{"id":2237,"date":"2017-04-24T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T10:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/?p=2237"},"modified":"2017-04-14T15:36:22","modified_gmt":"2017-04-14T19:36:22","slug":"well-midlife-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/2017\/04\/well-midlife-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Well Being in Midlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mid Life Crisis: What is it? Is it inevitable? Is it even a real phenomenon? Or is it an invention of the media \u2014 that is, corporate advertising trying to sell us things we don\u2019t need? (Not only do we not need these cosmetic and quasi-medical accoutrements, they are downright insulting and sometimes even dangerous.)<\/em><\/p>\n

I have been inundated lately by articles, poems, and stories about the so-called \u201cMidlife Crisis.\u201d Clearly it is a subject very much on the minds of many, many women. The writings that I have been sharing with you cover the gamut of opinions, ideas, and suggestions about coping with a Midlife Crisis, ours or someone else\u2019s. I offer them up to you to for your interest and edification.<\/em><\/p>\n

As always, I invite you to send me your stories \u2014 experiences, advice, and inspiration to share with our community of Midlife Queens. And special thanks to all oof you who have shared their ideas, research, and creativity with us.<\/em><\/p>\n

Midlife Crisis or Midlife Consciousness? You choose!<\/em><\/p>\n

xxQueen Mama Donna<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Women in the 45- to 55-year old age group \u2014 the largest demographic in the U.S. today.<\/p>\n

Gail Sheehy, a journalist and the author of the \u201970s best-seller \u201cPassages,\u201d told ABC News that this group was in particular crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis generation of women at midlife has a lower level of well-being than any other generation,\u201d Sheehy told ABC News. \u201cIt\u2019s always been that [when] women got to their 40s and 50s, they were happier than at any other time in their lives. This generation is the most stressed and distressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

USA Today asked Gallup-Healthways to identify what contributed to well-being in the midlife age group.<\/p>\n

In addition to a good marriage, a strong support network of friends and a positive attitude is important. Gallup-Healthways found that having a career and finding a good work-life balance also helped.<\/p>\n

Pollsters said that many women at this midlife stage still worked full-time.<\/p>\n

Gallup-Healthways\u2019 data also found that having a flexible work schedule and a short commute was also important for happiness in the 45-55 age group.<\/p>\n

Healthways shared these three general tips to improve your well-being:<\/p>\n