A few weeks ago, a mate of mine had an observation that caught me slightly off guard. The conversation went a little like this:
Loz: “I think you might be going through a midlife crisis mate.”
Me: “Fuck off.”
But I started to think about it. He might have a point. I’d never considered myself as someone experiencing a midlife crisis—and honestly, I still won’t label it as such. However, when I searched up the definition, i couldn’t deny the resemblance to my current feelings…
What Actually Is a Midlife Crisis?
Wikipedias definition is:
A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 45 to 65 years old. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person’s growing age, inevitable mortality, and possible lack of accomplishments in life. This may produce feelings of intense depression, remorse, and high levels of anxiety; or the desire to achieve youthfulness, make drastic changes to their current lifestyle, or change past decisions and events.
While it’s not a formal diagnosis, it’s a recognised psychological phenomenon that can sometimes mimic depression—though a midlife crisis tends to be shorter and more episodic.
The Lucky Position of Having Options
After reflecting on my conversation with Loz, I realised something important: whether or not I’m experiencing a “midlife crisis,” I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can actually do something about these feelings.
Over the years, I’ve intentionally built some regular income through property investments, with the intention to give me the flexibility to explore new ideas and test different ideas. I recognise that not everyone has this luxury, which raises an important question: what can you do if you’re feeling this way but don’t have the same financial cushion?
Building Flexibility: The First Essential Step
The answer starts with creating flexibility in your life, and there are multiple ways to approach this. Here are a couple:
- Reduce your outgoings – This is often the easiest option, especially if you don’t have children. Cutting unnecessary expenses can free up resources and reduce the pressure to maintain your current income level.
- Build a side hustle – Developing an additional income stream allows you to gradually work less in your primary job while maintaining financial stability.
Whatever you choose, flexibility is the foundation. But, you shouldn’t leap without at least a loose plan. This is what I did. I had a broad vision: work for myself as an accountant and build a property portfolio. I did a bit of research and worked it out as I went. Of couse, it could have gone smoother. But if i spent time meticulously planning the unknown it may never have happened.
Planning vs. Jumping: Finding Your Balance
Some people need detailed, comprehensive plans before making any move. I’m not one of them. As the saying goes, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” For me, as long as I had a broad idea of where money will come from, I was comfortable taking the leap and figuring things out as I go. That said… it took a long time for me to be comfortable with the idea of tearing off the plaster and leaving the security blanket of the 9-5
Your approach will depend on your personality and circumstances, but the key is finding the right balance between preparation and action.
The Modern Distraction Epidemic
To cut a long story short, the final part of my conversation with Loz was about an idea he had: starting a podcast about the midlife crisis—or at least the modern version of it.
We live in an age of endless distractions and shiny opportunities. You unlock your phone and immediately see ads for day trading courses, drop shipping programs, and get-rich-quick schemes. When you’re unhappy with your current situation—when the daily grind of work, kids, and family responsibilities is grinding you down—these “easy money” promises become incredibly tempting.
You start thinking about all those missed opportunities, wondering if this could be your chance to finally break free.
Embracing the Next Shiny Thing
So here we are, Loz and I, following our own shiny distraction from the day jobs. I’ve just ordered a couple of microphones. Who knows if this podcast idea will go anywhere? But even if it doesn’t, hopefully it will add a bit of fun to the daily grind.
And i think that’s the point. Not every pursuit needs to be a life-changing success. Sometimes, the journey itself—the exploration, the experimentation, the attempt to add meaning and joy to your days—is valuable in its own right.
Join Us on the Journey
Whether you’re going through what others would call a midlife crisis, or you simply want to listen along as we navigate our own midlife challenges and experiments, why not follow along. We’re figuring it out as we go, testing ideas, and having some fun in the process.
Life’s too short to spend it all doing things that drain you. So let’s explore together, embrace a bit of uncertainty, and hopefully have some fun along the way.