Prologue

PUT THE CHANGING SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE INTO PERSPECTIVE

Both life and what we expect from it have changed. We’re living longer, and we need to recognise and grab hold of the opportunities that come with that. 

We used to think we understood the roadmap of life. You got an education, found a job, left home and started climbing the career ladder. Then, if you followed the map, you met a mate, got married, bought a house and started a family. As your family grew, you moved into a bigger house and progressed in your career, earning more. As a woman, you might have taken time out of the workforce to run the household, then jumped back in once the kids started school or the mortgage became too demanding.

Dutifully and responsibly, you raised your children to the point where they could find their independence, providing for their needs and shielding them from life’s brutalities as much as possible. In the middle of life, just when you thought things were getting good, you might have hit some speedbumps on the stereotypical journey – divorcing a partner, repartnering, or deciding to stay single. Or maybe you just rode out or managed the bumps. 

Somewhere in your late 40s to mid 50s, you reached the pinnacle (or peak exhaustion point) of your first career. If you were lucky, you could see the last signs of your mortgage. Your kids got their P-plates and finished school, and you started to see yourself in the mirror again, as you no longer had to spend your days and evenings driving them around, serving their every single need. 

Eventually, your kids left home, and you found yourself able to put some money away for your retirement, which still felt a fair way off. Then what? Do you wait? Work? Wonder what happens next? Start counting down? Is full retirement even the ultimate goal anymore?

This is what many of us have been taught by the media, family traditions and stereotypes. But if this is you, and you’re a late 40-, 50-or 60-something looking into the years ahead, you might feel there’s a blank space in this roadmap. It feels like we’ve missed a step. In fact, it feels like we need to add a new section to the rulebook of life, one that comes before retirement. I’m calling it our Prime Time, and it starts when our kids get those P-plates and we start to see ourselves again. Or, if we never had kids, we might be ready to explore a new version of ourselves.

And it’s a really interesting stage of life because, for the first time, thanks to the introduction of superannuation 33 years ago, we have a lot more choice about how we live our lives, and at the same time, fewer expectations are placed on us, both personally and societally.

So let’s talk about it and shape some new lessons that encourage us to take advantage of it. Let’s make our Prime Time count.

UNDERSTANDING THE PILLARS OF YOUR PRIME TIME

This new stage of life calls for a fresh perspective, so I’ve written a book that takes everything into consideration. It’s not a finance book, but it covers your money, and it’s not a self-help book, but it teaches you how to help yourself. Ultimately, it’s a guidebook that points to the choices you have, explains the new-world ways of looking at them, and inspires you to make more active choices. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but it’s about real life – your life and the exciting years you have ahead of you.

I’ve drawn together scientific insights, expert advice, factual information and street-smart lessons from everyday people to make a book that you can hopefully enjoy, learn from and share. I warn you – it’s practical. If you read it and do nothing, you’ll feel bad. But that’s the point. I want you to be inspired and then take action to live the best second half of life possible. 

This book is built on six pillars and 27 lessons – essential midlife lessons to make life better than you ever imagined. Each pillar is key to creating a well-rounded, fulfilling life. Let me introduce them.

POWER
You need to recognise the power you have to make the years ahead the best years of your life yet. Recognise the choices you have, understand that your current decision-making templates are broken, and embrace being a little more selfish – in the right ways.

MONEY
There are a lot of financial decisions that, if made well in midlife, can change everything. It’s time to learn about them – and to start doing money better.

WORK, PURPOSE AND HAPPINESS
Find what drives you and makes you feel alive in this stage of life. Explore new ways to work, connect with purpose, and find happiness in what you do every day. Midlife is the time to redefine success on your own terms.

HEALTH
Your health is your top priority in midlife. Look after it so your body can keep up with everything your mind and spirit want to do. Use the science of modern ageing and take a preventive approach to stay strong for the years ahead.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
Nurture the relationships that matter most. Midlife is a chance to rekindle that spark, support loved ones, create lasting memories and embrace your emptying nest. Family is your foundation in the next phase – invest in it.

TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
Discover all the ways you can push your boundaries with travel in midlife – and how to get the best value from every dollar you spend on it.