This is how you imagined your 50’s.
Life is good. You’ve got a great job — you’re needed, you’re busy, you enjoy great holidays, you’ve got yourself a lovely home, you're got some fabulous friends and the family is doing great.
But seriously, what’s happened?
Something’s off. You thought you should feel great. But actually you’re not feeling so good these days.
Instead you’re feeling a bit stale, tired, and dull. Or perhaps you’re anxious? Or even depressed. Yep, something’s definitely up.
The truth is...
Stuff happens in our 50’s! Let’s face it! There’s a myriad of things that impact our career and work life in our 50’s.
- Younger colleagues
- Glass ceiling gets thicker
- Can't get a good job, or any job
- Unsustainable workload
- A toxic work environment
Of course, not all these things are happening at once. They can sneak up on us, sometimes one at a time, and sometimes together. Like when you lose your job, or have a serious health crisis. Ouch!
It’s a scary thought, isn’t it? This is the job and the work that you loved — but it's gone. And you don't know how to get it back.
And then it hits you — you’re stuck! And you're hating this STUCKNESS!
Stuckness: What is it?
The word Stuckness barely exists. And yet I know, you know what it means.
We all intuitively know what it means and we know how it feels because, one way or other, many of us are suffering from Stuckness.
Common Symptoms & Triggers of Stuckness at Work:
Symptoms: Confusion, feelings of self-doubt
➥ Trigger: You’re surrounded by bright young things, who, without appearing to know much to get promoted.
Symptoms: Loss of confidence, feeling invisible and undervalued
➥ Trigger: You’ve been passed over for a promotion, and don't feel listened to.
Symptoms: Resentment and frustration
➥ Trigger: That “Glass Ceiling” has got thicker as you get older. You're reporting to a younger manager who doesn't value your experience.
Symptoms: Tiredness, exhaustion
➥ Trigger: Your workload is impossibly high and you’re having to put long hours to keep up.
Symptom: Anxiety, fear, self-doubt
➥ Trigger: Another restructure!
But would you be feeling stuck regardless?
I want you to really think about that. Would you still be feeling stuck if all these things weren't happening? Maybe?
Things happen in our 50s that makes us reflect on who we are and how we want to live; as we realise that we are closer to the end of our lives than to the beginning.
It can be a time of doubt and reflection as we reassess our life's purpose, who we really want to be and the difference we want to make.
But our 50s can also be transformative, when we choose where we put our energy and work on those things that are within our control.
And choosing how we want to feel can be one of those things - with the right help, tools and resources.
The Good News
As you make progress on Moving from Stuck to Unstoppable, you’ll notice that the events and conditions around you will start to feel different.
As you take back your power and control — those feelings of loss of confidence, and anxiety... will begin to shift.
You’ll start to feel strength, peace, control, optimism, and positivity. This is my mission and my passion!
My goal is to help women like you — women in their fifties — to regain their confidence, energy, and sense of purpose. I know how to do it — because I’ve been there.
But because I didn’t identify the problem early enough, things got really bad — to the point where I became ill with depression and anxiety.
It took me three years, but I found my way back and came out of it all with a new mission and passion: to help women in their 50s to notice, identify, and fix their Stuckness before it causes harm professionally and personally.
What I’ve done since is to turn my personal experiences and professional expertise into inspiration and advice to help other women over 50.
My life has a new meaning and I get to fulfill my personal mission to help others by using my creativity and other talents.
Are you feeling stuck?
What’s causing your stuckness? Please leave a comment.
In my next post, we’ll explore what is a relatively easy solution. Following which we look at the importance of good self care.
Reboot Your Life
Get my proven four-phase online course to take you from stuck, exhausted, unmotivated, and overwhelmed to doing work you love!
The last few years have brought huge changes to my life. I took time out of work I had been doing for over 25 years due to a toxic workplace. My daughters left home and moved overseas, a friend of 50 years ended our friendship without a word, I was diagnosed with a medical condition and my husband and I are selling our family home and moving to a new area. At times I am feeling untethered and unsure of what to do now. I am tentatively trying to start a new business but lacking in a bit of confidence these days.
Hi Donna. You are not alone. Every baby step you take will keep moving forward. And take care of yourself. 💐
I feel relieved that I’m not the only one living in “nobody’s land”. I’m 58, and my biggest problem is that I don’t feel this age and I don’t look it but I am. It’s like being in the limbo, I don’t belong between the people I know of my age and I don’t belong with the younger. I’m a therapist and I like to change careers but I don’t have a clue anymore as to what to do. My kids are grown up, my marriage is on the rocks and I’m falling deeper into this abysm
Andeva. I know you’re not alone. As a Work & Life Coach I meet a lot of women questioning their value and direction. If you’d like to have a chat about how I might help please book a strategy call here. https://sheloveslifeover50.as.me/ If I can support you by having a chat please don’t hesitate. It’s what I love to do.
I loved Leigh’s book, “Reboot Your Life,” on getting unstuck. It was a wonderful read that kept me interested throughout the entire book. I loved it so much I read it in a day. I highly recommend the book if you are feeling stuck like so many women are these days. I turned 50 and looked at my life and was “wow” where has the time gone. I have had my head in the sand and am now an empty nester and looking for more; more fulfilling work, more time for me and more time with my family. Baby steps is what I am doing now with Leigh’s help from “Reboot Your Life.”