Midlife reinvention: it's never too late to become who you want to be at 50+

Do you remember the excitement of childhood dreams? "When I grow up I want to be..." was a phrase we all said with enthusiasm because as young children, unaware of the 'rules' which were already well established around women in the 60s, the possibilities before us felt infinite. Life was before us and it was so very exciting...

When dreams meet reality: my childhood aviation aspirations

I wanted to fly an aeroplane. As a child of four, my imagination was flooded with images of myself climbing the stairs of a Boeing 707, flight bag in hand, with my captain's uniform and hat with earned wings glinting in the sun. 

I didn't become that airline pilot, and the reasons why probably won't surprise you. Back in the 60s, the idea of a female airline pilot was completely out of the question. When I raised the idea of becoming a pilot as a child, everyone fell around laughing and I was firmly put in my place. My dreams squashed and a doll and pram thrust in front of me. This was supposed to be my life and not some mad cap idea of flying an aeroplane. 

Once this harsh reality of not being male had hit home, (crushing me at age 5 when I went off to school) my goals had to be changed to air stewardess. However, even then there were limitations. I wasn't tall enough. You had to be 5ft 6inches minimum – as per the Dan Air application form – and since I was only 5ft 2inches. So at the age of 16 once again limitations were placed before me so I didn't bother applying.

Was I disappointed? Yes, but I didn't dwell on it and I certainly never thought about rebelling against the norm. I fell into line and went to secretarial college which wasn't my choice. For my parents, poorly educated the idea of their daughter becoming a secretary was in their eyes, high achievement and I didn't want to disappoint.

Why society limited our early career dreams

As girls in the 60s and 70s, we were conditioned to lower our expectations when it came to choosing a career. We were expected to take on roles of a caring or serving nature. From a very young age, we knew there were limitations set by society, and it was only the really strong and courageous among us who broke the mould.

Back then, I wasn't one of them.

These same seeds of self-doubt, sown at a very early age, may have led your own life down a different path – one that was a second or third choice, or maybe you weren't even given a choice.

Did you regret never doing what you really wanted to do as a child? Or did you land in something that didn't measure up to your expectations, but stuck at it because you didn't know what else to do?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, you're not alone.

Why midlife is the perfect time for reinvention

Pay attention to those early stirrings you might be feeling - are they telling you it's time to make a shift? Maybe it's heading towards traditional retirement thoughts, or perhaps it's when the children have finally flown the nest and you're wondering "what now? This is the perfect time to begin thinking deeply about how we want the second half of our life to look.

Natural breaks come into our lives, and a huge one is when we approach our midlife years.

Jackie Clarke

Unlike our younger years, the vast majority of limitations are those we place on ourselves. What's even better is that today, as women in their midlife, we have the freedom to choose our own path – whether that's changing careers, starting fresh, or finally pursuing that dream we put on hold.

Empty nest, full possibilities: when the children leave home

For many women, midlife coincides with that bittersweet moment when the children leave home. You've spent years, perhaps decades, putting your family first and suddenly you're asking yourself, "Who am I when I'm not needed as a mum?"

This transition can feel overwhelming. One day you're managing school runs, packed lunches and family schedules, and the next you're staring at a quiet house wondering what to do with yourself. But here's what I want you to know: this isn't an ending – it's a beginning.

When life takes an unexpected turn: starting fresh after divorce

Perhaps your midlife transition wasn't planned. Maybe you find yourself divorced in your late 40s, 50s, or 60s, suddenly facing a future you hadn't anticipated. One day you were part of a couple, perhaps financially dependent on a partner, and now you're asking yourself not just "Who am I?" but "How will I manage?"

This can feel terrifying and I won't pretend otherwise. You might be worried about money, about being too old to start again, about explaining gaps in your CV, or about whether you even have relevant skills anymore. But let me tell you something: you are stronger and more capable than you realise.

The resilience you've shown in navigating a difficult relationship ending, the courage it took to rebuild your life, the organisational skills you've honed managing a household – these are exactly the qualities that make for successful reinvention. You've already survived one of life's biggest challenges. You've already proven you can adapt.

Yes, starting again in midlife feels daunting, but it's also liberating. For perhaps the first time in decades, you get to make decisions purely for yourself. You get to discover who you are when you're not defined by your relationship status.

You've spent years developing incredible skills that the working world values enormously. You can multitask like nobody's business, you're an expert negotiator (ever tried getting a teenager to tidy their room?), you're resilient, adaptable and you know how to manage competing priorities under pressure. But above all, you are full of wisdom and life experiences, which are valuable assets.

