For most people, growing older unearths feelings of anxiety, depression, and in some cases, regret. So in a bid to temper these feelings, some people make major lifestyle changes to help them feel like their younger selves. Even though not everyone will experience a midlife crisis, those who do claim that it was brought on by a major life event—divorce, early retirement, or the loss of a loved one. If you’re going through a midlife crisis of your own, here’s everything you need to know about surviving a midlife crisis.

Make smart money choices

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Nothing spells out “midlife crisis” like acquiring expensive hobbies, splurging on a new car, trying out every new cosmetic procedure, maxing out credit cards on new designer clothes, the list is endless. The downside of these trappings of a midlife crisis is that they cost money, and can leave you in a tough financial spot (credit card debt, bankruptcy).

This is money that you could use to service the long-term financial goals that you’ve made with your spouse or accountant. Financial goals such as paying for your kid’s college tuition, getting out of debt, buying your dream home, or saving for retirement can all be compromised by impulsive midlife purchases.

Even though reaching middle-age doesn’t mean that you have to have met all your financial goals (car loans, mortgage), it’s a good idea to ensure that you don’t have any unsecured debt (credit card debt, student loans, personal loans). At this stage in life, you shouldn’t be feeling the pinch of paying, “high-interest rates on consumer debt.” This is because it becomes extremely difficult to maintain an emergency savings account, and achieve financial stability when you have high-interest debt repayments hanging around your neck each month.

To become debt-free, consider employing the services of a professional like Citizens Debt Relief. Citizens Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that offers credit repair services to clients looking to get out of debt. Their team of professionals works with your budget to help you create a customized schedule to make monthly payments over a specific period of time to honor your debt payment. Besides this, they’ll also set you up with a bankruptcy attorney, should you need one.

Becoming debt-free will allow you to have more control over your finances, which can help mitigate some of the anxiety you’re feeling over a midlife crisis. If you’d like to learn more about Citizens Debt Relief and its services, visit their website (citizensdebtrelief.com).

Find creative ways to reignite “the spark”

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If you’re part of a married couple, chances are, your spouse’s looks may have changed over the years. You may also have probably started to notice a few crow’s feet. Now that you know this, don’t be tempted to have an affair or to go out of your way to attract or hang out with younger people to help you feel good about yourself. Infidelity is one of the most common signs of a partner’s midlife crisis, so if and if you or your spouse begins to withdraw from the marriage, it may be time to take a closer look at your relationship.

Mature couples often find that the sense of intimacy evolves as their relationship grows. Knowing this, find new ways for you and your partner to redefine intimacy in your sex life. You might even find that there’s more to a healthy relationship than just sex. If it has been a long time since you and your partner had a date, look into planning weekly date nights to stay connected to your partner. If you’re curious as to how older couples have fun in the bedroom, experts suggest adding sex toys and trying new sex positions.

If you’re single, consider dating someone mature and closer to you in age, instead of chasing after younger men or younger women who may still be unsure of what they want from a romantic relationship. If you’re a man in your late 40s, for instance, consider attracting older women or mature women closer to your age. In this way, you’re likely to meet someone with whom you share common interests.

Make the time to tick some items off your bucket list

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If there’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit, now could be the time to go explore. Besides being great for your mental health, traveling can expand our scope of reference and allow us to get to know ourselves in a deep and meaningful way. We’re always happier when we have something to look forward to, so to maintain this sense of anticipation, consider planning an extended vacation. At least this way, you’ll get to see more places, and you’ll also be able to enjoy a change of pace and scenery.

When we find small ways to nurture ourselves, we can find the tools to be more compassionate with ourselves as we enter this new stage in life.