DEAR IDA: I’m 45, and on paper my life looks fine: stable job, decent salary, benefits. The problem is, I feel completely numb at work. I used to care about my career, but now every Monday feels like a sentence, and I keep wondering if I missed my chance to do something that actually matters to me. I’m scared of blowing up my family’s financial stability, but I’m just as scared of waking up at 60 realizing I stayed stuck because I was afraid. How do I even start figuring out whether this is a normal midlife slump or a sign I need to make a big change?  –  RESTLESS BUT RESPONSIBLE

DEAR RESTLESS BUT RESPONSIBLE:  The website yougov.com has a fascinating report on job satisfaction in the United States for 2025. I must admit, I was truly surprised to learn that, according to their survey, just 3% of respondents said they hate their job while 35% said they love it. Careers, like relationships, have a tendency to suffer from the 7-year itch. 

Your hum-drum attitude towards work may be more from a drop in dopamine than dissatisfaction with your job. Try making a few lifestyle changes like eating more nutrient-rich foods, avoid highly processed foods, get more sleep and spend some time enjoying the sun each morning. You can also try finding ways to make working for your current employer more exciting or rewarding. Look for opportunities to move into a new position.  Even a lateral move could be enough of a change to bring the spark back to your attitude towards work. If changing positions is not an option, look for ways to form a community with your co-workers that doesn’t involve work like forming a walking club or prayer group that meets before or after work or even during breaks. Get other employees motivated to eat healthier and pool your funds to keep the refrigerator stocked with makings for salads. Salads can be thrown together quickly, and enjoying a meal together gives co-workers a great opportunity to get to know each other and gets everyone away from their desks.

If you are confident that it’s time for a career change, give serious thought to what direction you’d like to take your career and research the availability of jobs in your area. If your dream job or passion project requires additional education, determine whether you will need to focus your full attention on school or if going to school part-time or taking online classes is feasible. If taking leave from work and going to school full-time is the most realistic option, develop a budget and timeline for completing your education. You’ll also need to factor in some time for finding a job once you are finished with school. If your career change will mean a cut in pay or benefits, go over your current expenses and determine where you can cut back on your spending.

After completing these exercises, take a couple of weeks to make sure that you really do want to make a career change.  There’s no point in potentially causing stress within your family if you decide that you are just in a slump. The website needlemover has a great article that provides guidance on picking the right time to broach the subject, techniques for navigating the conversation, and additional resources related to making a successful career transition.