little research to help you justify this trip. Let's talk about laughter. Laughter reduces stress hormones, it's gonna boost your immune system, it's gonna increase oxygen flow to your brain to help you with problem solving at work. And it's not only going to help you heal your body, right? It's also gonna help with your mental capacity. Let me tell you, the kind of laughter I experienced on that beach, that was therapy. No appointment needed and completely priceless because laughter is medicine, joy is medicine. So connect with it, make space for it, make space where you're not in a hurry to experience it. Your body and mind will thank you. Reason number four, it's actually good for your family. Yes, you heard it here first. It is actually good for your family. Now, I know that this might feel counterintuitive, right? But you leaving is good for them. Because when you step away, they step up. And I say this with so much love, but sometimes, ladies, we do so much that we don't leave room for anyone else to do anything. You know what I'm talking about. Yes, us high achievers can be what's the word I'm thinking about? Controlling. Yep, I've been there too. I used to prep everything before I left. I used to leave meals, schedules, suggestions, and I know that that comes from such a loving place of wanting to be helpful. But do you know what happened when I left? None of it got used. Because when I left, they figured it out. They made the bus, they fed themselves, they survived. And more than that, they grew. They stepped up. And when I came back, we missed each other. Things felt softer, lighter. There was space for us to breathe again. So you leaving is actually really good for them as well. So win-win. Last reason here is reason number five. You finally understand what it means to put yourself first. Now, here's the thing: we hear it all the time, right? We we board an airplane and we've heard it in movies. We hear it all the time, said flippantly, put your oxygen mask on first. Take care of yourself. Self-care matters. But let me ask you this: are you actually doing it? Because knowing something and living it are two very different things. I was just talking to my daughter about this the other day, and she said how lucky she feels to even know this kind of thinking, because so many people don't. And I told her that I work with women in midlife every single day, and so many of them are still learning this, not because they haven't heard it, but because they haven't allowed themselves to live it. A girl's trip, that's not a vacation, that's a declaration that you matter to. So here's what I want you to do. I want you to call your friends or I guess text them, get that group text going, pull out your calendars, book the trip. Yes, even if it's feels uncomfortable, even if you have to have a few conversations, even if it's not perfect, even if it's an hour away, even if you have to plan it a year in advance, get it going because you won't regret it, but you might regret not going. Friend, permission granted. And if this episode spoke to you, come find me on Instagram. You can find my handle in the show notes. I've got some really powerful things coming your way tools, conversations, and support to help you step into your next chapter. You don't want to miss it. Until next time, take care of yourself because you're worth it.