How to Heal Amid a Mid-Life Crisis

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A midlife crisis can happen to anyone between the ages of 40 and 65. This is the time in your life when you are transitioning from what feels like young adulthood into your “mature” years. Your body may not look the way you remember it, you may find you’re tired more often than before, and you may even look back on your life and feel unfulfilled.

A midlife crisis can lead to feelings of life dissatisfaction, poor self-image, and even infidelity within a marriage. Whether you are dealing with the effects of your midlife crisis or that of your spouse, these tips from Situational Wellness can help you find inspiration during this tumultuous time.

Change Your Diet

According to Prevention, after 40 your diet needs to change. Increase your calcium to keep your bones strong, and increase your protein intake to prevent muscle attrition. Lean towards those leafy greens and Omega-3 rich foods, too. And the food you eat can have a profound effect on your emotional state.

Take a look at your plate at each meal and ask yourself if what’s there is helping or hindering your moods. Fortunately, many of the changes you need to make to your diet after 40 will also positively affect your mood. Leafy greens, fish, lean meat, and produce all fill your body with necessary nutrients for physical and emotional health.

Start a Business

If your personal crisis has you feeling less than professionally fulfilled, remember that you are never too old to start your own business. Marketing firm Next Step explains that many business owners today have quit measuring profits and begun to measure their businesses’ impact. Starting your business can help you meet your personal and professional goals.

Keep in mind that, although your primary goal is not profits, you should use bookkeeping software that helps you manage your money. Use an invoice maker, too, to give your company a polished, professional look. Remember, if you are not earning an income, you may not be able to sustain your passion project. Proper business software will also help you stay organized and work more efficiently.

Take a Vacation

Sometimes, the only way to drag yourself out of a funk is to walk away from your responsibilities for a few days. If you’ve never been one to travel, now’s a great time to start, and Travel + Leisure asserts that there are many places that are great for solo travelers. A quick trip to the beach, a weekend in Boston, or a month in the mountains may be just what the doctor ordered.

Reach Out to Old Friends

It can help to know that you are not alone in your feelings. Don’t be shy about reaching out to old friends from high school or college. Even if you haven’t spoken in 20 years, reconnecting now can help you feel more like yourself and show you that everyone’s life is moving forward like your own.

Evaluate What You Have

Let’s face it, when you are in the midst of self-pity, it’s not always easy to be thankful. Instead of focusing on what you’ve lost, try practicing gratitude for those things that you have gained with age. Your children, career, wisdom, friendship, memories… These are all things to be proud of that you would never have had as a 20-something.

Accept Responsibility

Even if you are dealing with the consequences of a partner’s midlife infidelity, you must learn to accept responsibility for the role you played. Perhaps you were distant or focused on other things. While you may not have done anything to trigger cheating, this is also a great time to evaluate your life decisions and make changes where you feel changes are needed.

These are just a few pointers. How you recover emotionally from a midlife crisis will be unique to you. Just know that you will heal. From changing your diet or your career to being thankful for what you have, every action you take each day can put you one step closer to being where you want to be in life at 40 and beyond.

Maintaining wellness takes effort, but it is incredibly important especially as we age. Situational Wellness Concepts has resources to help you to stay grounded and heal from life’s challenges. Visit us today to begin your wellness journey.

Editor’s note: Sheila Olsen is a fitness trainer and writer. You can visit her website at fitsheila.com and contact at info@fitsheila.com