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Forbes Coaches Council


You might think, "It will never happen to me," but sooner or later, it just might: You've hit a mid-life crisis. Suddenly, you're questioning everything you've devoted to the last couple of decades, and all of your carefully-laid life plans don't seem to make sense anymore. You start acting impulsively, making big changes, and wondering if you'll ever regain your sense of self and purpose.

Luckily, you're not alone. Plenty of others before you have experienced similar crises and made it through stronger on the other end. According to 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council, here are some telltale signs that you're having a mid-life crisis, along with their best advice for surviving this phase.


All images courtesy of Forbes Councils members.

1. You're Apathetic

You feel "blah" about everything on an ongoing basis. My top tip is to appreciate what's working in your life, then take action every day to shape your life how you want it to be. Resolutely move forward, let go and leave the past in the past. All your power is now, not yesterday or tomorrow. What can you do today? Cultivating the habit will create the life you want, one day at a time. - Christine HueberChristineHueber.com 

2. You Dread Getting Out Of Bed

When you find yourself asking why, wondering how you got here, or not wanting to get out of bed, it's a sure sign change needs to be in your future. Many mid-life crises showcase spectacular splurges such as a new car. While this might temporarily placate, it's not the answer. It's time to stretch and learn! Learn that skill you always wanted to pursue and see how it nourishes and recharges. - Laura DeCarloCareer Directors International 

3. You're Debating, But Not Taking Action

If you find yourself debating which next step to take to improve your personal and professional life more than you are exploring them, it is time to change your behavior. Do your research. Talk to friends, family members, a trusted mentor and industry professionals about your ideas. They can guide you forward with their advice because the more you learn, the more inclined you will be to act. - Meghan GodorovMeghan Godorov Consulting, LLC 

4. Your Life Is On Autopilot

Catching yourself feeling like you’re running on autopilot with no goal in sight can be disheartening. Don’t despair. Take this opportunity to slow down, reassess your wishes, and course correct. Cultivating mindfulness can help you get in touch with your real desires, and books like Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan and Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi will be a good place to start. - Arno MarkusiCareerSolutions 


5. You've Lost Your Purpose

You feel like there is no purpose to your life, or there is a bigger purpose than what your day-to-day life currently offers. The pursuit of finding a purpose can be downward spiraling in itself. Start volunteering and focusing on making a difference to other people outside your regular sphere of influence. Start making a difference to new people and shift the focus of you. - Gia GaneshGia Ganesh Coaching 

6. Your Plan Isn't Working Anymore

A telltale sign you're experiencing a mid-life crisis is that your plans just don't work anymore. Everything you've established for yourself, your job, your normal routine, now feels stagnant, even stifling. When this happens, be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to change tracks and start getting curious about what will serve you best at this stage of life. - Lizabeth CzepielLizabeth Czepiel, LLC 

7. Making Big Changes That Aren't 'You'

Making out-of-character life changes could be a sign of mid-life crisis. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a time for taking stock, re-evaluating your life, and making positive changes. The best way to do this successfully is by having a mentor or coach - someone you trust to give you honest feedback, who doesn't have a vested interested in the outcome, and wants you to succeed. - Frances McIntoshIntentional Coaching LLC 

8. You're Jealous Of Others

When you find yourself spending more time analyzing other people's past than thinking about your future, remember that the achievements of others are largely based on a different set of opportunities than you had and choices they made that were different than yours. Would you have made similar choices in their shoes? Time to stop thinking about someone else's future and start planning yours. - Erica McCurdyMcCurdy Life Coach, LLC 

9. You're Worried You Already Know The Ending

You have a growing sense that that you've seen this movie too many times already. Take time to map out two scenarios. One is "Stay the Course." Identify three to five areas that are important to you and map out the likely outcomes if you don't make any significant changes. The other is "What If?" Identify what those areas could ideally be like for you in the future. Is this vision worth going for? - Joe CaseyPrinceton Executive Coaching 

10. You're Willing To Walk Away From Your 'Success'

All it takes is an epiphany to cause one to realize that life is short and tomorrow is not promised. As a result, those encountering a mid-life crisis can easily walk away from a career deemed successful by society, in an effort to pursue passion and live out their dreams. Passion work could be in the form of non-traditional work, a charity or non-profit dedication, and even work abroad. - LaKisha GreenwadeLucki Fit LLC 

11. Everything Feels Like A Chore

We get to a point in our lives where we are known for what we do (a strength) and people rely on us to do it (a need), and we have been consistently rewarded for that combo. Why the crisis? We are missing the passion. When you have a need that intersects with a strength but you lack passion, it is called a "chore." Focus on finding your sweet spot where passion, strength and need overlap. - Amy DouglasSpark Coaching, LLC 

12. You're Successful, But Not Satisfied

When life and work aren't working, check in with your strengths and values. Often that feeling of, "Is this all there is?" occurs when we drift off center. You may be successful but not satisfied, and that could indicate it's time for a change. Get quiet and assess your strengths. Ask yourself, "What am I really good at?" and reconnect with your values: "What do I really care about?" Then, at any age, begin again. - Julie ColbreseHot Coffee Coaching 

13. You're No Longer Playing To Win, But Playing To Not Lose

This could be a sign that you lost that edge you once had. You are making decisions based on fear, not from certainty. The fastest way to get out of this mindset is to focus on getting you certainty back. Take bigger calculated risks. In your mind you are not young anymore, so you fear running out of time, but just know that you have more experience than before, so you are wiser. Play to win. - Raul VillacisThe Next Level Experience 

14. You're Overwhelmed By The Ticking Clock

As the years roll by, sometimes we are overwhelmed by the time we have left to live out our dreams and create our best life. This often results in the burning desire to "buy the car!" or "sell the house!" Usually, this is not a new decision, but rather something that we've been contemplating and envisioning for some time. Give yourself permission to change without labels! - Sherry SwiftSwift Transitions, Inc 

15. You're Confused And Unclear On Your Direction

Feeling confused can mean that you are no longer satisfied with what you are now doing or where you are. You may still be very good at it, but you're not connecting how this all is helping you get where you want to go. This is the time to take a step back and reflect on where you had clarity and perhaps how you lost it. Then create a plan to help you get back to where you want to go. - Sonia CerezoSonia Career Coach 

