Is 50 too old??

[NewRollover]

I'm 50 years old - it feels like a big jump from 49 I am suddenly feeling closer to retirement and old age.

I have a chance to jump into a new career opportunity in a job I would have given my right arm for 20 years ago. I don't know if I feel too old and tired.

I'm working full time but this is longer full time and a slightly longer commute. It's more money, more responsibility, more challenge. Senior management in a growing business.

What would you do? AIBU to feel Iike this.

I'm 46, married with 2 kids 14 and 18. I've been working my way up through the ranks of the company I work for since I was 19. In recent years I've taken stock of my life and (mainly through loosing several loved ones to COVID) and asked myself 'what is the point?' I was feeling tired/stressed and always felt guilty about not spending time with the kids/Hubby. My work/home life balance was completely out of whack and I decided to step back down into a lower level role. Less responsibility, less hours, less money and I love it. I absolutely do not want to spend the next 20 odd years feeling like I've missed out on life because of my work. My health and my sleep has improved, I'm spending more time with family including elderly parents and finally have some 'me' time. I think your priorities can change as you get older, just because you would have jumped at it 20 years ago doesn't mean you have to now.

Thanks for all of the comments.

Unfortunately I’m not in a position to give up working full time yet. I wish I was in a position where I could make the choice to promote hobbies/family time over work but having received a devastating rent review last night I must carry on in full time. For those who may ask, I divorced and could only afford a shared ownership property. I pay rent on the housing association part.
My choice is to stay in my relatively well paid job at 50hrs a week which includes my commute, or change to better pay but likely a 55-60hr week including commute. Plus the stress of a new job, new colleagues, proving myself again.

I’m on HRT and vitamin d supplements but still feel tired nearly all the time.

@NewRollover From your update my instinct is don’t do it. It doesn’t sound right when you’re already feeling tired. However I did have a thought just now: is it something you could negotiate to do remotely or as a hybrid of home/office? If you only had to go in Tues/Wed/Thurs, for example, that would cut your overall commuting hours and also allow you a little more leeway for relaxation/ less stress on days you work from home. Might be worth trying to negotiate something like that, if the job itself appeals. Don’t be scared of it all being new and getting used to a new situation - that bit will be okay and might actually be good for you.

I suppose it depends on if it's something you'd really want to do or not.

Are they offering your enough pay to make it worthwhile?

Can you further negotiate other aspects of the job?

I’m 51 and doing a college course to change my career completely! I would take a new opportunity in a heartbeat.

I think you should give it a try. Stick a time limit on it. So I’ll try this for 18 months and then if I really can’t cope I’ll find something else.

Speaking as someone in my 50’s in senior management and who stepped up to Director level in my 50’s I was quite nervous at first. plus I also had and still have all the horrible menopause stuff including tiredness.

However a lot of things surprised me. First of all, I felt really good about myself - it was suddenly great to have a seat at the table. I got to see a different level of how the business ran. I also had the perspective of being one the people on the ground so could bring that into my leadership and ensure they were not treated like a number.

I enjoyed working with different parts of the organisation I’d never have done previously including sales teams , solutions, marketing . It was all really interesting. And then … I got to make decisions. I suddenly was able to use my vision to shape how I think it should work. I developed a very strong relationship with my management team and worked hard to serve and listen to them. In return they were fantastic at supporting me.

I felt really energised and finally not bored of a hum drum ground hog day working life.

Im so glad I did it. There were a few tough times but my whole working life and experience meant I could deal with them. I now have a sideways role growing out another area of the business which I equally enjoy. I think the important thing is to be continually learning and growing.

I have to be disciplined about work life balance and I say no/ delegate when needed. However being more senior that’s respected. Delegation is key. Also I try hard to exercise . My body is nowhere near as fit as I was. I ache easily these days but I try and do some running and weights and 15 minutes of yoga at least a few times a week. I don’t and have never run marathons. I’m talking 20-30 mins max . Just enough to get the air in my lungs and the chemicals flowing.

go for it!!

YABU - Could you like the idea of the change but don't really want to do it? I think you could be using your age as an excuse.

I returned to my career after 15 years away. I was 46 when I returned to it, increasing my hours, returning to working long shifts in an occupation that a lot of the public dislike, criticise and often misunderstand having many unrealistic expectations of it. Straight away, it would look like a no-go in its own right for many regardless of age.

The truth is my age and experience have put me in a much more resilient position to adapt to all of the above and to prioritise my desire to do it as life is too short. I would have regretted not returning,

It sounds like because you're nearly 50 you have written off any chance you have of achieving your dreams and you still have years left in you and loads of experience to add, why throw it away, age has nowt to do with it. You may approach it differently than your 20-something counterpart but you can't judge yourself against what you were like 20 or so years ago as you are not the same person. You are more mature, and experienced, and have different needs and priorities.

if you really want to do it crack on with it.

I started a huge job at 51. Best thing I ever did - it rejuvenated me and reignited my passion for my industry. And I will be able to look back and think “wow, I did it”. Go for it.

Only you can answer this one.

Are you taking care of yourself with proper sleep, exercise and eating through your menopause? Maybe get some blood tests and take supplements for the exhaustion?

Possibly the increased adrenaline will carry you through the increased travel and hours?

I’m 52 and if I had an opportunity like this I would jump on it.

You might have another 20+ years to work, which could either be a great thing or not, depending on your perspective and other factors, health, family etc.

I moved to Australia at 50+ with no job to go to. I took supply work at a school and within four months was HOD, the same level I was at in the UK. I had later promotions too.

I felt invigorated and excited, though no doubt the overseas move made it so in part.
You mention a very long week, so worth considering before moving. Having endured an horrendous commute to an awful job, I vowed I'd never do a long commute again. When I moved to Australia, I made circle on the map to show the limits I'd be willing to go, and stuck to it.

You say you feel tired, @NewRollover , so I'd have the full MOT at the doctor's anyway, new job or no.

I'm around your age and personally I'm more focused on my personal and social life now that dc are off to university. I wouldn't want to start retraining (unless circumstances forced me to) doing a degree for fun or anything like that, there's still plenty of challenge in my current role.

That said I've achieved what I wanted to mostly career wise, I've no interest in progressing further up the ladder. I've also got a medical condition thats put life into a different perspective.