Do you wake up each morning feeling energized, alert, and ready to reach the summit? Or do you feel more like curling up in bed and burrowing under the covers?
Don’t worry if you chose your bed. Mid-life changes can sometimes make it seem as if life has lost its sparkle. I’ve helped many friends and clients deal with these feelings, and I can help you, as well.
Here, I’ve listed some tips for how to make life exciting again.
Table of Contents
1. Friendship Makes Life Exciting
First, seek out the support of others who have had similar experiences and are in the same phase of life as you. Often family members don’t know what it’s like for you dealing with midlife challenges, and quick Google searches usually just result in pages of vague, abstract, and repetitive rhetoric.
One of my favorite ways to make life more exciting is to find interesting and exciting new friends. (We all know that friends make life better.) You’ll make friends, share in fun activities and give each other tips on how to make life exciting again. Who knows? You may even share new experiences, such as traveling to a place that you’ve never been before or learning a new sport such as kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding.
I’ve written (and coached) pretty extensively on how to make new friends (yes, even though it’s sometimes harder in midlife), but the easiest way, by far, is to find a social club of women who, like you, are seeking personal growth and excitement through new experiences and adventures.
If you don’t have a social club near you, consider starting one of your own. It’s not as hard as you’d think – and I can even help you if you’d like.
2. Volunteer to Make Life Exciting Again
Volunteer work is often suggested as a panacea for boredom or unhappiness, but have you already tried volunteering and found that it didn’t pique your interest?
Or perhaps the volunteer work that you were doing no longer fits into your life. For example, you may have served as a PTA mom or scout leader, and now your children are grown, and it’s time for you to move on, too.
So, what do you do now?
First, try to figure out what really interests and excites you and build on this. For example, if you miss having children around or just love to read, try volunteering at your local library. Believe it or not, libraries can be exciting.
Volunteer to read to children and see the excitement in their eyes when they connect with a story for the first time! You will share in their joy as they learn new things.
While you’re at the library, consider attending some of their events, such as folk dancing and other cultural exhibitions, and keep up to date with interesting and exciting new books by joining a book discussion club.
Volunteer work can also lead you to try new, exciting sports and activities. For example, someone I know began horseback riding in midlife because she became involved with a support group for Native Americans and was invited to ride mustangs on their reservation.
Environmental groups also offer lots of exciting outdoor volunteer opportunities, both near your home and in far away and exotic places; you can learn to kayak, plant aquatic grasses, or photograph wildlife!
You can find lots of volunteer opportunities, such as volunteering at zoos and museums, online through a local government or through a national organization such as Volunteers of America and your own city’s website.
3. Hobbies Make Life Exciting Again
I realize that if you’re a woman in midlife (or older) you’re tired of people patronizingly suggesting that you “take up a hobby” to help you deal with boredom or to “pass the time.” As if we spend our days sitting in our rockers in front of the television!
Of course, if you’re like most women in midlife, your life is very different from this, and you’re already busy with a career and various other activities.
Still, it’s important that you carve out some time to do something for yourself, and believe it or not, just because you may be in midlife doesn’t mean that you’re limited to needlework and Scrabble.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with needlework and Scrabble if that’s what you really want, but don’t be afraid to try something new, interesting, and exciting.
For example, consider compiling a seasonal bucket list (see my articles on summer and autumn bucket list ideas) and then set about checking items off of your list.
Traveling with purpose is a great way to make life exciting again, and if a trip to Europe isn’t in this year’s budget, opt for day trips or weekend adventures at nearby natural areas, historical sites, or other attractions. Many areas are blessed with wilderness areas, so try backpacking or camping on a pristine wilderness beach!
Cultural events are also a great way to make life exciting again. Check out your local theater and symphonies. Sampling new cuisine also adds excitement and flair, so meet your friends for lunch at new restaurants that recently opened in your area!
I, personally, have become more interested in gardening over the years. If you share this interest, consider becoming a master gardener.
You can connect with a community garden to grow food for your local food bank, or consider starting a hummingbird and butterfly garden. It’s quite exciting to watch hummingbirds flit about and butterflies emerge from their chrysalises!
If none of the above excites you, check out my articles on empty nest hobbies, social hobbies, interesting hobbies for women in midlife and hobbies for older men for literally hundreds more ideas.