The question isn't whether you're capable – it's what you want to do with this newfound freedom?

Traditional retirement vs. creating your next chapter

At that point in your life where thoughts of what's next begin to stir, this is the time to think seriously about what the right path is for you. We all have choices like never before when it comes to deciding what we want to do with the second half of our lives.

You may choose to go the traditional route – perhaps taking on caring roles for grandchildren or elderly parents, volunteering for causes close to your heart, or simply enjoying the freedom to please yourself for the first time in decades.

Or perhaps you're thinking about entering the workforce for the first time in years, or returning after a long break. Maybe you want to start that business you always dreamed about, go back to education, or explore a completely new direction.

There is, however, a danger of falling into the trap of going from a purpose-driven life to one without direction. Without the structure that children provided, some women find themselves feeling lost or isolated.

Financial independence: your options for moving forward

Whether you're considering entering the workforce for the first time in years or changing direction in an existing career, finances will likely be a key consideration. There are places you can go to get advice, Money Helper is one and there's a brilliant tribe of women called Female Invest who also have some great ideas and advice around investing. Your bank should also be able to assist, so don't be afraid to ask for help, but above all, make sure you work with an organisation that is reputable and adhere to the requirements of the Financial Advice Authority. You must always check out the credentials of anyone offering to give you financial advice and under no circumstances send money to anyone without checking them out. I would also go as far as saying, share your ideas on any investments with someone who you trust and run it past your bank. Better to be safe than sorry.

If you've been out of the workforce raising children, you might be worried about gaps in your CV, outdated skills, or how to explain years of "just" being a mum. Let me stop you right there – there's nothing "just" about what you've been doing.

For those already in careers, the challenge might be different. With the Government having moved the ability to claim a State Pension to 67 (and planned to continue rising), many of us are in an awkward position if we don't have sufficient private pensions or other means of income.

But here's what I've learned: financial concerns, while real and important, shouldn't be the only factor in deciding your next chapter. Sometimes the very act of pursuing what energises you can lead to unexpected opportunities and income streams.

It is a dilemma many of us face. I reached a point where I couldn't maintain the same pace of work as I had for over 40 years, whilst other women I know were ready to spread their wings for the first time in decades after focusing on family life.

Even though I was fortunate financially to be able to stop working altogether, I didn't feel ready to give up completely. Similarly, many women coming out of full-time motherhood don't want to jump straight into a demanding career, they want something that fits their values and lifestyle.

I found myself thinking about what change I could make that would allow me to have the flexibility I wanted, but still gave me what I truly enjoyed, played to my skills and gave me purpose. I did not want to have to resort back to 'making do' as I had when I was first considering my career choices as a young woman, and so my search began. 

Your Ikigai: finding purpose after 40

I began by reading anything I could find on that second half of life, and it was a tiny book called Ikigai that really made me stop and think. Ikigai is the concept of finding your life's worth and value, finding that reason to jump out of bed every morning. I needed to find my own 'Ikigai' which began with exploring what I really wanted, my purpose. This led me to changing my career at 59 years of age. Was it frightening? Was it life-changing? Would I recommend it? YES, YES and YES!

My journey to lifestyle and executive coach wasn't just about career change, it was about aligning my work with my values of helping professional women live their healthiest, most purposeful lives. It was about embracing the ageing process and showing that our best years can be ahead of us.

Where to begin your midlife transformation

Whether you're changing careers, returning to work after raising children, or exploring something completely new, the process isn't about jumping into something overnight. It requires self-reflection, exploration and strategic planning.

It took time, more time than I had originally imagined it would. On reflection, had I known what I had to do to find out exactly what I wanted from my life, I would have started thinking about this a good five or even ten years earlier than I did.

Knowing why you want to make the change is as important as knowing what that change might be. It could be about having flexibility, achieving a dream, contributing to something meaningful, building financial independence, or simply having something that's yours again after years of focusing on others.

Learn to dream again

I completely understand that at the heart of all of this for most people will be affordability, which often limits what we can do. This is important and will be considered, but for now I need you to park any of these supposed limitations, affordability or otherwise.
Instead, we are going to do some dreaming, and to be able to dream, you need to remove obstacles. Undoubtedly money, for the majority of us, is one of the biggest.

To do this properly, you're going to need some quality 'me time', so get comfortable with no distractions. I want you to lean into your imagination and allow yourself to think in the most outrageous way, because it's often through opening our minds that we can find a life-changing spark.

