5 ways to Break Free in Mid-life instead of settling in.

Is it time to settle in or break free in mid-life? So you’ve reached 50 or beyond? Or maybe you’ve been blessed with early retirement and you’re wondering what to do next. You’ve been so busy with life, work, family and so on, maybe you’re thinking, “I’d really want to settle in and just relax in my home.” Now, of course that’s an option. But I would like to challenge that notion. There is SO much more life out there to live. Mid-life is not the time to settle in. Midlife is the time to rediscover and redefine your life. It’s a time to break free of the status quo and be and do different. Don’t let your life opportunity pass by. Pick one or all of these 5 ways to break free in Mid- life.

1. Start a new business you love:

One way to break free in mid-life instead of settling in is to start a new business or job. Yes, we are over 50 and maybe the thought of starting over with a new business or a new job can be daunting. But you really have 15-20 years left to work. But I’m not talking about any old job or business. Now is the time to finally do what you love. There’s work… and then there’s your passion, what you would do even if you weren’t paid to do it.

So what is that passion, that thing that makes you excited and thrilled to talk about, to engage in, and enjoy doing so much? That is your new business. Don’t let your mind lie to you and think you are “too old” to finally start that business in ceramics, or finally become a travel guide, or maybe a fashion consultant. Whatever it is that makes you excited, you can build a business around it.

And here is the key…you are already ahead of the game because of all your life experience. And there is so much help out there these days. One of the best ways to start a new business is online, because everyone is ‘online’. They shop, research, learn, listen, watch, spend money, all ‘online’. So why shouldn’t you be a part of that? And there are many ways to have an online business.

Blogging – if you love writing and engaging with people, this may be for you.
Online store – find your niche and go for it. There are many courses that teach how to set up a store and the details around it.
Freelancing – do you have skills like editing, copywriting, graphic design, research? Then you can find jobs paying for your services. Check out Upwork or Fiver for some inspiration.
Property management – Using AirBnB and VRBO, you can help manage other people’s properties for a management fee. It may be worth looking into.

2. Find new love or rekindle your old love.

Mid-life can bring many changes in relationships, and I think that is an understatement. 😉 For some of us, we’ve found ourselves suddenly single after a long marriage. For others, we’ve been married for years but the spark is sputtering out. But whichever group you find yourself now, you can find love again. Humans are meant for relationship. And even in mid-life, you can find love again. And love can be a major way to break free in mid-life. So for these two different groups, here’s my suggestions:

Suddenly single:

Be patient. Find yourself first. Then do what makes you happy. Engage in activities and work that thrills you and makes you smile. You will be around like-minded people that enjoy the same things. Try not to go ‘hunting’ for a new love. Constantly searching for the ‘right man’ can be a long, frustrating search. It’s very possible, and seems to be true in so many cases, that a new love will find you when you are not looking, when you least expect it. But if you engage in activities and people that enjoy the same things, you are halfway there already. The more happy and accepting you are of yourself, the more and more attractive you will be and it’s very possible that certain someone will arrive when you least expect it.

Married but bored?

Maybe you are one who’s been married for awhile and still with your spouse. First off, congratulations! You are a small minority and you should be very proud. My multiple hats off to you! But I also understand that after being in a long marriage or relationship, you’ve maybe lost some spark. But now is the time to get it back. And you can. But you will have to work on it. You’ve made it through so many good and bad times already, do not give up now for some new shiny toy. Make your spouse your ‘new shiny toy’.

Discover new things about him.
Work to find new activities for both of you to engage in.
If you’ve stopped complimenting your spouse, start again.
Be attractive for your spouse. That may mean losing weight or simply getting out of your yoga pants and dressing nicely for the day.
You might need to go to counseling to work through old problems and rekindle the fire.
No more nagging and complaining. Instead work to be as positive as you can be in your conversations with your spouse.
Work to light that spark again…it will be the best, most important work you do.

3. Make travel a big part of your new life.

Of course, travel will make the list when it comes to breaking free in mid-life. You’ve been waiting for the day when the kids were gone, the money was there, the time, energy etc. Well, guess what? It’s here! No more waiting. Get out there and discover. Sure, vacationing at an all-inclusive resort can be relaxing, but also be willing to travel adventurously as well.

Get off the beaten path.
Travel to small towns.
Go on a long road trip and document your adventure.
Engage with the locals, whether at the small cafe in Europe or the home town coffee shop in a small, rural town.
Be willing to walk rather than drive, and see more life happening.
Make a list of places you want to see, both far away and right around home. Maybe put it on a chalkboard where you can always see it and be inspired. Then make plans to check off that list and make it happen.

Whatever or where ever you want to travel and discover, now is the time to make it happen. Travel will light up your soul and definitely help you break free in mid-life.

4. Go on a long adventure.

Short vacations and travel excursions are a must to avoid settling in, but to really break free in mid-life, consider a long term adventure. This will definitely take more planning and probably saving up for, but now is the time to make it happen. Don’t wait for someday. That day will not happen if you don’t plan for your adventure now and set a deadline for when you will do it. Here are some ideas to spark your adventurous spirit.

Walk the Camino trail through France and Spain.
Travel the US for 4 months or more in an RV. (Read a chapter of our trip here)
Live abroad for 4-6 months, using homestays or pet sitting for free lodging.
Navigate the Great Loop of the US by boat.
Backpack through South America.
Travel to as many National Parks as possible in a certain time period.
Discover the Caribbean Islands by boat, either on your own or hire a captain.

5. Simplify the stuff.

Another way to break free in midlife is to simplify all the stuff you’ve been hanging on to for far too long. I use to be a bonafide packrat. I saved almost everything because either it had sentimental value or I thought I might use it someday. But being able to empty your garage or storage of all this stuff we’ve accumulated is so freeing. And guess what, I don’t miss any of it. Because I never looked at it to begin with. It all just sat there boxed away for some proverbial ‘someday’ that was not going to happen. So here is some tough love for all you fellow pack rats.

Why are you saving your high school notebooks?
Do you really need every journal you’ve ever written?
Do you really think you’ll wear your ‘mother of the groom’ dress again?
Go through all your kids papers you’ve been saving for 20 years. Pick a few select ones to save but get rid of the rest.
Collections? No more refrigerator magnets; Ditch the basket collection except those you actually use; be ruthless with all the knick-knacks; throw away the dried pen collection; donate or recycle your old magazine collections. (Are you really going to read them again?) Instead, tear out the one article or picture that speaks to you and keep them in a binder. One binder is better than 20-30 magazines.
Get rid of any clothes dated before 2010. You will not wear them. Yes, that includes the puffy shoulder-pad shirts, the legwarmers, the souvenir T-shirts, and that denim jumper!
Now go through your clothes and determine what you have not worn in 5 years, 2 years, even one year. Bag them up and donate to Goodwill or other local thrift store. Or if you have good, quality clothes you haven’t worn lately, go to Thred Up, order a Clean Out Bag, fill it up with your decent, but no longer worn, clothes and send it in. You’ll receive credit towards purchasing some clothes off their site. And if you haven’t been to Thred UP, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s the largest online thrift store with lots of styles, good clothes at great prices. But don’t go crazy with buying. You are on a mission to simplify the stuff. So don’t add more than you need.

There will be many other ways to simplify the stuff but the point is to pare down and minimize the mess. The less you have to shuffle and dig through, the more you can break free and enjoy life.

Hopefully, these find ideas will help you to break free in mid-life instead of just settling in and waiting for life to happen. I encourage you to get out there and be free, be adventurous, do something different, and redefine what life can be after 50. All the best my friends.

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