The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.
If you’re going through a midlife crisis, you may have lost the drive to work. Perhaps you’re wondering why you’re even in this field in the first place. Or maybe you’ve decided you’d like to spend your time doing something more meaningful. Maybe you are hoping to put in a down payment on a new house and don’t know where to start.
If a midlife crisis is getting you down and you need a little bit of motivation, here are six ways you can keep working hard or at least wiggle yourself out of crisis mode.
Consider Your Job Options
Don’t feel like you have to stay stuck in one career path if it’s not right for you. Sometimes, a midlife crisis is truly a desire to go after the things you never had the courage to chase before. It can feel scary to leave a career that you’ve been in for many years, but there are so many jobs available, and with the right experience, your dream job might just be around the corner.
If you’re considering retiring, there’s also a possibility of doing that. To make the most of this time, create a pros and cons chart to weigh all of your options. To create the perfect chart, make sure to list the pros and cons for both sides (a four-sided chart). Here’s a quick example:
- Pros of retiring
- Cons of retiring
- Pros of staying at work
- Cons of staying at work
After you finish your pros and cons chart, discuss your findings with someone you trust. Although you don’t want to make any impulsive decisions while you’re feeling down, someone else should be able to help you through.
Consider Therapy
You’re not alone in your crisis. Millions of people go through a midlife crisis each year for differing reasons. That’s why it has become common for those experiencing these feelings to try out therapy. A trained therapist can help you discover what you’re really feeling and why. They can also give you valuable coping skills to get through these hard times.
If your generation wasn’t one that ever had access to therapy as a young adult, you might find that you learn a lot from a modern therapist. You will finally have access to top-notch mental health care. You can even do therapy online if you’re interested in staying at home!
If you simply want to learn more about your midlife crisis and what it means, you can also check out BetterHelp’s advice column here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/midlife-crisis/.
Don’t Make Any Big Decisions Just Yet
Although you may be having some urges to change your life around, wait a little bit to make any decisions. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons, talk to someone you trust, and consider therapy before making a decision about your job that could change your life forever.
Although it’s important to do what’s right, impulsive decisions in the heat of the moment might actually end up not being the right choice for you in the long run. It’s important to work on your emotions before you try to make a logical decision.
Invest in Your Future
Always invest in your future. Find something that you want to strive for now and continue to make it a goal. Even if you can’t afford it or don’t know how to start, emotionally charged goals are often the most powerful. If you care enough about something, you’re more likely to finish it. So invest in your future by speaking your goals out loud and taking small steps towards them each day.
Remember Why You Started
If you have urges to give up or leave your line of work, or you don’t know why you’re working in the first place, it might be worth it to remember why you started. Was it your children? Was it your wife? Do you want to start a family? Do you want to buy a house? Remember the reasons you took the job in the first place and the reason you keep working every day to make a change.
Don’t Give Up
Finally, never give up. Although it sounds cliché, giving up in the middle of a midlife crisis can actually worsen things. If you leave a job and end up at home every day for months, you may start to feel depressed. Keeping your mind busy and being distracted is a great way to reduce stress. Remember, this stage of your life is temporary, and good times will come again. They always do!
