The Madness of Midlife

It occurred to me recently: if I’d been born a hundred years ago there is every chance that I would currently be institutionalised.

“It is above all necessary that women at this critical age [midlife] abstain from all excitable pursuits, such as dancing, reading novels, or any kind of social distraction which, by agitating the imagination, could provoke or worsen the nervous storms so common in the menopause. Those women who seek new pleasures or yearn insatiably for social amusement at this time are most at risk of hysterical attacks and mental alienation, forgetting the dignified reserve that should mark their entry into mature age.” — Marc Colombat de l’Isère, Treatise on the Diseases of Women and the Special Hygiene of Females(1838) .

I find myself forgetting my dignified reserve. I yearn for new pleasures and wild adventures. I want to move to Italy, learn Italian, hike the Dolomites, take weekend trips to Malta and Sardinia, downsize the family home and move into a fabulous apartment in the city, hit the road with my surfboard, run a half marathon, write another book, fly at the pointy end of the plane, find my pelvic floor, start lifting weights, invest in my future, flee winter and chase the sun.

Restlessness simmers within me.

For much of the last 25 years, I have put everyone else first: my children, my partner, my work, my family, my friends, and then—last and least—me. But with my kids grown and flown and my responsibilities shifting, I am desperate to finally live audaciously for myself. In another era, this ambition for a much larger life, in midlife, would have been labelled “hysteria”. Today, I recognise it for what it is: my untapped potential and the irrepressible stirring for radical reinvention.

From Madness to Meaning 

For generations, women have reached their midlife after years of relentless selflessness. Their midlife ambitions, when they surfaced, were often dismissed or pathologised. But, finally, the narrative has started to change – why? Because we are the narrators.

Midlife isn’t about scaling back—it’s a hormonally powerful, life affirming, kick-ass invitation to unapologetically prioritise yourself. That edge you are feeling, the restlessness, the urge to push the boundaries, is not a crisis; it’s a catalyst for transformation. Whether you want to travel, start a business, write a book, learn a language, or simply say “yes” to yourself, this is your moment to turn ‘madness’ into meaning.

And the world has finally noticed. Forbes describes women over 50 as “super consumers,” wielding trillions in spending power and setting trends across health, travel, and lifestyle. We’re not just powering the economy—we’re reshaping the landscape as decision-makers and as a cultural force. The power of the midlife woman is real, undeniable, and formidable.

So – are you ready?  

If you, too, have found yourself forgetting your dignified reserve and suddenly yearn for new pleasures, here are the steps I write about in The Life List and which I follow to channel myself into purposeful, joyful agency:

1. Acknowledge the Desire for Change: Recognise that your urge for more is valid. Let yourself not only dream, but act—with intention and without apology.
2. Life List Chapters: Identify the key chapters or cups in your life that you want to fill. For mine, it’s: health and wellbeing, wealth, adventure, growth, giving, relationships, and lifestyle and environment.
3. Create a ‘Life List’: Reject the concept of a ‘Bucket List’ – stop asking: ‘what do I want to do before I die?’. Instead, embrace the concept of a Life List and start asking: ‘what do I want to do while I am still young enough to enjoy it?’. Write your own Life List of audacious goals – big and small – for each Life List Chapter.
4. Set Bold Intentions: Choose one or two goals that excite you most. Declare them clearly and with passion.
5. Break Down Your Goals: Turn your goals into action. What step can you take today that moves you forward?
6. Anticipate Obstacles: Identify potential fears, barriers, or outdated expectations that might hold you back. Prepare strategies to overcome them.
7. Seek Out Your Cheer Squad: Surround yourself with people who cheer you on and inspire your growth, not those who question your choices and sow doubt.
8. Lock in Commitments: Set deadlines and establish rituals. Keep yourself accountable.
9. Take Relentless, Imperfect Action: Don’t wait for the perfect conditions – there will never be a right time. Start today and then adjust as you go.
10. Reflect and Celebrate: Make reflection and gratitude a daily habit. Pause, notice your growth, and celebrate every milestone—big and small.

Start Today 

If you too feel that restlessness bubbling up, pay attention—it’s the first sign of your own radical reinvention. This is your invitation to channel the “madness” of midlife into limitless opportunity.

Begin writing your Life List today. After decades of selflessness, you’ve earned the right to be fiercely, unashamedly self-focused. Permission granted. If you need inspiration, follow my journey on Instagram.

Let your midlife story be one of audacity and new beginnings. The world isn’t waiting for us to disappear; it’s ready for our transformation—and so are we.

Written by Kate Christie.
Have you read?
The World’s Best Medical Schools.
The World’s Best Universities.
The World’s Best International High Schools.
The World’s Best Business Schools.
The World’s Best Fashion Schools.
The World’s Best Hospitality And Hotel Management Schools.