Tired

Despite the fact that he lives thousands of miles away in London (as in England, UK and not Ontario, Canada), I message/email/speak regularly to my awesome friend Ingo. We spoke recently about mid-life crises and how people seem to be getting them earlier and earlier. It used to be something one experienced in their forties and fifties. Now we're getting them in our twenties and thirties, they're called "quarter-life crises".

Here's a great article by Mark Capper that Ingo painstakingly typed since he couldn't find an electronic copy. It's called "Burnt out at 35: Meet the Tireds":

Are you fed up with the rat race? Would you jack in your job in return for a better life and less money? Then you're probably a Tired. And you are not alone; increasing number of young professionals are Tireds -- Thirtysomethings Independent Radical Educated Drop-outs -- a survey has found.

A typical Tired has a well-paid career in law, finance, technology or media. But, when he or she hits her 30s, they find their desire to make money waning. Many feel cheated by spending long hours at work, worrying about work or planning for work.

According to the research, one in 15 has already quit the rat race, and 45% are seriously thinking about changing career and finding something less time demanding. More than 80% of 30 to 35-year-olds among the 1,000 people questioned said they were unhappy at work. Most said stress was the major reason for wanting to leave, with boredom and lack of fulfilment as other main reasons for feeling Tired.

Howard Beale, from Fish Can Sing, the PR agency behind the study, said: "Young people in a weird way have become older than their parents. The generation perceived to have it all are asking whether they want it all."

The Tireds join a growing list of groups struggling with life. Last week, the Dinkies (Double Income, No Kids) generation was found to be failing to cope with the responsibility of having children.