Things women over 35 should stop doing are often deeply ingrained habits that no longer serve their evolving needs and aspirations. By your mid-thirties, you’ve likely accumulated enough life experience to recognize patterns that drain your energy, limit your potential, and prevent you from embracing the confidence that comes with maturity. Yet many of us continue engaging in behaviors that drain our energy, limit our potential, and prevent us from embracing the confidence that comes with maturity.
The truth is, 35 is not the end of anything – it’s the beginning of your most authentic chapter. It’s time to shed the habits, mindsets, and people that have been holding you back. Here are ten things every woman over 35 should stop doing immediately to unlock a more fulfilling, purposeful life.
1. Stop Apologizing for Having Opinions – First Among Things Women Over 35 Should Stop Doing
Why this needs to stop: Constantly prefacing your thoughts with “I’m sorry, but…” or “This might be wrong, but…” undermines your credibility and signals that you don’t value your own insights.
What to do instead: Speak with conviction. Replace “Sorry, but I think…” with “In my experience…” or “I believe…” Your decades of life experience have earned you the right to express your views confidently.
The impact: When you stop apologizing for your opinions, people start taking you more seriously – and so do you. This fundamental shift is one of the most important things women over 35 should stop doing to reclaim their power.
Recommended resource: “The Confidence Code” by Kay and Shipman explores the science behind confidence and provides practical strategies for speaking with authority.
2. Stop Tolerating Toxic People
Why this needs to stop: Life is too short to waste emotional energy on people who consistently bring negativity, drama, or manipulation into your world. By 35, you should have developed enough discernment to recognize toxic behavior patterns.
What to do instead: Set firm boundaries. Learn to recognize red flags early: constant criticism, guilt-tripping, one-sided relationships, or people who only contact you when they need something. Distance yourself gracefully but firmly.
The reality check: Toxic people rarely change, but your tolerance for their behavior can and should. Learning to identify and distance yourself from negativity is among the most crucial things women over 35 should stop doing for their mental health.
Book recommendation: “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud offers practical guidance on creating healthy relationship limits.
3. Stop Living According to Others’ Expectations
Why this needs to stop: Society places countless expectations on women, especially those in their thirties and beyond. Whether it’s about career choices, relationships, having children, or how you should look, living for others’ approval is exhausting and unfulfilling.
What to do instead: Define success for yourself. Create your own timeline. Want to change careers at 38? Do it. Happy being single? Embrace it. Child-free by choice? Own it. Your life path doesn’t need to match anyone else’s blueprint.
The freedom: When you stop seeking external validation, you discover what genuinely makes you happy. Breaking free from others’ expectations is definitely one of the transformative things women over 35 should stop doing.
Explore: “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown discusses letting go of perfectionism and embracing authentic living.
4. Stop Postponing Your Dreams
Why this needs to stop: “I’ll do it when I have more time/money/energy” becomes a self-imposed prison. Dreams don’t have expiration dates, but life is finite.
What to do instead: Start where you are with what you have. Want to write a book? Begin with 15 minutes daily. Dream of traveling? Plan one small trip. Interested in a new skill? Take an online course this month.
Success stories: Colonel Sanders was 62 when he franchised KFC. Vera Wang entered fashion at 40. Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first Little House book at 64.
Resource: “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron provides a 12-week program for unlocking creative potential at any age.
5. Stop Underinvesting in Yourself
Why this needs to stop: Many women over 35 fall into the trap of putting everyone else’s needs first – children, partners, aging parents, careers – while neglecting their own health, growth, and happiness.
What to do instead: View self-investment as essential, not selfish. This includes:
- Quality skincare and regular health checkups
- Professional development and education
- Hobbies and interests that energize you
- Mental health support when needed
- Quality over quantity in possessions
The mindset shift: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself enables you to better care for others. Self-neglect is among the most damaging things women over 35 should stop doing immediately.
Consider: High-quality supplements, professional coaching, or courses that advance your career or personal interests. There are quite a lot of articles on these topics in my blog.
