If you don’t feel aligned with the things that make you get out of bed every morning, you may be embarking on a midlife crisis. Many of us have enough life experience to know what brings us joy and what sucks our energy. To put it plainly, what brought you joy at 25 may not be the same thing that brings you joy now.
A while back, I posted about feeling out of alignment on LinkedIn. The post resonated with many people because, truthfully, many have been there (or are on their way). Many of my clients want more impactful, meaningful, and purposeful work. They want to leave a mark and make a difference. At a certain point, they realize they need to pivot to make a difference. In this blog post, we will go through the signs of a midlife crisis, how you got there, and how to get through it.
What are some Midlife Crisis Symptoms?
Although midlife crises can be seen as a phenomenon, they don’t come on overnight. There are a handful of telltale signs you are no longer fulfilled in your career and may be entering a mid-career crisis. Do any of these midlife crisis symptoms sound familiar?
- You dread Mondays and feel bored in life and at work
- You make impulsive decisions (that you tend to regret)
- You have “comparisonitis” (compare yourself to others who appear happier)
- Your behavior has changed
- You put less effort into your appearance
- You feel like your life has no purpose
- You dream of the past when you were happier
If you resonate with any of these, consider it a red flag that something has to change quickly. You spend most of your life at work, so you must ensure you are doing something that lights you up.
Please note these symptoms could also be indications of depression. In that case, you should seek out a counselor.
How Did You Get Here?
One of the most common things people say to me is: “I have no clue what I am doing right now,” or “I don’t know what even brings me joy.” It’s heartbreaking. No one intends to have a mid-career crisis, but after years of doing work they don’t enjoy, they have the itch to do something more.
Does this sound like you? You picked a career path in high school or college, optimistically followed the “ideal” career steps, and fell into a routine that lasted decades. Meanwhile, your happiness waned as you went through the motions. If this hits close to home, you’re not alone.
Over time, your interests could have changed, or your career no longer serves you. Recognize these midlife crisis symptoms as a point of inspiration. Once you realize you’re not happy in your position, you can begin to lay the foundation for your next moves.
How to Get Through the Midlife Crisis Fog
I have almost 25 years of work experience. During this time, I have learned that I’m good at mentoring, networking, and negotiating, and I’m terrible at things like holding my tongue, being on call 24/7, and being micromanaged. The fog lifted when I realized I had several transferable skills that would benefit other careers, and I started searching.
If you are experiencing any of the midlife crisis symptoms, you can revel in the fact that you, too, have transferable skills. Everyone has them, and they serve as a golden ticket to switch careers and get realigned on a path that lights you up.
Design Your Dream Life
As you work through the midlife fog, you can begin to feel a bit more unstuck. In addition to going through my mid-career crisis, I have acquired training and done extensive research on career alignment, or better yet, career realignment. I created my Design Your Dream Life program around the steps I have taken to get where I am today. The program is customized to meet you where you are.
- We start with your mindset
- Determine what motivates you
- Establish the pieces we need to get you there (resume, optimized LinkedIn profile, etc.)
- Create a roadmap
- Hit the gas!
Ready to get out of the fog? As a midlife career coach, I have helped many people who have felt lost and unfulfilled. All of their paths to new careers looked different. Together we can create a roadmap designed for you that leads to the next fabulous chapter of your life. Schedule your free career clarity consultation here.