To consider myself nearly middle aged at 26

[User6777000]

Would say from 30 onwards

Well, technically you're wrong of course: you're not close to the middle of the average life expectancy.

I think I felt middle aged in my mid-40s, and I'm still middle aged at 56.

But I think it's also about personality, life stage, mindset, what age (and if) you have children, what age you retire. I've known people the OPs age who seemed middle aged in their outlook, and some in their 60s and 70s who don't seem to have hit middle age yet.

However, I don't think it really matters unless you're unhappy with your life and outlook. I'm actually happier and more confident now than I felt at the OP's age, so I don't see middle age as a negative thing, and I feel very positive about ageing. Hopefully the OP is asking the question because she feels a level of security and contentment not normally associated with her age group.

Ridiculous.

I didn't feel middle aged until at least 45.

I'm nearly 60 and people on here talking about that age as being old as in 'an old lady' I think that's ridiculous as I'm still in the same category in terms of interests, activity, working, health as I was at 45.

People love ageing others prematurely. Maybe it makes them feel young in comparison.

It's really weird to age yourself prematurely!!!

It's called a quarter life crisis

I'm 52 and I feel less middle aged than I used to. As the DC get older and my financial responsibilities reduce I feel younger and freer than I have for years.

I’m 52. I’m middle aged. Get over yourself.

I'm 49 and solidly middle aged.

You are a young adult

@Sn0tnose

I mean this in the kindest possible way, but my creaking knees, my peri menopausal mood swings, my grey roots, my newly acquired chin hair that is growing faster than I can pluck it, my newfound love of afternoon naps, my dislike of loud music at venues meaning you can’t hear anybody talk, my comatose metabolism, my new face wrinkles joining my eyes to my mouth and my inner voice asking me whether I think I’m too old to wear something are all telling your 26 year old self to fuck right off with your middle aged nonsense.

I'm 36 and I'm certainly not middle aged

I’m mid 30s, not middle aged.

Do you expect to only live til 60?

You've got to be so lame to think you're almost middle aged at 26. HAHAHAHAH OP what are you doing with your life.

I feel like middle age is more a mindset than an actual age. Saying that, 26 is absolutely nowhere near it, but thanks for the laugh this morning, OP You're just getting properly into your adulthood within the last few years, you're nowhere near middle aged. I'm 35 and feel the same age I was 5+ years ago.

Wonder where OP went.

People thinking middle-aged is how you feel/energy levels/activity level or a mindset is why it's resisted so much.

It really isn't about that.

That’s crazy! Middle age is from about 45-65 in my mind.

You are very young at 26. Then you get youngish from 30-45 in my book!

To me Middle aged means in the middle of the average life span, so approx 35 to late 40s. Old is over 70.
I see them as just age descriptors and nothing to do with attitude or outlook, so a forty year old saying they are not middle aged or a seventy year old saying that they are not old is just not correct.
I think it's a mark of ageism that the terms middle aged and old have acquired negative connotations.
Twenty six is not middle aged unless you count a normal life span as 52.It is a young adult.

Middle aged is over 50 to me. I know technically it’s not the mid point of average life expectancy but most people I know in their 40s are not what I associate with ‘middle aged’. At 26 most people are just a couple of years out of uni and starting proper adult life.

To me Middle aged means in the middle of the average life span

I see them as just age descriptors and nothing to do with attitude or outlook

I think it's a mark of ageism that the terms middle aged and old have acquired negative connotations

This.

I consider about 35-45 middle aged, life span therefore being 70-90, although I don't know many who made it to later end of that bracket.
Mumsnet as a collective gets quite sensitive about this topic though. You aren't middle aged until 50 and perhaps maybe just about old at 80. Not everybody is comfortable with getting older, or they feel they need to behave a certain way in order to be middle aged etc. I think you need to wait until early 30s to say you're approaching being middle aged!

@Anonymouseposter
I think you make a very good point. Factually I am middle aged but I dislike the stereotypes that go with it.

You are not middle aged. Unless you don't intend to reach any where near retirement age.

Exactly ChazsBrilliantAttitude, there is a lot of stereotyping based on age.
Stereotyping based on biological sex, race, religion etc is discriminatory and rightly condemned but it seems okay to talk about middle aged bores and old biddies.

I'm mid forties and so middle aged and very happy being middle aged. I much prefer it to being young or 'old' both of which I think have less pros and more cons than middle age. At this age you know who you are and what you want, don't feel you have anything to prove to anyone else, have the experience to realise what's important in life but (hopefully) don't have too many health concerns.

If that’s what you think op then you’re doing it wrong.

I’m not middle aged yet and I’m 54!

We all say things in our twenties that we look back on and cringe.