Why you deserve a midlife makeover (regardless of your age)

Far from a crisis, we think it’s high time we began seeing midlife as a chance to reevaluate what’s most important—no soft-top car required.

Ageing has long had a negative narrative; one that taints reaching our mid-forties with the preconceived notion that an emotional breakdown can’t be far behind. We’ve all seen the clichés played out in every imaginable way; from terrible movies and TV plot twists, to literature and song lyrics. But you needn’t fork out on a facelift, sports car or Birkin to bestow yourself with a fresh outlook. While Generation X are indisputably being pulled from every angle (ageing parents, expensive kids, increasingly heavy workloads) midlife means something very different to what it did 20 years ago, so don’t subscribe to the tired old tale.

Ageing is a privilege, and many are looking for more meaningful ways to celebrate the midlife mark than with a new anorak and a pair of Hush Puppies! In a piece of research carried out by Experian CreditExpert, 85% of people aged between 40 and 59 are planning a midlife makeover instead. What does that look like, we hear you ask? Well, that’s down to you and your passions—but here are a few suggestions on how to hit the milestone in style, regardless of your bank balance or how old you’ll be on your next birthday.

Image: Tamu McPherson

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE
Make plans to travel. Whether you’ve always wanted to go on a safari, enjoy a wine tour of the Napa Valley, step aboard the Orient Express or perhaps you’d like to do some exploring on home soil, start mapping out the most important parts of your trip – be it places you’d like to stay or sights you’d like to see – and begin putting that plan in motion. It might be a week, a year or even five years away, but beginning to realise it will spark joy and excitement.

WIDEN YOUR CIRCLE
Many of us are content with the friendship groups we’ve already cultivated, but opening yourself up to making new friends, or reconnecting with old acquaintances, doesn’t take away from the relationships you already have. Ask a mutual friend to introduce you to someone they think you’ll have lots in common with or try out a new mates app like @bumble_uk. Worst-case scenario, it won’t go farther than a few messages back and forth. Best case, you might just forge a new, lasting friendship.

TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY
The demands of day-to-day life might feel as if they leave little time to begin new hobbies, but there are lots of things you can do that can fit around your schedule. Letter writing made a comeback during lockdown, so why not work on your penmanship and take up calligraphy? Love flowers? Sign yourself up for a floristry workshop. Perhaps an art class or creative writing course are more your thing. The options are endless, but equally fulfilling. By putting you and your wellbeing back on your list of priorities, you’ll soon see and feel the benefits. 

KEEP LEARNING
When was the last time you picked up a book that wasn’t fictional or of a coffee table-ilk? Learning is often seen as something we do as part of our work, or a necessity during our school days, but what’s stopping you from picking up a textbook and learning something new today? You’ll often find affordable textbooks on Amazon, Gumtree, and Facebook so, if you want to brush up on ancient history, or fancy reading up on forensics after binging the latest crime docu-series, the time is now. Learning a new language has never been easier or cheaper either. Download an app to your phone and listen at your leisure. Keeping the grey matter busy in middle-age is the secret to remaining mentally active in later years.

MOVE YOUR BODY
Research has suggested that starting a healthy lifestyle at 50 may reduce the risk of dementia by up to 90%. Whether that’s a couch to 5k, bagging yourself a Munro or two, or joining a local bootcamp, regular exercise is a great way to ward off middle-age spread, and stay physically and mentally agile. Microbiologist-turned-personal trainer and over-50 style and fitness Instagrammer, @greceghanem, is a great one to follow for new and effective ways of working out in middle age, and her badass, unapologetic take on fashion is utterly addictive.

REINVENT YOUR STYLE
Middle-age can leave us feeling in a bit of a style rut. We may have had the same hairstyle or makeup look since our twenties, but now is a great time to re-evaluate how we look on the outside and, more importantly, feel on the inside. Never before have we had so many female role models who look amazing in their forties, fifties, and sixties. From the likes of Sharon Horgan to Kamala Harris, Sarah Jessica Parker to Cate Blanchett, Michelle Obama to Rachel Weisz—there are women of all shapes and sizes who are making 50 the new (very stylish) 30. Start a Pinterest board and fill it with outfits you love, and look for commonality in them. Once you identify the pieces you like best, start updating your wardrobe accordingly.

LOOK FORWARD
Ageing is complex and no two people feel the same way about it. However, it’s important not to think of it as a passing of time, but the key to amazing possibilities. There’s beauty in looking back at the things you’ve already achieved, but don’t dwell on the past. Instead, think about all the things you have to look forward to; trust us, there are many!