At 35, you are the unhappiest

(at work that is)

Are you around 35 and experiencing buzzing stress because of your job? You are not alone. Research from England among 2000 recipients shows that 1 in 3 35-year-olds is unhappy at work.

I was the happiest at 35, but more on that later. The reason for the unhappiness is twofold. First, at 35, you often have a better job than at 25. More responsibility and more stress. Second, many people around this age have children and struggle with the balance between kids and work, longing for the carefree twenties.

It doesn't seem to get any better, as many ‘older people’ are also unhappy at work. They often feel unappreciated and have the feeling that they are only there because it is too expensive to get rid of them.

You don't have to immediately reach for the bottle or walk onto the highway blindfolded, because every cloud has a silver lining. There is hope, in short. I have also been less happy in a job and hesitated for half a year to do something about it. But you will see: it is a difficult conversation with knees shaking against each other, but afterwards everything gets better, you will undoubtedly find a job where you are happy and can thrive, and the only critical question you will ask yourself is: why didn't I do this sooner?

I know the struggle between kids and work too. Quite well. If you want, you can here read some career lessons when you have kids. I have three children and had two very close together. I often refer to the first two years as ‘the swamp’. We were barely afloat, but constantly flailing.

What have I learned? Delegate. You don't have to do everything yourself. People often ask me how I do it, but I don't do it alone and I can't do it alone. Ask for help, people actually appreciate it. You are just as good a mother as someone else folding the laundry. Order your groceries. Organize your life (tips! Tips!) and you will see: soon you will be sitting with your legs stretched out on the couch. Probably secretly working with your laptop on your lap. And oh yes, many post-35s report being very happy with their work. The older you get and the higher your position, the more freedom you have. You can really take a moment to go to the playground without your manager swinging an axe.