Mid Life Question:

► Finding better ways of tackling stress. Try to avoid the temptation to use alcohol, nicotine or other drugs to relieve it. Instead, try some de-stressing treatments and exercises. Many complementary approaches, such as aromatherapy, massage and yoga, can all have a powerful relaxing effect. Self-hypnosis tapes, meditation and other "mindful" techniques which help you to switch off can be useful too. The effects of exercise in promoting positive moods and reducing mild depression are well-documented.
► Accepting that you're no longer young and that you're not immortal. The journey from youth to middle age and on into old age may seem frightening and painful, but you can also see it as an opportunity to re-evaluate and perhaps change the direction of your life. Rather than believing that ageing is simply about having to give things up, try to think about what you'd like to start. When you reach 60, you could still be only two-thirds of the way through your life. That leaves a great deal of time to broaden your interests, travel, return to education, learn new work skills or take up new sports.