Girlhood Whimsy: 3 Ways To Reconnect With Your Playful Side As You Age

What if the secret to feeling more like yourself again isn’t found in a makeover or a milestone, but in rediscovering the girl you used to be? The rise of girlhood whimsy trend is inspiring women of any age to embrace play, wonder and self-expression once again. For those in midlife, it’s less about nostalgia and more about coming home to yourself. We asked our spiritual soul sister and author Becky Blue to share how reconnecting with your inner girl can spark joy, courage and a fresh sense of possibility.

You may see it in your own daughters, granddaughters or the girls in your neighbourhood. They giggle loudly, pile on colourful accessories just because they make them smile, and ask questions without worrying whether they’ll sound silly. They cartwheel down the pavement, attempt to climb the neighbour’s tree, organise a bike parade even if no one else joins in, and dance barefoot under the moonlight as fireflies flicker around them.

Watching them, you can’t help but wonder: When did I stop being like that?

That longing has a name: girlhood whimsy. It’s the joyful, playful, wonderfully unfiltered part of ourselves that existed before we learned to shrink, to stay quiet or to worry about being called too much, too different or too weird.

Before adolescence, most girls haven’t yet absorbed the invisible rules about fitting in. They are curious, expressive and gloriously unconcerned with taking up space. But somewhere along the way, many of us tuck that fearless version of ourselves away with old diaries, friendship bracelets and childhood dreams, convinced she’s no longer welcome.

The truth is, she never really left. She has simply been waiting for an invitation back.

What Is Girlhood Whimsy?

The phrase girlhood whimsy has exploded across social media, with millions of posts celebrating childlike wonder, colourful fashion, collecting tiny treasures, making art simply for the pleasure of it, reading fairy tales, pressing flowers, baking nostalgic recipes and embracing unapologetic joy.

At first glance, it may seem like just another Gen Z aesthetic. But beneath the ribbons, stickers and vintage teacups lies something surprisingly relevant for women in midlife: the importance of reconnecting with the parts of yourself that existed before life became a series of responsibilities, expectations and roles to perform. Before you were someone’s employee, partner, mother, caregiver or the person who always had to “have it together.“

The beauty of whimsy is that it refuses to follow rules. Merriam-Webster defines whimsy as “the quality of being playful, fanciful, and slightly unpredictable.” It means following an imaginative impulse rather than strict logic, bringing surprise, curiosity and light-heartedness into everyday life.

In a culture that often tells women over 50 to become quieter, more practical or even invisible, embracing a little whimsy can feel quietly rebellious. It reminds us that joy doesn’t have an age limit. You don’t stop playing because you grow older; perhaps you simply forget that play is still available to you.

Maybe that’s why girlhood whimsy resonates so deeply across generations. It’s less about returning to childhood than reclaiming a sense of freedom, creativity and delight that adulthood often pushes aside. And in midlife, that may be one of the most liberating acts of all.

Why Reconnecting With Yourself In Midlife And Beyond Matters

What did I love before I started editing myself to fit everyone else’s expectations? It’s a simple question, but one that can unlock a lifetime of forgotten dreams, abandoned passions and hidden parts of ourselves.

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to be practical instead of playful, responsible instead of curious, agreeable instead of authentic. We became partners, mothers, carers, professionals and problem-solvers. In the process, we often silenced the little voice that once knew exactly what brought us joy.

Midlife offers something surprisingly rare: permission to ask that question again.

Reconnecting with yourself means rediscovering the qualities that made you feel most alive before the world told you who you should be. Perhaps you loved painting, writing stories, collecting beautiful objects or wearing colours that made you smile. Perhaps you simply laughed more and worried less about what other people thought.

The War Paint Journal recently discussed this topic on their Instagram account suggesting that girls “slowly learn which parts of their joy get them laughed at.” Over time, that fear begins to squelch their whimsy, encouraging them to become more subdued. As the post points out, a girl’s first act of fitting in is often saying, “I don’t care,” followed by other flat responses such as, “Forget it,” or “Never mind.”

Psychologists have long recognised this phenomenon. Research by developmental psychologist Carol Gilligan found that many girls begin losing confidence in expressing themselves during adolescence as social pressures increase.

