From the day we are born we start to age, and we all have to go through the various stages of life. At some point we will reach midlife, and for many it can be quite a shock when they realize they are no longer the youngster they feel they still are in their head. Midlife has its differences for men and for women, but there are some things that can apply to us all no matter what our gender is.
Children Fleeing the Nest
It is often the time when parents reach midlife that coincides with their children having left home for university or just to set up their own home. Suddenly there can be just the two of you. There will not be so much washing and other housework to do, so there is more free time. No school runs to worry about or late-night picks ups from friend’s houses. Now you can please yourselves and, after years of caring for children, that can be strange.
Of course, the negative side of this is that you will miss your children on a day-to-day basis, but from a positive point of view your life becomes your own again. You can eat when you want, watch what you want to see on the TV and generally live your life as you see fit.
Having More Money
Hopefully, it is this time of life when your mortgage will be coming to an end, and that can mean you are a lot better off financially. On the positive side, this could mean you will be better off than at any other previous time of your life, but on the negative side, you need to start investing some of that money for your retirement.
If you think that midlife has crept up faster than you thought possible, retirement comes even quicker. If you do not invest some of your newfound wealth in a pension plan for the future, you could end up in a very bad financial state after just a couple of years of finishing work.
Health Issues
Some people say that it is at midlife that our health starts to decline, both physically and mentally. This is not always the case by any means. Yes, our conditions change, but that is not always a bad thing. Physically, women go through the menopause but then do not have the hassle of monthly periods. Men often get a wake-up call at this age because of changes in their appearance and start to take better care of themselves.
Mentally, most people just deal with the changes that are happening, but for some they cannot handle the fact they are getting older and might need some help to come to terms with it. If this is how you feel, contact us today and arrange an appointment with the finest psychotherapist in NYC.