Now, I want you to ask yourself and answer the following questions. Write your answers down, in a journal if you can, because written words hold a far stronger position in our brain than fleeting thoughts. You may not answer all of these questions at once, but that's OK. I want you to sit with them, think about them as you go about your daily routine. 

Key Questions for Your Midlife Transformation:

• What did I want to be as a child, before the world told me I couldn't, and could I still do this? Do I want or need to do this for me?
• What activities make me lose track of time because I'm so engaged?
• What work or activities really excite me and make me feel alive?
• What values are important to me in the way I live my life?
• What do I naturally excel at? (Include parenting and life management skills)
• What do I love to do?
• What kind of impact do I want to make in the world?
• What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?

Identify what's holding you back

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle isn't external, it's our own mindset. Whether you're changing careers or considering entering the workforce after focusing on family, ask yourself:

• What fears do I have about making this change?
• What assumptions am I making that may not be true?
• Am I worried about being "too old" or "out of touch"?
• How have I successfully navigated change in the past?
• What small steps can I take to move forward?
• What would I tell my best friend if she were in my situation?

By answering these questions, you will set your mind into thinking mode. I don't want you to jump into something new immediately. Instead, I want you to sit with your thoughts and reflect upon them over the coming days and weeks.

Remember, this is an exercise for you to allow your mind to open up without limitations so that you can start to find exactly what it is you want. If doubt creeps in, remind yourself of this truth: You are not starting over; you are building on everything you have already accomplished.

Research and explore new opportunities

As you begin this process of exploration, consider doing a little research into what agencies or organisations are available to help you rethink your career path. Navigating a midlife career change towards part-time opportunities in the UK can be both exciting and challenging.

Practical resources for women over 40

Whether you're returning to work or changing direction, here are few valuable resources, but there's more out there, just do some research around your exact needs:

National Careers Service: Offers personalised career advice, skills assessments, and guidance for women re-entering the workforce or changing careers.

Women Returners: Specifically supports professional women returning to work after career breaks. They offer return-to-work programmes and employer partnerships.

Age UK: Provides support for older individuals seeking employment, including those entering the workforce for the first time in years.

Flexible working and self-employment options

The UK government promotes flexible working arrangements, which can be beneficial for midlife women seeking part-time roles. Exploring options like job sharing, compressed hours, or remote work can provide the balance you want and need.

Many midlife professionals find fulfilment in freelancing or starting their own businesses. This path offers flexibility and the chance to leverage your experience in a new way.

Feel the fear and go for it: embracing change after 50

Fear is natural, but it doesn't have to control you. Instead of seeing fear as a stop sign, use it as a guide. Fear often signals growth, pushing you beyond your comfort zone.

You have already navigated so much in life, whether that's parenting, managing a household, caring for elderly relatives, dealing with relationship changes, or juggling work and family responsibilities. Each experience has given you tools to adapt and thrive.
If you've been focused on family life, don't underestimate the skills you've developed. You're an expert project manager, negotiator, budget controller, crisis manager, and people developer. These are exactly the skills that employers and clients value.

Now, it's time to use those strengths to create the next chapter you truly want.

Your healthspan matters more than your timeline

One of the things I've learned through my own career transition and in working with women in my ProAge Community – whether they're changing careers or stepping into the workforce for the first time in years – is that it's not about how many years we have left. It's about making those years count.

This is about healthspan, not just lifespan. It's about living fully, purposefully and authentically in every decade of our lives, whether that's in a new career, returning to work, starting a business, or finding other meaningful ways to contribute.
What is one small step you can take today to move toward your next chapter? Maybe it's researching opportunities that interest you, updating your LinkedIn profile, taking an online course, reaching out to someone whose career you admire, or simply having an honest conversation with your family about your aspirations.

Whatever it is, take that first step now.

Ready to start your midlife transformation?

You have the power to reinvent yourself at any age, whether you're changing direction in an existing career or stepping into something completely new after years of focusing on family.

The best is yet to come.

If you're ready to explore what your next chapter could look like, I'd love to support you on this journey. In my ProAge Community, we celebrate the wisdom that comes with experience and help women create the purposeful, healthy lives they deserve – whatever path they choose.

Because it's never too late to become who you want to be.

Ready to take the next step?  Connect with like-minded women who are embracing their potential at every age – whether that's in new careers, returning to work, or creating meaningful change in their lives. Find out more by joining the ProAge Community, just click the Rediscover Your Purpose button, If you feel you need more tailored support, then click the Find Your Next Step button to book your complimentary 30-minute clarity session. Together, we'll explore exactly how to get you to where you want to be..