As Tom Hanks reflects on his life and career, 35 stands out as the most difficult age.
talking Entertainment tonight about his new film here where he played at different ages, Hanks noted that “the hardest part for us was when we played at 35.”
“It’s the time when your metabolism stops, when gravity starts to tear you down, when your bones start to wear away,” Hanks, now 68, said. Interviewed experts luck say Hanks isn’t alone in finding age in his mid-thirties difficult.
Not the youngest or oldest kid on the block, people in their thirties can experience a bit of a slump as financial and family responsibilities set in.
Many 35-year-olds can feel that their dreams collide with reality. Financial pressures mount, and retirement can feel out of sight for Douglas Boneparth, certified financial planner and founder. Bone richness, say luck.
“The age of 35 can be a special challenge because it is often a transition period when expectations meet reality,” said Boneparth, who specializes in financing Millennials.
Normal life transitions can add pressure.
“This is the time when people start having families, buying a home, and more…the whole ‘adulting’ thing,” said Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster. “It’s important to stay positive, have a plan, talk to people, network, etc. to navigate these changes moving forward.”
Career mistakes are common
Often long enough to get by, but not long enough to reach a point of power: Many workers in their mid-30s can feel like they’re in a bit of a tailspin.
The current cohort, millennials, are the least satisfied in their jobs, a Forbes Survey of over 1,000 US workers. Not surprising considering there are so many of them middle managersa position known for creating high levels of stress. The said officials recently reported even higher levels of burnout given their role in communicating office orders and other changing cultural norms to their team.
“At age 35, many professionals are balancing career advancement with increasing job responsibilities, often under pressure to pursue leadership roles or focus on long-term career goals,” added Dan Schawbel, workplace expert and managing partner at Workplace Intelligence.
Many may have a breaking point where they realize they want to change course, says Boneparth.
“It’s a time when people may feel pressured to advance further in their careers or realize that the path they’re on may not align with their long-term aspirations,” he says of the life stage. Salemi backs that feeling, explaining that it’s often the point where people are ready to change careers, something that’s exciting “but can be overwhelming.”
However, all is not doom and gloom. Adults this age are “in their prime working years,” Steven Conners, founder and president Conners wealth management Notes from Scottsdale, Arizona. About three decades from traditional retirement, they are in a good place to save more and contribute more to their work, he added. Urging optimism from those with young families and watching their careers accelerate, she says they face a long time to retirement, “instead of being happy. Your 40th birthday (or midlife crisis) is still five years away.
No time for rest
Even when 35-year-olds finally catch a break, there may be no rest. After all, they are in an expensive stage of life.
And this usually difficult time seems to be hitting millennials even harder. Often saddled with student loans and having to deal with bad-time recessions, young people of this generation have struggled to afford housing and found themselves competing with income. baby boomers. Building wealth is hard, say 70% of Gen Z and millennial student borrowers Bank rate that they have delayed making important financial decisions because of debt.
Giving them their own way of life shows that they are trying, and that has helped some to some extent not having children. Those with children have faced high childcare costs, exacerbated by a nationwide crisis. Childcare costs more than rent in every state, with the cost of center-based care for two children ranging from 25% to more than 100% of the average annual rent payment, according to one. the report From Child Care Aware of America.
Millennials have endured, making a profit despite everything But they are still probably stressed because they are spending for the future, building wealth and doing family planning. “Financially, this is the age when major life expenses such as home ownership, raising children, or saving for retirement become more of a focus, often feeling more burdened as responsibilities pile up,” Boneparth explains, adding that health concerns begin to arise. . that period too.
“At this age, there’s little time for self-care and your whole world is wrapped up in taking care of everyone. It’s an exhausting time in life that many wonder, what’s the point,” Jennifer Moss, author of the book. Unlocking Happiness at Workhe said luckreferring to a study that explained happiness is like a plunging U-curve middle adulthood and chatty surveys among young people who show a great decline in well-being.
Hanks, for his part, considers himself “in better shape now,” citing his growing children and his greater ability to exercise and eat better. Dr. Kerulis, associate professor of clinical counseling at Northwestern’s Family Institute, agrees that these practices are “key to improvement at any age.”
However, he added that although age may bring more and more pains, it can be a good time for reflection. “I would say that the 30s can be very exciting in life because it’s a time to embrace yourself, come into your own way and learn how to handle adversity as an adult,” she added.
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