When Are You In The Prime Of Your Life?

Sometime this month, I will be 43 years old. Some people and some studies say that the next decade should be the prime years of my life. Conversely, others say that life starts to go downhill.

So who is correct?

Many will respond with quotes like “age is just a number” and “life is unpredictable.” They may also supplement this with anecdotal stories of people who became successful when they were really young or really old. And they would be correct. Life is random in so many ways that it is difficult to predict when someone is at their prime.

But even if it is just an educated guess, it is important to know one’s prime years because it can affect important life choices. It can influence their decision to change careers, relocate, start a family (or not), or in some cases, retire. This can also affect their risk tolerance — like climbing Mount Everest or starting a business. Many may change (or solidify) their views on social issues.

According to numerous studies and internet articles, our bodies are at their peak performance between our early twenties and late thirties. Afterwards, muscle mass and metabolism starts to decline. Memory and cognition also begin to deteriorate.

As far as careers are concerned, that would depend on many things including unpredictable factors like the economy. In terms of job prospects, attorneys are generally the most employable between their fifth and tenth years of practice. During these years, they will have the most options and are more likely to be invited for interviews. This is because they are perceived to be coachable, their salary expectations are manageable, and they are most likely to be a “culture fit.”

So generally, for the traditional law school graduates who are in their mid-twenties, they are likely to be in their primes physically and professionally in their early thirties. It won’t happen to everyone but if you are there and you have options, there’s not much more for me to say other than enjoy it and take advantage of all of the opportunities you get.

For the rest of us, how do we know when we are in our prime? There are two ways to tell. One way is when we believe we are in our prime based on our current experiences. This could be because our lives have improved physically, financially, and socially compared to the past and continue to get better. The other way is retroactively in our deathbeds when we reflect on the best days of our lives.

What do we do during those moments when we think we are not in our prime? Those moments when employers are sending you rejection letters (or worse, ghosting you). Those moments when you worry about whether your clients will pay you. Or when you feel generally uncertain about the future.

Keep in mind that your prime will come at your own time. In the meantime, you’ll have to cope, improve, and persevere. The statistics I mentioned above are just numbers based on averages. People who have good genetics or maintain a consistently healthy lifestyle can delay the physical and mental decline. Those who don’t take care of themselves are likely to have physical problems earlier.

Careerwise, people who have substantial books of businesses or are good salespeople will always be welcome at a firm, regardless of their age. The rest will have to sell themselves, either through their educational pedigree, their past experience, or their proven expertise in a lucrative specialty.

As I enter middle age, I am not sure whether I am in my prime. According to societal expectations, I should be married with 2.3 kids, own a house with a white picket fence, have paid off my student loans, and have saved up for retirement. Some I have accomplished, others I have not. But one thing’s for sure, my life isn’t going downhill anytime soon.

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Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.