Overcoming Midlife Frustrations: 3 Tips to Help You Thrive
So you’ve made it to midlife (yay for that!), and you’re feeling a bit lost. Your 50s (maybe 60s) have arrived, and you’re wondering where life went.
You don’t feel as though you fit in with the young people anymore, or maybe your retirement left you feeling isolated from your friends and family. You may feel like you’re no longer attractive, or that your best years are behind you.
This can be an incredibly frustrating time in life. Aren’t these supposed to be our golden years or at least the beginning of them? For many women, the career is almost over, or retirement has come, and after looking forward to it for so many years we’re left thinking, now what?
Overcoming life frustrations after 50 is possible, my friend, and is something that we should strive for. We don’t want to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. That negative self talk won’t get us anywhere.
So how do we get through these frustrating times, negative feelings, and discover life satisfaction once again?
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most common midlife frustrations and offer three tips to help you overcome them, regain a sense of well being, and thrive during this stage of life.
Retirement Can Be Stressful
Retirement can be a stressful time for anyone, but it can be especially challenging for women. For many women, retirement means leaving behind a career that has been a big part of their identity. It can also be a time of reduced income and increased isolation from friends and colleagues.
Additionally, retirement can bring up feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. “Am I doing enough with my life?” “What will I do with all this free time?” “How will I afford to live on my pension and/or social security?”
If you are married or have a partner, you may find yourself in their company much more than in the past. For some it’s a wonderful opportunity; for others, it’s a source of stress and sometimes even uncomfortable.
What is Your Perspective?
How you see your midlife years is greatly influenced by your perspective and outlook.
If you’re someone who looks at the years ahead and sees them as a time to be wistful about the past, then you’re likely to experience your midlife years in a negative way.
However, if you see your midlife years as a time of opportunity and growth, then you’re more likely to approach them with excitement and anticipation.
There are many things that you can do to change your perspective and outlook on life, but it’s important to remember that it’s never too late to start fresh.
No matter how you’ve approached your life up until this point, you can always choose to stay focused and see the years ahead as a time of exploration, excitement, and possibilities.
3 Tips for Overcoming Life Frustrations After 50
Whether you’re experiencing just a little bit of uncertainty and frustration at this time in your life, or you’re totally lost when it comes to thinking about the future, these tips will help you find healthy ways to approach middle age and give your mental health a boost as well.
1 | Embrace the life change
As a woman in midlife, you’re likely experiencing some frustration with this new phase in your life, likely with the reasons that were discussed above.
Whatever it is, know that you’re not alone. Many women feel the same way.
But there’s good news: embracing this change is the new normal, and staying in the present will help you find more peace—and even excitement—about what’s to come.
Find Your Tribe:
It can be difficult to feel like you belong when your social circles have shifted after retirement or kids have moved out of the house. But there are plenty of ways to find your tribe, even if it takes some effort.
Join a book club, sign up for a cooking class, start singing in the church choir, or volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about. There are meetups for just about everything these days, so take advantage of them.
There’s no better way to make friends than by bringing people together around a shared activity or interest.
Don’t Dwell on the Past:
It’s easy to dwell on the things we miss about our younger years—our bodies, our energy levels, our carefree attitude. But dwelling on the past will only make you feel worse about the present.
Instead of looking back, focus on the here and now. What are you grateful for in this moment? What brings you joy?
When we focus on the positive aspects of our lives, it’s easier to see all the good that’s still ahead of us.
Get Excited About the Future:
Just because retirement might be around the corner, or right in front of you, doesn’t mean your best years are behind you! In fact, many women say that midlife is when they finally start living their best lives.
This is a time when we know ourselves better than ever before and we’re free from many of the responsibilities that weighed us down earlier in life.
So take advantage of this time! Do things you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time for—travel, learn a new skill, start a business.
Embracing this change is the new normal, and staying in the present will help you find more peace—and even excitement—about what’s to come.
There are plenty of ways to find your tribe and get excited about the future. So don’t dwell on the past—focus on all the good that’s yet to come!
2 | Be patient
Be patient with yourself.
It’s important to give yourself time to adjust to the changes that come along with midlife. You might not feel like yourself at first, but that’s normal.
Give yourself time to grieve the loss of your youth, if that’s what you’re feeling. And remember, it’s never too late to make new friends and pursue new hobbies.
Be patient with those around you.
Your family and friends might not understand what you’re going through, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about you.
Talk to them about your feelings and let them know what would make you feel better. They might not be able to relate to your experience, but they want to support you any way they can.
Seek out others who understand.
There are plenty of women out there who are going through the same thing as you are. Join a support group or look for online forums where you can share your experiences and offer advice to others.
It can be helpful just to know that you’re not alone in your frustrations.
Take care of yourself.
This is probably the most important tip of all—take care of yourself! Make sure you’re eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks when you need them.
It’s also important to find things that make you happy and do them as often as possible. When we take care of ourselves, we’re better able to deal with whatever life throws our way—including midlife frustrations!
3 | Set small goals, take little steps, but move forward
Many women in midlife face similar frustrations. These can include a feeling of not belonging, isolation after retirement, feeling unattractive, and more. It’s important to remember that you are not alone in feeling this way. But how can you move past these frustrations?
One Step at a Time
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need to make big changes in order to feel better.
But the truth is, small goals and small steps are often more effective—and more achievable. So instead of setting yourself up for disappointment by setting unrealistic goals, focus on taking things one step at a time.
For example, if you’re feeling isolated after retirement, your first goal could be as simple as getting out of the house for a walk around the block once a day.
Once you’ve established that habit, you can then move on to goals like joining a local club or taking a class. The key is to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
You Are Not Alone
Another important thing to remember is that you are not alone in facing these midlife frustrations. In fact, so many women go through similar experiences.
Talk to your friends, family members, and other women in your life to see how they’ve dealt with similar situations. Chances are, they’ll be more than happy to offer their advice and support.
If you’re facing midlife frustrations, remember that you are not alone and that small steps can lead to big changes. Just take things one day—and one goal—at a time!
Conclusion: Overcoming Midlife Challenges and Frustrations
The end of one life chapter and the beginning of another can be both exhilarating and scary. For women, this time can be especially challenging, as we are often juggling multiple roles and expectations.
By patiently embracing the changes as well as this stage in your life, and remembering to take small steps forward, you can create a satisfying and healthy perspective that will give you strength and positivity through the years.
Like this post? Share it!
