Life Changes at 40 – How To Redesign a Happier Life

When you’re in your 20s, a mid-life crisis is a source of great amusement. It’s used as a generalisation for the purchase of motorbikes and sports cars, or other spontaneous decisions that apparently indicate a yearning to be young and free again. What we didn’t see coming was the evolution of the modern-day mid-life crisis. Today, life changes at 40 are more likely to take the form of a drastic change in career to follow a passion or leaving your loveless marriage to travel the world. 

We are an in-between generation who were given more choices, but not necessarily the confidence to know what to do with them. We learnt from the examples of our parents to bury our own desires and to do what was expected of us. To find respectable and stable jobs and to work hard, get married, have a family, and save for retirement. We grew up in a time where gender equality came to the forefront, but where responsibilities and family roles often got confused. We want more, but we feel guilty about chasing it. 

Why Life Changes So Drastically at 40

For those of us who did what was expected, something shifted at some stage in our 30’s. You realised that you reached your goals and fulfilled your commitments, living up to the expectations of those around you, but you never lost the feeling that there would be more to life. You realised that the success on the outside, external success, doesn’t automatically translate to success felt on the inside. 

You started to question how you ended up where you were, and tried to recall at what point you consciously chose your life path. As you may have gathered, I’m speaking from my own experience here. I went through all of the above, and I was hit hard with my own mid-life crisis. Instead of buying a motorbike, I took a different path.

How To Rebuild Your Life at 40

I have decided to reframe the mid-life crisis from its negative origins, and instead refer to it as my mid-life relaunch! I have flipped it on its head – to choose to recognise how lucky we are to live in a time of so many choices and freedoms. To feel grateful that my experiences have led me to this point, and given me the resources to choose a new type of life. To be free to seek new love, new experiences, new opportunities. The best part? You can give yourself permission to do it too. 

So how do you go about your own mid-life relaunch and re-design your life at 40 (or 40ish)?

Be Truthful

Get real and honest with yourself and with those closest to you so that you can gain clarity on your true values and goals. What is it that you really want? What stops you from having that now? What will happen and how will you feel if you stay exactly as you are? Build awareness of where you are dissatisfied so you know what to change. 

Set a Goal

Create a vision of your dream life. Check in with what your current personal and lifestyle values are. What is really important to you at this point in time? What do you want the legacy of your life to be? Keep in mind that this goal isn’t the be-all and end-all. You’re not deciding your life purpose here and now – it was that type of thinking that got us into this mess. Your goals will adapt and grow as you do, and that’s completely okay.

Make a Plan

Map out exactly what steps you need to take to start moving towards your ideal life. Clarity causes action. Action creates momentum. All it takes is that first step of the journey and you’re on your way. As soon as you start, you’ll build the momentum needed to carry you through.

If you feel ready to redesign your life and start living the life you have always imagined, you can get started by downloading our Ideal Life Blueprint here. [link]