Approaching a big life age like the half-century can be both exciting and daunting.
It is easy to think about the big things that everyone wants to achieve, like having a family and
making it big at work, but as life goes on it becomes more and more difficult to make goals and
stick to them.

What's In A Dream?
If you think about it, you do not need to have the perfect dream life in mind: you just need to
make sure that you are doing the things that will help you get there.
Now is a good time to start getting goals and dreams out of your head and into your life.
So, let's put together a list of ALL the things that everyone should try and accomplish before
their half-century milestone!

Do A Degree
Let's face it, doing a degree is something you have always wanted to do.
Doing a degree gives you the chance to study a subject of your choice, which will greatly enrich
how you work and think. It also means that you will be able to have a steady income for years to
come. Do not forget that many universities offer excellent scholarships and grants worth thousands of pounds, and you can even take an online degree if it is easier to complete within your work and
life commitments, so make sure that you check your options out!

Learn a Foreign Language
It is inevitable that you will be travelling in your life.
If you do not already know a foreign language, now is the time to learn a second language if you
want to go abroad! Even just a few phrases will help you make connections with people when
travelling. If you already have a foreign language, consider learning another one to help you with your
business or career.

Create Something Artistic.
If you are not already involved in some form of art, now is a great time to try it!
You can start off by taking an evening class or workshop to become familiar with the basics.
This will also help you develop better communication and social skills, which is never a bad
thing! If that is not enough, you can even start working on your own creative project.

Take A Cruise
Have you ever thought of travelling to a new country? Why not take a cruise?
Cruises are an incredibly relaxing way of seeing the world and exploring new cultures! There is
no set schedule to worry about, and it is the perfect way to make lasting friends too.
It is also a great way to relax on your own time, which is something that many people struggle
with. Plus, cruises usually take place in tropical locations, so you will get a break from freezing
cold winters.

Discover a New City And Explore It!
It is always exciting when you discover a new city or country for the first time. When it comes to
embarking on this journey of discovery, nothing beats starting when you have the free time and
energy for it. When you travel around the world, you will meet lots of new people who have different
perspectives on life, and you will learn to appreciate your own culture is much more than just
something to take for granted.

Learn A New Skill
One of the most interesting things about getting older is seeing how much you really think about
yourself as an adult. As an adult, you know that it is a good idea to develop your skills in a field or subject. So, find something that you are interested in and get to work!
Maybe it is something that you have always wanted to learn. Maybe it is something that you can
use on your job or in your personal life. Whatever your interests, do not let yourself stagnate or grow bored with all the things around you: pursue them with zeal! Having a hobby and learning new skills will do wonders for how motivated you are, as well as making sure that other areas of your life continue to run smoothly.

Go Scuba Diving
Whilst there are many great places to see and explore in the world if you are anything like me
you will always want to go somewhere new. Something about scuba diving, and travelling in general, gets me in the mood for adventure, curiosity and excitement. You will experience some of the most amazing sights and get the chance to explore new
countries on your adventures too as well as getting closer to nature in an incredibly special
environment! Plus, you will make new friends and have new experiences; the best part is you
will not need to take any qualifications or work hard for it!​

It can be difficult trying to balance a demanding work schedule with a happy home life. This is
especially true in some careers more than others. STEM job roles vary extensively; some people
with STEM careers can find themselves spending most of their day in an office, whereas others jet
off to new countries regularly. With long hours and a lot on your plate, juggling a successful career
with your desired lifestyle isn't easy. Fortunately, there are ways to maintain a good balance
between the two. Here is a guide to different types of STEM careers and how you can be
successful at work and at home.

Different Types of STEM Careers
STEM careers involve many types of roles within the science, technology, engineering, and math
sectors. These sectors cover varying jobs, such as civil engineers and geophysicists. Professionals
work in many different settings, from classrooms and lecture halls to laboratories and clinics. Here
are a few of the best-ranking STEM roles, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

Physics
The U.S. News & World Report states that the best-ranking role is a physician assistant. Physician assistants earned a median salary of $115,390 per year with a 31 percent job outlook, which is much faster than average. They rank number one in STEM jobs; they also top the leaderboard for
the best healthcare jobs and come in at number one on the top 100 best jobs list too.

Computer Science
Roles within computer science include network engineer, systems engineer, and software
developer. Software developers earn around $110,140 per year, and they have a low
unemployment rate. To become a software developer, you need to earn a bachelor's degree in
computer science.

Engineering
There is a wide-ranging spectrum of careers within engineering, from geotechnical and
aeronautical to electrical and mechanical. Mechanical engineers come in at number 11 for the best
STEM jobs and number one for the best engineering jobs. You can anticipate earning an average
salary of $90-$160 per year, and you can become a mechanical engineer with a bachelors degree.

With an associates degree, you might be able to get an entry-level job. Mechanical engineers
score 8 out of 10 for both work-life balance and future growth.

Growing Your Career While Balancing Your Lifestyle
No matter what area you work in, it can be difficult to grow your STEM career without sacrificing
the lifestyle you enjoy. A great way to fast-track your career is to achieve further qualifications.
Those with an engineering background can benefit from achieving an online graduate diploma in
engineering management from the University of Ottawa. This graduate diploma will help you
develop management skills. The course covers topics such as the legal, ethical, technological, and
global context of management decision-making, the structure of engineering organizations and the
importance of accounting and finance, interpersonal skills, decision-making under conditions of
uncertainty. This course is ideal for STEM and engineering professionals, and it can be completed
in three terms.

Be Realistic
Maintaining a good work-life balance is achievable, but some careers are less compatible with
certain lifestyles. Therefore, it is important to set realistic goals at the beginning of your career that
matches your lifestyle type. For example, if you know you will want to spend most evenings and
weekends at home with your family, you should choose a career route to allow for this free time.
Although jobs that require frequent travel sound appealing, they may not make you happy in the
long run. Of course, throughout your career, your goals may change. Therefore, it is important to
regularly review your career aspirations as your lifestyle and desires change.

Communication is Key
A key component to a good work-life balance is communication. While striving to achieve a
successful career, it is important to have a good support system at home that you can rely on. To
build a supportive home network, you need to create an open dialogue with those closest to you.
For example, if you have a family you return to after a working day, you need to be able to speak to
them openly and honestly. In addition, make sure responsibilities are distributed proportionately
and always know where you both stand.

Whether things are going well at work, or you are having a hard time, try to maintain an open
communication channel. If you are having an intense time in the office, make sure your partner
knows about it. This gives your partner a chance to understand what you are going through, and it
will give them a heads up when things get tough. Furthermore, keeping them in the loop will give
them some context about your behavior. It will enable them to understand your actions and any
changes in mood you may display.

Honest Relationships at Work
Similarly, it is also important to maintain an honest relationship with management at work to
understand your home life dynamic. If there is a period of intense work, they will gauge your home
life and hopefully delegate a suitable amount of work to you. It will also give them realistic
expectations of what you are capable of taking on. Not everyone gets on with their colleagues, but
it can be a good idea to be open with the people you work with directly. Developing good work
relationships can lead to excellent teamwork and increased productivity.

Commit to the Workload You Accept
Taking on extra work can score you brownie points with your manager and colleagues. However, it
is important that you only accept this work if you know you have the time to complete it to the best
of your ability. Don't say yes to work you cannot commit to. Learn to assess your current workload and make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew. Although your manager may be happy that you have volunteered to take on that new project, he won't be so happy if you start missing deadlines or begin handing in inadequate work.