Mid-life crisis makes way for a mid-life makeover

But these days an increasing number of Britons on the brink of a mid-life crisis are choosing a mid-life makeover instead by taking steps to enrich their lives.

A new study has shown that four out of five 40 to 59-year-olds have felt the need to learn new skills, start new hobbies or meet new people over the past five years.

Two-thirds have made new friends, more than half have taken up a new hobby, while 56 per cent have started a new exercise regime in the last five years.

However, leading such an active lifestyle does not come cheap – three in four of those surveyed admit that financial constraints are holding them back, despite more than two-thirds having received a financial windfall in the last five years.

The mid-life crisis is often perceived as the curse of middle age, associated with men of a certain age attempting to relive their youth through extravagant, and often inappropriate, buys like sports cars.

However, as average life expectancy, and with it the age of retirement, creeps ever upward, men and women in their 40s and 50s are seizing the opportunity to take life-changing and self-affirming steps, according to the study of 2,000 people aged 40 to 59 by Experian CreditExpert credit monitoring service.

The survey found 85 per cent of 40 to 59-year-olds surveyed had taken steps to change their life situation in the past five years. Responses demonstrated that, far from the expected plans to splash out on cosmetic surgery or fast cars, mid-lifers are making decisions that impact on their work and life happiness.

They are giving themselves a second chance at achieving their ambitions and desires – from changing career to seeing the world. A total of 70 per cent gave travelling the world as one of their goals in later life, with the next most popular options being: spending time learning new things, 46 per cent; and dedicating my life to a favourite hobby, 29 per cent.

The most clear gender divide was over what middle-aged men and women were most hoping to achieve by making life changes. Among men, gaining a better work/life balance was the most popular answer, given by almost a third of men.

By comparison, women’s priorities were focused on adventure and new life experiences with 36 per cent of women saying so.

Peter Turner, managing director of Experian Interactive, said: “People entering their late forties in 2011 are still only half way through their working lives.

“These results show that, far from throwing money at new toys in a quick fix, many are channelling their energy towards making positive, fulfilling changes.”