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Your father worked forty years for the same company and retired with a gold watch and a nice pension. But after climbing that corporate ladder for 15 or 20 years, you don’t have nearly that level of job security. They’re bringing in younger workers to replace middle managers all the time since they work cheaper and generally don’t have as many family commitments. These young guns are willing to make a tradeoff most older workers cannot, i.e., they’re willing to spend 5 to 7 years essentially married to their jobs. This puts the average mid-career employee in an incredibly awkward, precarious position. Can he possibly complete with an employee 15 or 20 years his junior?
Overview
- Reassess Your Passion: At times, the mid-career slump can be due to a disconnect with what we’re doing versus what we love. Take a moment to realign with your passions and see how they fit into your current job.
- Expand
Your Network : Meeting new professionals in and outside of your field can provide fresh perspectives. Attend networking events, webinars, or workshops to mingle with new faces and gather innovative ideas. - Continuous Learning: The professional world is ever-evolving. Consider enrolling in courses that can enhance your skills or offer a fresh take on your field. It reignites passion and opens doors to new opportunities.
- Seek Mentorship: A mentor can offer guidance, share experiences, and provide valuable insights that can rejuvenate your professional journey. Find someone you respect and who has been in your shoes.
- Change of Environment: Sometimes, a simple change in your workspace or tackling new projects can boost morale. If possible, request a new assignment or consider
remote work for a change of pace. - Set Clear Goals: Outline what you want to achieve in the next phase of your career. Breaking down your goals into manageable steps can offer clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.
- Work-Life Balance: Ensure you’re not burning out. Taking time for personal pursuits and self-care can immensely help in rejuvenating your professional energy and outlook.
- Consider a Career Shift: If you’ve truly grown out of your current role or industry, don’t be afraid to pivot. Research and explore other careers that align more with your current interests and values.
- Feedback is Golden: Regularly seek feedback from peers, superiors, and subordinates. Constructive criticism can be a great catalyst for growth and can pinpoint areas of improvement.
- Stay Positive: Lastly, maintain a positive outlook. Surround yourself with supportive colleagues, consume inspirational content, and remember why you started this journey in the first place.
Doubt rears its ugly head
Of course, the mid-career blues are not always about other people. At times, a worker begins to question their
Causes of a mid-career crisis
According to the experts, this is a fairly recent phenomenon. As we mentioned, workers of earlier generations enjoyed far greater job security. Changing jobs, let alone professions was quite uncommon in the past. However, greater access to
How to deal with it
Because we put so much emphasis on our careers in modern times, it can have an effect on every aspect of our lives. A person who feels uneasy about their career is far more likely to search for new meaning in both their professional and personal life. If the problem is not addressed, it can ruin an entire family in no time. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this common issue in a healthy way.
Assess your situation
The easiest and most reliable way to keep the mid-career blues at bay is to ask yourself some serious questions on a regular basis. You might start with questions like am I in the right role and in the right business? You must always ask yourself if the job you are doing reflects your level of skills, i.e., is it challenging? In nine out of ten cases of mid-career blues, this is the issue. Workers feel that their bosses do not appreciate their talents and therefore are assigning them monotonous tasks they could complete in their sleep.
Addressing it
If by answering these questions you find yourself in a genuine mid-career crisis, you should always discuss it with your family before you make a move. The absolute worst decision you could make would be to quit or resign without the support of your loved ones. This can and often does lead to serious problems in your personal life that could have been averted if you had simply talked it over with your family first.
If you are able to secure the support of your family, you have a far better chance of successfully pursuing your next
In conclusion, it is important to note that mid-career blues are quite common and nothing to be embarrassed about. The trick is to determine if they require a major life change or simply a slight alteration. Requesting more challenging assignments at work might be enough to keep you interested and motivated on the job.
Most people agree there are few things worse than being stuck in a career you hate. It's not just the daily drudgery of work that has become tedious; it's also the hopeless feeling of life moving in the wrong direction and not knowing how to turn it around.
