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Feature Discussions

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Feature

Start Here: Our Key Articles About Feature

Twenty (Or So) Questions About Midlife Crisis

Greg's picture

This "Twenty Questions About Midlife Crisis" section is an ongoing effort to collect all of LifeTwo's best information about midlife crisis in one place. »more»

What Do You Mean There Are Four, or Five, or Six Types of Midlife Crisis?

Greg's picture

Our research into midlife crisis has convinced us that there's no such thing.

No one thing, anyway. »more»

Are Male and Female Midlife Crises Different?

Greg's picture

While researching her book The Breaking Point: How Today's Women Are Navigating Midlife Crisis, Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger discovered that "women not only undergo bigger changes than men in middle age, but they also by some measures have a more positive attitude about their prospects in life."

One key source was "Turning Points In Adulthood," a chapter in the MacArthur Foundation's "How Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-Being At Midlife." It shows that men and women are distinctly different in a measure of life fulfillment.

Researchers found that before 50, less women than men feel they have "fulfilled a special dream" in the last five years (24% vs 40%). But after 50, women's fulfillment goes up -- to 36% -- while men's falls to about 28%. »more»

Experts: Middle Age is Depressing

Wesley's picture

According to a comprehensive study of data from 80 countries, researchers at Britain's Warwick University and America's Dartmouth College have confirmed what people in their forties have known for years, middle age is indeed truly miserable. Researchers discovered that "for both men and women the probability of depression peaks around 44 years of age. »more»

Thinking About Changing Your Career? Do It Before 50!

Greg's picture

The Chicago Sun-Times series on midlife issues concluded with Career change rewarding -- until your early 40s. The key section: »more»

What to do about Midlife Depression

Wesley's picture

A few days ago we wrote about female midlife depression and its confusing relationship with female menopause. »more»

Can You Organize Your Way To Happiness (And Health Too)?

Greg's picture

Happiness for some may mean a bike ride at dawn, or spending time kicking a soccer ball with the kids. But for a part of humanity -- maybe even you -- happiness is checking items off a to-do list or contemplating an empty email inbox.

Odd? Certainly to some. But what they would consider borderline obsessive-compulsive behavior may also make the productivity-obsessed happier and healthier. »more»

What makes people happy? Why the rich so poor at allocating time for things that make them happy

Wesley's picture

Why are we reading so much about happiness of late?

Fortunately for those of us who want to maximize our personal happiness, happiness has become an increasingly important topic of research. »more»

Many Midlife Traumas Can Cause Depression-like Symptoms, Says New Study

Greg's picture

LifeTwo has long argued that what many people call their "midlife crisis" is really their normal reaction to a crisis that could occur at any time, but happened to them in midlife. Their "crisis" could be their emotional response to divorce, death in the family, job loss, serious illness, or other trauma. We've held that one such type of "midlife crisis" is actually depression.

Now a new study shows just how blurry the line is between feeling down after negative life events and clinical depression. »more»

USA Today: Boomers May Not Be Able To Find Work After 60

Greg's picture

USA Today's front page story is a bucket of cold water for baby boomers who expect to work into their 60's to save money for retirement: »more»

Fifty Is Definitely Not Thirty

Wesley's picture

"Boomers should act their age ... as they age," says Harry Jackson, Jr. of the St. Louis Dispatch. [Source: BoomerGirl.com]

Media hype aside, most individuals in their fifties will tell you that just getting out of bed is a reminder that they are definitely not thirty.

Even people in top shape need to recognize they're not kids anymore, says Dr. John Morley, chief of geriatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine. "You cannot be at 50 what you were at 30."

Fortunately, it's not all bad news. »more»

How To Be Happy: Information and Resources

Greg's picture

This page lists many ways you can learn more about improving your short- and long-term happiness. »more»

If you haven't read our "Happiness Week" features, that's a good place to start. It's a week's worth of articles that use Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar's book "Happier" as a guide and toolkit for improving your happiness every day.

Nintendo's "Big Brain Academy" Beats "Brain Age"

Greg's picture

A few weeks ago I reviewed Nintendo's "Brain Age" for the DS handheld and found it somewhat dull. Always on the lookout for fun and worthwhile brain exercise tools, this week I grabbed a copy of Nintendo's "Big Brain Academy" with the hope that a different approach might bring some fun into my mental workout.

So now that LifeTwo owns the two leading brain training tools for the DS (and, judging by Amazon's videogame bestseller list, the leading such titles on any platform), which would I rather use to work myself into a mental sweat? »more»

The Science of Brain Aging

Greg's picture

Research into brain aging is remarkable: we know so much, yet basic questions remain unanswered. In this overview, we'll look at what we understand about the brain's aging process, and how it can go awry and result in dementias like Alzheimer's disease. »more»

Midlife Career Change Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Wesley's picture

Your career choice impacts your quality of life, standard of living, personal identity, and much more. By the time you hit middle age, career changes are far from easy, but many people feel a mismatch with the career that they had selected earlier in life and want to at least explore the possibility of pursuing a new career. Are you one of these people? »more»

Our Most Recent Articles About Feature

Dear Oprah - How Much Good Can A Do-Gooder Do If A Do-Gooder Could Do Good?