6. Stop Saying Yes to Everything
Why this needs to stop: Overcommitment leads to burnout, resentment, and mediocre performance across all areas of life. Your time and energy become more precious with age, not less.
What to do instead: Learn the art of the graceful “no.” Try phrases like:
- “I’m not available for that commitment.”
- “That doesn’t align with my current priorities.”
- “I need to check my schedule and get back to you.”
The boundary: Every “yes” to something unimportant is a “no” to something that matters. Over-committing is one of the exhausting things women over 35 should stop doing to preserve their energy for what truly counts.
Helpful read: “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown teaches the disciplined pursuit of less but better.
7. Stop Comparing Yourself to Social Media Highlights
Why this needs to stop: Social media comparison is particularly damaging for women over 35, who may already feel pressure about aging, career progress, or life milestones. Everyone’s posting their best moments, not their real lives.
What to do instead: Curate your feeds intentionally. Unfollow accounts that make you feel inadequate. Follow people who inspire and motivate you authentically. Consider regular social media detoxes.
The truth: That perfectly curated Instagram life isn’t real. Focus on your own journey and progress. Social media comparison is undoubtedly one of the most toxic things women over 35 should stop doing for their mental wellbeing.
Explore: Digital wellness apps or books about mindful technology use to create healthier online habits.
8. Stop Ignoring Your Health
Why this needs to stop: By 35, your body starts sending clearer signals about what it needs. Ignoring these signs now can lead to serious consequences later. Prevention is always easier than treatment.
What to do instead: Prioritize:
- Regular health screenings and check-ups
- Adequate sleep (7-9 hours consistently)
- Strength training to maintain bone density
- Stress management techniques
- Nutrition that fuels rather than just fills
The investment: Every healthy choice you make now pays dividends for decades to come. Neglecting health is one of the most costly things women over 35 should stop doing.
Consider: Working with a nutritionist, joining a fitness program designed for your age group, or investing in quality supplements.
9. Stop Staying in Unfulfilling Situations
Why this needs to stop: Whether it’s a job that drains you, a relationship that’s run its course, or a living situation that no longer serves you, staying stuck out of fear or comfort zone adherence limits your potential for growth and happiness.
What to do instead: Assess your life honestly. What areas consistently leave you feeling unfulfilled? Create an exit strategy – even if it takes time to execute. Small steps toward change are better than no steps at all.
The courage: Sometimes the risk of staying the same is greater than the risk of change.
Resources: Career coaching services, financial planning tools, or relationship counseling to help navigate major life transitions.
10. Stop Being Afraid of Being Alone
Why this needs to stop: Fear of solitude often leads to settling for less-than-ideal relationships, overcommitting socially, or avoiding activities you’d enjoy solo. Comfort with your own company is a superpower.
What to do instead: Cultivate a relationship with yourself. Take yourself on dates – to museums, restaurants, movies, or travel destinations. Use alone time for reflection, creativity, and personal growth.
The discovery: When you enjoy your own company, you attract better quality relationships and make decisions from a place of strength rather than fear.
Explore: Solo travel experiences, meditation practices, or journaling techniques to deepen self-awareness.
Your Next Chapter Starts Now
Turning 35+ isn’t about limitations – it’s about liberation. You’ve earned the wisdom to know what doesn’t work and the courage to create what does. Understanding these things women over 35 should stop doing is just the beginning – each behavior you choose to eliminate creates space for something better to enter your life.
The women who thrive after 35 aren’t the ones who have it all figured out; they’re the ones who stop doing what doesn’t serve them and have the courage to write their own rules.
Take action today: Choose one item from this list and commit to addressing it this week. Small changes compound into life-changing transformations.
Your most authentic, confident, and fulfilling years are ahead of you – but only if you stop the behaviors that have been holding you back.
What resonated most with you from this list? Share your thoughts and experiences – your story might inspire another woman to make positive changes in her life.
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