For many women, those habits quietly follow them into adulthood; don’t let them convince you it’s too late to become more fully yourself.

A growing body of studies shows that playfulness in adulthood is linked to greater psychological well-being, creativity, resilience and lower stress levels. Researchers have also found that playful adults tend to cope better with life transitions, maintain stronger social relationships and experience higher life satisfaction.

In other words, reconnecting with your playful side isn’t frivolous. It can be remarkably good for your mental health.

How To Reconnect With Yourself Through Girlhood Whimsy

Is it possible to rediscover our girlhood in mid-life? Can we bring back the whimsy and let go of  self-consciousness? Can we dare to be called “extra”? Before expectations, responsibilities and the pressure to fit in arrived, there was a version of you who followed curiosity wherever it led—without worrying how she looked, what others thought, or whether she was being “too much.“

Close your eyes and travel back to yourself at thirteen. Take a moment to recall the playfulness of your childhood. Where were you? What did you look like? Who were you with? How did you feel? Dig out photo albums or school yearbooks to help you remember. Call your childhood best friend and ask about that first summer camp together. Who was your camp crush?

Now take those memories and time travel them to today. What might your life look like now if you added just a bit of your 13-year-old self back into it?

But when you look back, don’t just remember the girl you were—remember the feeling of being her. What made her light up?What made her lose track of time? What brought her joy before the world taught her to edit herself?

Because that spark—the creativity, curiosity and sense of wonder that once came so naturally—never truly disappeared. It has simply been waiting for you to find your way back to it.

Here are a few ways to reconnect with who you were before the world told you who to be.

• Wear Something That Makes You Smile

Speaking of trends, let’s begin with your closet. We all know that finding clothes that match our midlife imaginations of beauty and comfort and fun is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Could part of the challenge be that we have inside of us the idea that we don’t want to be noticed?

I went through an all navy phase that I am just now breaking free from with colors and accessories. Maybe you look best in a full column of black. Embrace the compliments. Embrace being noticed. Once upon a time you weren’t afraid of being seen. You would call to your mom from the playground, “look at me!” Bring those three words back to your soul.

What happens if you wear the earrings that sparkle a little more? Or the brightly coloured trainers? Or the oversized floral scarf you’ve been saving for “the right occasion“?

As children, we dressed for delight. Perhaps it’s time to do that again.

• Speak Up and Use Your Voice Again

Now let’s find your voice. Do you hear yourself saying, “forget it” or “never mind” or not saying anything at all? Think about the times you do use your voice. Who are you with? What are you saying? How do you feel? Allow yourself to be slightly unpredictable: bring childlike joy to the conversation. If you don’t get asked back for coffee, find a new coffee group.

• Choose People Who Celebrate Your Joy

Friends, old and new, have an important role to play in finding our whimsy. They can make it or break it.

Don’t be surprised if a friend questions your choices: we usually don’t expect people to change in midlife, which is unfortunate. The truth is that you don’t need to apologize for your new choices: the friend who questions your pottery class or your idea of becoming a playwright in after 50  may simply be reacting to your courage, so keep going anyway.

However, you should be open to new relationships that those choices bring. Your decision to audition for the community theater will hopefully bring out all your friends on opening night to cheer you on.

Whimsy can be an all out wild ride or just a gentle turn from your usual course. The point is that you can choose. Your courage will fuel the journey to joy.

Why Playfulness Is One Of The Best Midlife Habits

Somewhere between careers, caregiving and endless to-do lists, many of us forgot that having fun is actually good for us. Yet a playful mindset keeps us curious, boosts creativity, reduces stress and helps us bounce back when life throws the unexpected our way. The best part? Playfulness doesn’t have an age limit. In fact, it may be one of the smartest ways to embrace ageing.

The goal isn’t to become your thirteen-year-old self again. It’s to reclaim the parts of her that adulthood convinced you to leave behind.

Embracing your girlhood whimsy doesn’t mean you are going backwards or clinging to the past. It’s simply a wake-up call that whispers, “Come home.” Not to the person you used to be, but to the woman you’ve always been beneath the expectations, responsibilities and endless to-do lists.

What part of yourself did you stop showing the world — and would you like to bring it back?

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