Let's Talk About the "M" Word (No, Not that One)

If one more brochure tells me Midlife is all beige cardigans, yoga retreats, and rediscovering my “inner goddess”... I swear I’ll laminate it and use it as a coaster for my champagne.

Let’s ask ourselves... Is the word Midlife is having its own identity crisis?.
We may all be having a crisis, but mine comes with better hair, less patience and WhatsApp Groups of  women who laugh loudly.

Why 'Midlife' Doesn’t Speak to Us Anymore

I was chatting with my friend Nicole the other day,  she’s (nearly) 50, fabulous, bloody clever as hell and when I mentioned “Midlife” she looked at me like I’d offered her a seat at the bingo hall!

 “Midlife just doesn’t resonate or speak to me,” she said.

  “Midlife sounds like a waiting room where the elderly congregate for their inevitable demise.”

She has a point.  Bang on, Nic!

Now for the record, I’m perfectly happy to be in Midlife, I find it so rewarding to be here and living a great life.  However, it got me wondering if more of my community felt the same so I began to research to see why she was resistant to the label as a 50 year old. 

The problem with the word Midlife is it’s stuck in a time warp.

Back in the 1970s, Midlife came with grey hair, a crisis, and a caravan!.  You hit 45, purchased the entire Tupperware catalogue, and started dressing like your mum in twinsets.

But now? Women are launching businesses, divorcing dead relationships, buying vibrators that cost more than a night at The Dorchester, and moving to sunnier climes as empty nesters!

But here’s the thing I’ve come to see: “the older I get, the older old is”. 

So even though those aged 45-60 are deemed in Midlife, we are recreating the whole idiom of what it actually looks like now for the Gen X population.

I used to think 50 was ancient!  Now I know 55-year-olds who run marathons (not me of course...), start podcasts, and still fancy the pants off their partner (thank you HRT, we remain eternally grateful!).

So maybe Nicole’s right. Maybe “Midlife” isn’t late enough anymore.

 Let’s Back This Up With a Few Facts, Shall We?

Life expectancy has soared. In the UK, we’re living 30 years longer than our grandmothers which means if 45 is “mid,” we’re expected to live to 90+. That’s not middle-aged, that’s Level 2.

We’re not winding down. We’re powering up.
A 2023 NatWest report showed women over 50 are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the UK.

We ARE the Economy.
Women aged 45+ are responsible for more than 80% of household spending decisions.
You want power? Try running the family, the finances, and a full emotional support hotline for your adult kids  while peri/menopause tries to take you out like a sniper!

 So Why Does “Midlife” Still Sound Like Demise?

Because the branding is broken.

Seriously, Google image search Midlife Woman and tell me it’s not all head-tilted smiles, soft lighting, and mugs of chamomile tea.

Where’s the woman juggling Zoom calls, deleting dating apps, and wondering if she can get away with a fringe again?

This is Messy, Magnificent, Main Character Energy.

 Also, surely the phrase “I’m not getting older, I’m becoming a classic” isn’t the truth anymore.  I’m surrounded by women deemed to be Midlife, who are reinventing themselves, their relationships, careers and financial security and nowhere are they slipping into elasticated waists scrolling the “What’s Left” dating apps. 

Albeit, admittedly, I am just a woman who does prefer her bra off by 7pm and thinks 9pm is the new midnight!

Honestly ladies, sometimes I don’t know whether to flirt, nap, or apply anti-chafing balm.

Me. Most Days

So, What Should Do we Call It?

If the word Midlife gives you the ick, what word feels better?

Tell me what you think when you hear the word Midlife.  If the word is indeed having its own crisis, what do we call it now?

 Some suggestions I’ve been toying with -

 The Inbetweeners - because we’re not old, but we’ve definitely seen some sh*t.

 Life 2.0 - not a redo, a relaunch.

 The Re-edit Era - my personal favourite. Because who said the first version was final?

But I want your take. What do you call this Edit of your life?
Because if it’s not “midlife,” then what is it?

 Hit Reply and share your thoughts.

Here for you always!