At 54, exhausted and running on empty, Monique van Tulder did something radical — she walked away from the life that was draining her. What started as a small step — changing lightbulbs in another house — turned into five months of solitude, adventure, and self-discovery. She calls it A Grown Up’s Gap Year.

In this conversation, Monique shares the truth so many women over 50 will recognise: years of putting everyone else first, of pushing through fatigue and health scares, of saying yes when they wanted to say no.

Her story begins not with adventure, but with depletion — thyroid cancer, low iron, invisible burnout — and a quiet longing to feel like herself again. What followed was a journey that was both terrifying and exhilarating: arriving alone in a silent Austrian village, leaping off cliffs to prove she still had courage, and slowly rediscovering joy, creativity, and her own voice. She came home renewed, lighter, and ready to name herself Project Fabulous Woman — a reminder that her own health, joy, and worth matter too.

This episode is not just about leaving home. It’s about permission. Monique reframes midlife and shows how any woman, anywhere, can create her own version of a gap year. Even fifteen minutes a day can be the spark of transformation. Whether you’re feeling burnt out, invisible, or simply craving something more, Monique’s story is a powerful reminder: midlife is not the end of the story. It’s the perfect season to begin again.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why women so often hit burnout in midlife — and how to recognise the signs.
How Monique turned a small act of escape into a life-changing adventure.
The role of fear, courage, and joy in rediscovering yourself. What it means to become your own “Project Fabulous Woman.”
Simple tools like “Kind Starts” and mini gap years you can use right now.

Links:

https://www.moniquevantulder.com/

https://www.instagram.com/moniquevantulder/

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