20 Ways to Survive a Mid-Life Crisis

There comes a time in everyone’s lives when we really start feeling our age. Let’s face it, there’s no glamour in aging and anyone who’s been on the brink of a big life change knows it can be both complicated and frightening. A mid-life crisis occurs at a time in our life when we undergo great stress, usually in our 40’s and 50’s; and can be triggered by a stressful event, life transition or just facing our own mortality. Everyone handles stress differently. Unfortunately, some people become selfish and self-destructive, unhappy and resentful and desire to have a different life. Why?
You do not depreciate – you increase in value with age

When we are young, we look forward to milestones. Getting a driver’s license, turning 21, getting married, having kids, etc. If you become a parent, you then look forward to your children’s milestones. But eventually, we start running out of things to look forward to. Our life that was once very comfortable and routine has suddenly been turned upside down due to forces beyond our control. Rather than being negative and set-in-our-ways, try embracing this stage of life as a time of discovering opportunities and possibilities. Here are some helpful tips to help ease the transition into middle life.

It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Set realistic goals and work towards putting your

stamp on the world. Write a book, learn how to play guitar, travel the world. Never give up on your dreams.
Look forward and not back. Leave your past on the dusty trail behind you.
Learn from your mistakes and turn them into victories.
Do not take your body and your health for granted. Start becoming an active participant in your

well-being. Eat right, exercise and stop reaching for pills, they are not always a cure to what ails you.
Work on your relationships. Make time for friends and family – they are your foundation.
If you’re blessed with children, the best thing we can do for them id to give them memories and get to know them.
If you’re married, give your spouse the care and attention they need. Marriages change over time. Continuously work at merging your lives and not taking separate paths.
Work on your relationship with yourself. You can take better care of the important people in your life if you first take care of yourself.
Don’t be your own worst critic. Expect progress, not perfection. Learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities to grow.
Become more active in society. If you’re unhappy with the world around you, don’t complain and stand by waiting for the world to change. Be the change you want to see. Make it happen!
Surround yourself with people who are a little better than yourself. Choose friends who lift you up and not stifle you.
Stop being stubborn and set-in-your-ways. When you create an unrealistic vision of reality in your own mind, don’t expect the world around you to conform to it. Sometimes you have to find happiness in imperfection.
Don’t let life get comfortable and boring. Constantly look for ways to spice it up. Start playing baseball instead of just watching it.
Don’t give in to emotional eating. Eat well, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep.
Be your own hero not a victim. You are responsible for your own destiny. Stop making excuses and blaming others for a life that you are unhappy with.
Don’t be shy about showing off your strengths and always look for improvement.
Do something for the very first time.
In the end, sometimes things just work out the way they are supposed to ….not necessarily how we had planned. Be flexible and don’t be afraid to take risks.
Have gratitude. Be thankful for all that you’ve been blessed with. No matter how bad things seem remember, you’re still breathing
Don’t forget to laugh. In times of great stress, laughter is the best medicine. Laugh at your mistakes instead of feeling embarrassed. We’ve all been there.