4 tips for midlife disappointment: Midlife crisis? Are you kidding? Are you serious when you say this?

According to research, people between the ages of 40 and 60 are more self-confident than younger people and more patient than older people. “Middle age is a time of peak productivity for many people working in creative fields,” says American psychologist Ann Douglas. During this stage, the brain is especially good at making connections, recognizing patterns, and solving problems. This is partly due to the wealth of knowledge people have compared to young people at this age.

You’ve had more experiences, read more books, watched more movies; you now have more input and inspiration that you can combine and apply. It’s no surprise that successful companies are founded by people whose average age is 47. Even researchers who later win the Nobel Prize conduct their important work while they are, on average, in their mid-forties.

So what do you do when you’re really out of breath in middle age? When you get angry every day?

First of all: don’t rush anything. Frustration causes us to act hastily and impulsively. Easy prey for smart car dealers. An overpriced convertible won’t change our interior situation much. Various studies conducted in the United States in recent years have shown that people who spend their money on experiences rather than material things are significantly happier and feel like they have invested their money better in the short and long term.

So ask yourself this: Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go? Or is it an activity that has excited you for years? Especially when daily life becomes boring, a skydive, a tantra seminar, or a trip to the other side of the world can get you back on a positive path.

If a particular place doesn’t call you, you can let the world invite you; for example, Holi, the annual spring festival in India. Holi is called the festival of colors because brightly colored dust flies in the air. It celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. People who are attracted to this symbolic renewal can consciously make a new start in their lives. There is also a local variant of this: a longer walk or crossing the Alps; both help gain distance and make a fresh start.

So what happens after the symbolic renewal? Researchers recommend: Become a beginner again. It doesn’t matter whether we learn knitting, Chinese or dancing. If we are challenged but not overwhelmed and feel comfortable in the group, the learning will pay off in the long run. It puts us in a good mood, gives us new energy and validates our abilities.

Investing in relationships is equally valuable. Especially when you are away from your family or circle of friends. Researchers have been documenting for decades that strong social ties are incredibly good for our mental and physical health. It doesn’t have to be hour-long, in-depth conversations. Listening and taking action quickly brings us closer again.

Remember the name of the book your partner wants to buy soon or the shoes your son will like very much and surprise him. Instead of viewing problems at home as annoying nagging, consider them as opportunities: It’s an opportunity to support your loved ones and be meaningfully involved at home. This is not only good for our family but also for ourselves.

But what if disappointment gets the better of you? Negative emotions are not proof that you have failed in life. On the contrary, they are a useful compass. They help reorganize daily life so that it becomes enjoyable again. Ask yourself: What exactly is causing these feelings? In what area are things going wrong and how can I improve the situation? What can enhance a sense of meaning and fulfillment?

If this is too complicated, perhaps Arthur C. Brooks’ concept can help. A business professor at Harvard University recommends the so-called removal process: Make a list of all the obligations and stressors you want to eliminate from your life in the future, thereby making it more comfortable and valuable. And do it consistently.