Midlife Crisis: Why Many Are Particularly Unhappy in the Middle of Their Careers

In midlife, many people feel as unhappy as they do in no other phase – the phenomenon of midlife crisis is therefore still very relevant. Lynda Gratton is a professor at the London Business School and researches the future of work. She has provided insights into her work for Fast Company and explains how people can overcome this challenging time.

People Are Most Unhappy in Their Mid-40s

According to a study by Swiss Life, 82 percent of Germans regularly suffer from stress-related complaints. Currently, the focus is primarily on Gen Z, but people in their forties and fifties, who are in the midst of their careers, often feel excessively burdened. During this life phase, many are simultaneously caring for aging parents and young children – all while carrying significant responsibilities at work. As life expectancy and the expected retirement age increase, many still have a long work journey ahead of them at this point.

"From happiness data, we know that these can be some of the unhappiest decades," says Gratton. She refers to research by economics professor David Blanchflower from Dartmouth College, who found that perceived life satisfaction reaches its lowest point at the age of 47.2 years. In her own research, Gratton found that people at this age often struggle to advance their careers. Their daily lives are dictated by decisions made decades earlier. "People feel as if they have participated in a race. They have reached their goal, are at the end of their strength... and yet realize that there is another race ahead of them that they did not expect," says Gratton.

The "Sandwich Generation" Is Heavily Burdened

Working professionals in midlife belong to what is known as the "sandwich generation": They tend to have children later in life while their own parents live longer. The constant switching between obligations drains mental energy and can lead to exhaustion and guilt – especially when the boundaries between work and private life blur. For Rachel Wilson, who worked in the finance industry, the situation worsened during the pandemic. Like many others, she worked from home during this time and spent up to twelve hours a day in video calls while also caring for two young children and her aging parents. This situation was unbearable, and she knew that something had to give.

Many professionals derive their sense of purpose from work – the thought of no longer being in the right place can significantly impact mental health. "You wish for something different for yourself but can't find a way to take that next step," says Allison McWilliams, Vice President for Career Development at Wake Forest University, to Fast Company. This creates a vicious cycle: "When we are stressed, it is easiest for us to fall into a repetitive loop," says Gratton. "And when you have to care for three generations of family, you can't step back – even if it no longer aligns with your own 'purpose.'"

It’s Never Too Late for a Course Correction

According to psychologist Samantha Stein, many people in their forties or fifties reach a point where they can no longer grow. This can also lead to burnout. Gratton describes this time as a "turning point," where employees must figure out how to sustainably shape the coming decades. "You need to retrain, acquire new skills," she says. For example, Wilson left her job in the finance industry and instead opened a fashion store. This gives her significantly more flexibility. Today, she can choose her working hours and also pick up her children from school.