Many people believe that the toughest years come after retirement, when health declines and activity levels decline. However, a new large-scale study has shown the opposite: the most tiring period of life is the age of 40-50 - a time of peak responsibility and workload.
This is reported by the British publication Daily Mail, citing the results of a study by an international group of scientists.
The middle-age trap
Researchers note that the decade from 40 to 50 is the most energy-consuming and psychologically stressful for most people. They explain the reason by the so-called "sandwich" phenomenon, when a person is simultaneously responsible for both the older and younger generations.
During this period, elderly parents increasingly need help - both physical and financial. At the same time, children, especially teenagers or students, require significant emotional involvement and expenses. In parallel, professional responsibility increases: it is in the forties and forties that most people reach their career peak, and the fear of losing stability becomes especially acute.
Sleep and stress: alarming numbers
The analysis showed that people around the age of 40 get the least and worst sleep of their lives. Chronic multitasking and constant stress maintain high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Because of this, the body works in a high-alert mode for a long time, which exhausts the nervous system.
Scientists have also found that life satisfaction often reaches its lowest point in middle age. People are more likely to experience fatigue, emotional burnout, and anxiety about the future.
When relief comes
At the same time, researchers emphasize that after 50, the situation gradually changes. Stress levels decrease, and the sense of control over one's own life increases. Children become more independent, professional ambitions stabilize, and more time appears for personal interests.
Scientists call this period a "second wind" - a time when a person begins to value balance, health, and their own comfort more.
Thus, the most difficult period of life is not old age, but middle age, when responsibilities and workloads reach their peak. However, according to researchers, awareness of this fact can help people better plan resources and avoid chronic exhaustion.
