Gen X career meltdown or success?

I had a conversation with a fellow Gen X-er the other day, and what started as a talk about improving communication skills turned into a discussion about midlife crisis. An article I read mentions a phenomenon called Gen X career meltdown, and that phrase alone in self-explanatory.

The psychologist Carl Jung described midlife as the stage of life called the afternoon of life. Think of it this way: in the morning, you’re full of zest and energy. But in the afternoon, you slump and feel demotivated—because what you set out for either failed or just got halfway.

My friend and I are exactly here. We’re about the same age. And if you’re like me—or just near my age—you might be grappling with the same thing. We chose our careers in our twenties, probably graduated at 20 or even 19, got our jobs, or jumped into business early—either our own or the family’s. Then, wham bam! We’re 35 or 40, and we feel dissatisfied.

My career trajectory was bright early on. I finished my triple major degree at St. Scholastica’s at 20 (yes, you heard that right—triple major; they called it the Honors Class), completed my master’s in Psychology at 24 while working as a Medical Representative, and by the time I was in my late 20s, I was already doing my dream job. (I got into the academe, which is supposed to be the dream job for psych master’s graduates.)

Then I got in the family way. I dropped everything to be a mom. Before I knew it, I had spent ten years of my life child-rearing. Young kids take a lot of energy and care, and for me, being a mom—a present mom—is at the core of my being.

My midlife career shift began by looking for jobs on Onlinejobs.ph and trying to get enough clients on freelance platforms. When I re-entered the job market, I was rusty. I had no private practice, no clinic, and not enough contacts. (This was around the time Facebook Pages and Instagram marketing weren’t a thing yet—or maybe I just hadn’t discovered they were a thing! I’ve always been partial to an analog lifestyle.) The old system of working was gone. Them COVID came and left its dirty fingerprints all over the world. Back then, I truly thought I was done as a mental health worker.

So I pivoted. Freelancing was starting to become en vogue, so I decided I might as well learn to be a writer. (That’s what I had always wanted anyway. My dad sort of forced me into Psychology because he thought all writers would starve, all artists would starve—but people would always need HR employees, guidance counselors, or psych teachers.) In a span of years, I successfully taught myself to freelance as a Writer Virtual Assistant.

For the record, I was not able to attain the freelancer’s wet dream: to attain a six-figure payout every month. But I triumphed over my queasiness with tech! That was the true win! I learned to do online meetings and took all those Coursera courses—writing, digital marketing, the works. I knew how to screen share, use WordPress like a pro, and play around Canva. Working as a writer was going so well, I almost gave up my license. It renews every three years, and I was about to let it lapse. But then something happened at work.

Briefly: I got into Innodata as a content writer, and they found out I was a licensed psychologist. So I thought—hmm, I could serve a different function. I rallied for a psychology role. They saw in me some hidden potential—and I started thinking, “Maybe I can give psych another shot?” Time passed and I got more experienced as a Well-being coach, but even as I worked my so-called Day Job, I never gave up on writing.

Just this March, I finally got my first book out. Eventually, I quit Innodata for a more flexible arrangement with another company, Saya. I designed my schedule so that half the day, I’m Melany the writer; half the day, I’m Melany the psychologist.

For me, this is already genuine success—as a midlife career shifter, as a proud Gen Xer who distrusts tech with one eye but uses it with the other.

When I quit Innodata, I was burning out. I had to dig deep and ask myself what my purpose in life was. I revisited my Be Goals—and through that process, I realized I wanted time affluence more than a relatively high salary in the tech sector. I want time to write. Time to be with my writer friends. And of course, time with my family. Because I’m a devoted mom and a good-enough spouse. So I figured—I’d better put my money where my mouth is. In this era, where time is more valuable than money, chose consciously.

I am already a success. I keep reminding myself of this, especially now that my book is out and I’ve received my first not-so-peachy review. There will be more reviews, and there will be naysayers. Haters gonna hate. But let me—let me learn from them when it’s appropriate. And let me dance and celebrate, because I got this far. I did! I did! Way to go, Melany!

That friend I was talking about earlier—she’s still stuck in the afternoon mind fog, but I hoped our conversation lit something up for her. I hope my story helped her. And that’s why I’m sharing this with you too.

Remember: successfully navigating the afternoon of life looks different for everyone. In the afternoon, when you feel yourself slipping into that slump—when the zest of morning fades—you can lace up your shoes and go for a run instead of reaching for coffee and cake. Or, better yet, have tea with a friend. That will nourish your psyche far more than instant gratification ever could.

The featured image on this blog was AI-generated by me using free tools, namely ChatGPT, Canva, and Leonardo AI. I use these images to support my written content creatively and cost-effectively.