- Midlife crisis explained
- Prioritize yourself
- Keep track of changes
- Learn something new
- Reconnect
- Prioritize your love life
- Stay active
- Add healthy habits
- Spend time outdoors
- Work on a project
- Consider therapy
A midlife crisis isn’t a mental health diagnosis, but it can certainly be a challenging time for many people. There are ways to use this period of life to your advantage.
The idea of a midlife crisis is a common trope, often used as the plot for TV shows and movies: A middle-aged man buys a red sports car on a whim, or a character’s affair is blamed on a midlife crisis.
You’ve likely seen it in real life, too, or maybe you’ve heard about someone who just up and quit their job with seemingly no backup plan.
What is a midlife crisis?
Experts have been debating for decades whether midlife crises are real at all. There’s still no good answer. But one thing is for certain: A midlife crisis isn’t a mental health diagnosis.
Here’s what we know.
Some evidence suggests that reported happiness appears to drop for people between 40 and 60 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source also reports that this age group has the highest rates of depression.
Why are depression rates so high, and where did the idea of a midlife crisis come from? There are a few answers to these questions.
One reason is that midlife is the first time many people are no longer able to think of themselves as young. This change in thinking can force people to rethink everything about their lives, including their marriages and careers, as they consider how many years they may have left to live. This contemplation leads some people to rethink their relationships.
Additionally, people in midlife who have settled into their careers might suddenly struggle with their achievements or lack thereof.
But midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis at all. In fact, midlife is a fantastic time to make positive changes in your life. You can improve your relationships while working on being happier and healthier.
Focus on yourself
It’s common for people in midlife to report burnout.
You might feel overworked. You might be stressed as a result of taking care of your children or an aging parent. You might be juggling your relationship with financial issues and other hardships. No matter what you’re juggling, it can be hard to stop and breathe. You might even feel selfish for taking time for yourself.
But you don’t need to. Mental health experts agree that focusing on yourself is incredibly important. Taking the time to ask yourself what you want and what you’re feeling can be the first step toward knowing whether you need to make a change.
So, before you do anything else, take some time to think about how things have been going for you in the past few years. It’s the best way to get started on your midlife refresh.
Make note of changes in your life
Midlife can bring changes. Often, these changes happen fast, without an adjustment period or time to process them.
Many mental health professionals agree that one of the best things you can do is set aside the time to acknowledge those changes. This doesn’t mean you need to dwell on the past — it simply means that it’s a good idea to be actively aware of changes.
For some people, this might mean journaling to work through events.
One thing that can be especially beneficial? Taking time to be grateful for any positive changes.
Learn something new
There are multiple benefits to learning something new. It can keep your mind active, give you something to be excited about, and give you an amazing sense of pride and accomplishment.
You can learn an astounding range of things in the comfort of your home. You can learn to speak a new language, write computer code, or advance your cooking skills using apps on your phone. You can take entire courses from top universities on just about any subject you can imagine. Some online programs even allow you to earn credits or certificates.
If you’d rather get out of the house, your local community college is a great place to start. Most community colleges offer a full slate of courses just for adult learners who’d like to pick up a new skill.
Reconnect with friends and family
Therapists and researchers have strongly suggested that social connections are important for mental health. It can make a huge difference in your life to have people you can share good times and celebrations with, people you can call for a good conversation, and people you can count on for support during tough times.
It’s also common to feel isolated, especially in midlife. Reaching out to family and friends and trying to stay connected can help. You don’t have to plan a party or a major event to reconnect. It’s best to start with a simple hello, whether that’s sending a text message to your sister, a Facebook message to a local friend, or an email to a friend you haven’t seen in years.
Make time for your love life
Marriage difficulties are often associated with midlife. Divorce, affairs, and simply the cooling down of romantic and sexual feelings are commonly reported to therapists.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the decline of relationships is an unavoidable part of midlife. Marriage and family therapists recommend that you take some time at this point to think about what you want from yourself, your life, and your partner.
Plan a romantic vacation, schedule date nights, or find new ways to show appreciation for your spouse or partner.
If you’re single and thinking about making a change, maybe now is the time to download a dating app or find events where you can mingle with like-minded singles.
Find new ways to stay active
In addition to its many physical benefits, physical exercise can improve your mental health, sharpen your focus, and reduce your stress. But it can start to feel boring if you’ve been doing the same cycling or running routine for a long time.
If you’re already hitting the gym several days per week, finding new ways to stay active can help keep you motivated, boost your mood, and increase your confidence. You might consider trying a new class, working with a trainer, or buying some new exercise attire.
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to fitness. A ballroom dance class, hiking group, or local recreational sports league can all be a fantastic way to stay fit. Plus, these activities can be a fun and low-stress way to make a few new friends.
Pick up a healthy habit
Small changes can go a long way. Midlife is an ideal time to start a new healthy habit.
You don’t have to overhaul your entire lifestyle — pick a small change and stick with it. You’ll get the health benefits of the change and the satisfaction that comes with maintaining a new habit. That means you’ll get both a mental health and a physical health boost from a single action, and that’s hard to beat.
Some suggestions: You could start taking the stairs every day at work, bringing lunch from home, eating fruit every morning, or taking a multivitamin.
Spend time outdoors
Spending time outdoors has proven mental health benefits. Therapists often suggest that people in midlife take an outdoor walk at least a few times per week.
A walk around your neighborhood can be a great way to get fresh air and get your blood pumping, but you don’t have to stop there. If you want to go further, consider spending the day hiking the trails in a local park. You could bring a friend to provide motivation, or you could use the time on the trail to clear your mind.
Of course, you don’t have to just walk to get the benefits of the great outdoors. Boating, swimming, camping, or just relaxing outside on a nice day can boost your mood.
Dedicate time to a project you’re passionate about
It’s common to feel dissatisfaction with work during midlife. You might feel burnt out, bored, or as if you’ve wasted your time in a career you don’t love.
While it might be tempting to quit tomorrow, there are better ways to handle this feeling. Experts agree that midlife is an ideal time to work on something you’re passionate about.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a novel, or maybe you’ve always been curious about selling your homemade jewelry online. No matter what, focusing on a project you really care about can boost your energy and optimism. Plus, it might bring you an additional source of income or even shift your career.
Consider therapy
You might think of therapy as something people do only in times of distress, trauma, or crisis, but that’s not the case. Therapy is a great tool for times of transition too. Midlife can be a good time to talk with a therapist.
A therapist can help you sort out feelings about past events, manage your current stress, and plan for your future. They can help you make the most of your midlife years and feel confident about your path forward.
Additionally, if midlife has brought major changes such as divorce, marriage difficulties, or death or has caused you to reflect significantly on your past, a therapist can guide you through your thoughts and feelings.
The takeaway
Right now is the best time to take steps to improve your life for years to come. You don’t have to let midlife be a crisis that drags you down.
Last medically reviewed on April 21, 2025
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Current Version
Apr 21, 2025
Written By
S. Srakocic
Edited By
Stacey Lastoe
Medically Reviewed By
Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, CYT
Copy Edited By
Jill Campbell
Oct 14, 2021
Written By
S. Srakocic
Edited By
Mellanie Perez
Medically Reviewed By
Danielle Wade, LCSW
Copy Edited By
Jen Anderson
Reference:
Medically reviewed by Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW, RDDP — Written by S. Srakocic — Updated on April 21, 2025
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