Developing a healthy lifestyle now can make the passage to later years much happier and healthier. The middle years, from 40 to 64, are also a time of change. Both lifestyle and health are affected. When children leave the nest, the result can be a challenge or an opportunity. Divorce becomes more common.
Some people re-enter the work force.
Others retire early, or find themselves out of a job for the first time in their lives. Some people find their middle years the happiest and most productive time of their lives. Others suffer a mid-life crisis, or even go through a major depression. The needs of aging parents also become an issue. Bodily changes can serve as a reminder that we need to take better care of ourselves.