4. How Exercise Can Make Life Exciting Again
Before you skim past this section (because we ALL already know that we should exercise for any number of good reasons), bear with me for a minute…
Yes – sometimes it’s hard to get motivated. Exercise can seem like a dreary chore or a foreboding challenge, but, believe it or not, there are actually many ways to make it fun and exciting.
Competition is one of my favorite ways to put excitement back into your work-out. Music, dancing, and socialization are a few others.
First, figure out what you really like to do.
Do you thrive on being outdoors, or do you prefer a climate-controlled fitness center? If you like the outdoors, consider competitive race walking. I love this activity because it’s safe at nearly any age and fitness level and it can be very social.
Regardless of the activity you choose, crank up the excitement factor by choosing and training for an upcoming event. This is my go-to strategy for staying motivated and excited about hitting the proverbial trail each morning. (And there’s nothing like the roar of a cheering crowd to get your adrenaline pumping on race day!)
There are so many options for competitive activities for women over 45, including bicycling, CrossFit, body building and even bikini competitions!
If you’re an indoor kind of gal and don’t enjoy the excitement of competition, try a social dancing class like Zumba. It’s a great way to have fun and get fit at the same time, and the music will motivate and excite you so that you’ll want to exercise.
Moving to the music can make you feel like a teenager again at a high school dance!
If you think you don’t have the money or time for classes, there are a variety of online workout videos that you can try.
You might also consider a retreat that focuses on a particular activity, such as Yoga or dance. Exercise is a great way to connect with others, so form a walking club, attend a retreat or, if you exercise at home, invite your neighbors in to work out with you!
Exercise is a great way to improve your health, improve you appearance, meet new people and make your life exciting again!
5. Redecorate to Make Life Exciting Again
Another way to make your life (and your home) more exciting again is to redecorate.
I’m always surprised by how just rearranging the same old furniture or bringing in a few new pillows or a throw can really mix things up in a fun way.
Maybe you’re bored with the same furnishings you’ve had for years, or maybe they just don’t suit your lifestyle anymore. If so, it could be rather fun and exciting to update your style.
You can take this a step further. Get fun and funky with colors and textures.
If you are an empty nester, celebrate this by converting your adult children’s bedrooms into guest rooms…or a gym, an office or even a game room! (And invite your new friends to share it with you!)
You don’t need thousands of dollars to plunk down on furniture, carpeting, and accessories. There are options for all budgets. I absolutely love the excitement of treasure hunting at thrift stores and even the occasional estate sale.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with DIY decorative items. If you’re into photography, try framing some of your own photographs to use as wall art. If you enjoy gardening, try making dried flower arrangements or wreaths from your own garden. This may be a good chance to develop an exciting new hobby and spruce up your house at the same time!
6. Make Life Exciting by Updating Your Personal Style.
While you’re redecorating your house, don’t forget to spend some time on yourself. It may be time for a new hairstyle, makeup, or wardrobe.
In the not too distant past, women in midlife had a decidedly middle-aged appearance, wearing only short hair styles and conservative clothing.
Today, style in midlife can be much more fun and exciting. In fact, I’d argue that midlife is one of the best times to reconnect with ourselves and develop our own, personal style that truly stands out.
It is, after all, at about age 50 when we stop caring so much about what others think and start doing whatever it is that we find interesting, fun and truly authentic.
Many of my friends in the 50+ crowd are growing their hair long. Some are growing out their gray while others are dying it purple.
Don’t be afraid to embrace new clothing styles or perhaps recycle some of your favorite styles from your youth. Nothing is trendier right now than retro.
As with home decor, updating your personal style doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s exciting to browse through thrift stores and see the bargains that you can find online! Or just go browsing in your own closet! If you’re like me, you have clothes that you haven’t worn in years. With a little mixing and matching and a few accessories, you can create a whole new, exciting look.
More From Our Blog
- 12 Tips to Stop Feeling Like Life is Passing You By
- 21 Best Tips for Reinventing Yourself After Empty Nest
- 30 Best Dating Ideas for Older Couples
- Finding Purpose in Life After 50
- 13 Benefits and Challenges of a Midlife Gap Year
- Why You’re Feeling Stuck in a Rut
- Feeling Invisible in Midlife: Why It Happens and How to Cope
I'm Dr. Angela Caveney. I'm a Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist, Founder of The Trybe Women's Social Club and leader of the Midlife Reimagined Mastermind.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mastermind or in creating a community of your own, reach out to me at angela@the-trybe.com to start the conversation.
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