Five Sure Fire Ways To Get Out Of The Midlife Slump

You Can Break Free From The Midlife Slump With These Five Actionable Steps

Getting out of the midlife slump can be very difficult for most men or women in midlife. I believe it weighs more heavily on men in midlife because of the social construct that is in place. This construct suggests that men are the bread-winner. They are the ones who are the protectors and providers. So, when they look around and look into the future, it can be very daunting when they do not see any foreseeable change to their current situation. A midlife slump and feelings of being stuck, become the current mindset.

So, how can a man in midlife break free from this slump? I have a few suggestions even though this is not the final word on this matter. These suggestions are taken from our basic needs structure. These needs-structure are physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual. When all these domains are not being addressed, it leaves room for a deficit. This deficit or lack, gives place to the slump feel.

Here are five actionable steps that can be employed right away to get out of this midlife slump:

Physical

Find a way to do some physical exercise. If your job is one of sitting all day, going home to then sit before the television or in a recliner, only adds to this slump. Take a few minutes in your day to get up from your seat and do some walking. Walk around the office or outside if possible. Take breaks. Work at your desk for 45 minutes and then take a short 5 – 10 minute break. When you get home, if you can, go for a walk or do some outdoor chores. Again, based upon the weather condition. You might also want to think about joining a gym and find someone to work out with. Don’t do this on your own. You will give up quickly unless you are a very disciplined person.

Intellectual:

Research shows that it’s only a small percentage of people actually continue any form of education after graduating high school and / or college. Not only that. It also shows that these individuals rarely pick up a book to read. There are no intellectual stimulation occurring. The brain is not being challenged. The brain is like a muscle that if not used will atrophy.

So to offset this, you will want to begin a reading or studying regimen. Find books that you are interested in and read or listen to them on audio book. You have no excuse. If you don’t like to read, then listen through audio. Challenge yourself to do so by starting with a small book that you can get through very quickly.

Emotional:

This is the one that most men don’t like to even think or talk about because it’s not “manly.” This social conditioning is one of the most damaging thing that has been done to the male gender. We have feelings too. Actually, a lot of it. Look at our prisons.

Be okay with feeling hurt. When you do, you could say, “that was hurtful” instead of saying, “I am feeling hurt.” But you must find a way to healthily express your emotions. Get in the habit of doing this on a regular basis. Train yourself this way.

Social:

This is pretty much self-explanatory. We socialize in various ways especially around sport. But most of the socialization that we do as men, are side to side and not so much face to face. We sit side by side to watch a game. It’s not very comfortable to do face to face relationship for some men but this is what I’m suggesting here.

Get involved in the networking scene where you can stand across from another person and engage them. This helps to stimulate the mind but also to learn and enhance our social cues (facial expressions, tone of voice along with gestures, etc). Use this setting to be others centered; be interested in them and what they do. Avoid the temptation to talk about yourself.

Spiritual:

Get in touch with your spiritual side. This is very important. Without a spiritual connection to our Creator, we will always have something missing. We will find ourselves feeling unfulfilled no matter how much stuff we have and the status we achieve. Look at how many men who in my eyes, seem to have it all, yet are strung out on drugs, alcohol and even commit suicide. Could it be that they are missing this domain after focusing on all the others?

Hopefully the five ways to break free from a midlife slump was helpful to you. What other suggestion do you have to break free from this slump? Leave me a comment in the space provided now.