Karen's picture

Dear Oprah

How are you? I am fine. Well, all except for that little mishap at the grocery store yesterday. I suppose I shouldn't have had the second cup of coffee before I left to buy milk but who knew something as innocent as a little sneeze could cause that to happen! You would have known how to handle it - or should I say, hold it - Oprah. »more»

Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #47: Quick Change Artist

jackie's picture

Wearing a wig is a fast and fun way to change your look for the evening or anytime you want. You don't have to be suffering hair loss to wear a wig. Wearing a wig can be a quick and beautiful way to be "fashion-ready" when you don't have time to wash, dry and style your hair. They can also be just plain fun and allow you the freedom to "be someone else" temporarily. »more»

He Doesn’t Introduce You to His Adult Kids

Dating Goddess's picture

DG reader Carol asks: »more»

Five Tips To Help You Find Work After 50

Wesley's picture

Yesterday I had a long conversation with an individual conducting research on the job prospects for "mature" workers, which is code for people over 50. We covered a lot of territory and I thought that a few of the key points were worthy of a post on LifeTwo. »more»

Can Ducks Help You Find Love?

Dating Goddess's picture

When in Singapore in January, I learned about a Chinese legend that is supposed to help you attract love. It’s pretty simple.

In Chinatown, a friend pointed out two Mandarin duck figurines. She said if you put these little statues in your bedroom so they faced each other bill-to-bill, they would attract love to you.

Why? »more»

Tuesday Tips #45: A4M Anti-Aging Conference

jackie's picture

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) conferences rank high up on my list of "favorite aspects of my work." I just returned from the 16h Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine held April 25 - 27 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida, where I discovered more of the latest, greatest ways to keep Aging Backwards. »more»

Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #44: Free To Be Me

jackie's picture

The anti-aging industry is a $56 billion business and that number is expected to rise to $72 billion by 2009, according to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Have you ever googled "anti-aging?" You get 16,600,000 results! There are thousands of products on the market - some of which work and some that don't - for combatting wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin and all the unsightly tell-tale signs of aging. There are innovative procedures such as injections for just about every body part - lips, nasolabial folds, crow's feet, neck, hands - even feet. There are surgeries to correct just about any flaw you can think up.

I am not against opting for procedures that can safely make me look and feel younger, but I just thought I'd remind you that there are plenty of things you can do to start Aging Backwards that won't cost an arm and a leg. In fact, they're free. »more»

My Adventures at Midlife: It, um, Depends

msmeta's picture

A confession: When I turned 50, it was as if the warranty on my body expired. Within several months of that landmark birthday, I spent a week in the hospital — and several months thereafter — recovering from the effects of a blood clot. I developed sciatica down my left leg (and overcame my suspicion of chiropractors). »more»

Does He Fit in Your World?

Dating Goddess's picture

For a relationship to work long term, I believe it’s important that you are able to fit into each other’s world. Not that you have to live parallel lives with the same profession, income, hobbies, etc.

But is important that you can easily slip into each other’s activities, gracefully converse with the other’s counterparts and dress appropriately for the occasion. »more»

My Dirty Little Secret

gypsynester's picture

David and I have one chick left in the nest. He graduates from high school on June 8, 2008. And I am marking the days. I keep a gigantic calendar and mark a red X each day. For my son's sake (and to avoid horrified looks from house guests), I keep the calendar between the mattresses of my bed. »more»

Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #43: Skinny Songs Rock!

jackie's picture

You know how sometimes you hear a song and you can't get it out of your head? That's exactly what's happened to me with Skinny Songs by Heidi Roizen (with a host of other great talent), but it's more like 10 songs that I can't get out of my head! In fact, I woke up this morning with one of my favorite Skinny Songs on my mind, which makes me wonder if they've secretly embedded subliminal messages into the songs. How's that for a conspiracy theory? »more»

25 Secrets to a Great Marriage

Laurie Israel's picture

As a practicing divorce attorney and divorce mediator, I’ve met a number of couples that, if they had been given some good advice (and had remembered that advice) a few years or even months earlier, they would not be divorcing. The following advice is based on my observations as a divorce attorney, a mediator/conflict resolver, and as an experienced, mature married person. »more»

Tuesday Tips #42: The Pros of Antioxidants

jackie's picture

By now you've probably heard of antioxidants and their beneficial role in fighting free radical damage in our bodies, which has been linked to many diseases as well as aging. »more»

The Politics of Happiness: Conservatives vs. Liberals; Are parents happier?

Wesley's picture

Over the past few years, happiness research has attracted the interest of experts from many fields, the most interesting of which might be the statisticians/economists. Arthur Brooks, a top scholar of economics and public policy, tackles the question of "what makes us happy" in his new book "Gross National Happiness" by using reams of data and in the process comes up with some surprising and interesting conclusions. Among them: »more»

Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #41: Spring Cleaning

jackie's picture

Ah, the beauty of spring. Flowers are blooming, pollen is flying through the air, birds are chirping, warm weather is approaching and that urge to clean is starting to tickle. When you think of spring cleaning, you probably think of traditional cleaning and organizing, but what about spring cleaning for your life? »more»