How to Stop a Female Midlife Crisis

People undergo developmental changes from the time they are born until old age. Until recently, the midlife phase of development seemed to be exclusively the domain of men, who bought sports cars and sexy young girlfriends to deal with their crisis. However, the Baby Boom generation has introduced the female midlife crisis that can be just as tumultuous.

Instructions

1. Forget about the male midlife crisis. Women see the female midlife transition as an opportunity instead of a crisis. With kids leaving home, women finally have time to do something for themselves.

2. Understand how midlife transitions work for women. An excellent resource is Sue Shellenbarger's "The Breaking Point: How Female Midlife Crisis Is Transforming Today's Women." When you understand the process, you aren't as frightened by it.

3. Analyze what about your life makes you unhappy or bored. Explore your interests, both current ones and ones you abandoned when you were younger. Record numbers of middle-aged women return to school.

4. Include adventure in your life. For women, adventure doesn't have to mean skydiving. Starting a business is an adventure for many women.

5. Realize that female midlife crises are often triggered by outside events-the death of a parent, a significant illness, divorce or children leaving home. These life-changing events lead to questions about the meaning of life and individual identity.

6. Make healthy changes during midlife. Middle-aged women are more likely to begin going to the gym and eating healthier.

7. Take your time with life-changing decisions. Sometimes the need to do something totally different overwhelms you, but poor decisions come to haunt you later in life.