6 Stages of Life and Its Essential Lessons [+ Age Ranges]

Do you wonder if your experiences are common at your stage of life? Or are you simply curious about what’s next?

That’s why we will cover the 6 phases of human life.

Understanding the stages of life gave me an aha-moment. It brought a new perspective to my struggles and frustrations. After all, we often feel alone during adversity, but our experiences are rarely unique.

And the life stages can provide clarity for you too.

That said, no one follows the same human life cycle. So keep in mind that the ages and timeline are averages. And if you feel behind on the curve, that’s okay.

We will mainly look at the human life cycle through personal growth and success. Here’s what we will cover:

What is a life stage?
6 Phases of a human life cycle + ages
Struggling with your phase of life?
4 Simple tips for dealing with turbulence
More theories about the human life stages
Summary

Let’s dig in!

What is a life stage?

Life stages are the phases from birth to death through which we develop and grow. Each stage covers an age range during which most people share common interests, desires, feelings, thoughts, experiences, values, and of course, a level of maturity.

For example, most people’s responsibilities radically differ between their childhood and adult life.

6 Phases of human life [+Age ranges]

When zooming out and looking at an entire life cycle from the lens of self-improvement and success, you can conclude that life goes through six stages.

Each phase comes with a new stage of maturity, an upgraded role in society, and a unique chapter of personal development. But each step has its common pitfalls too.

Let’s dig into the typical patterns in life.

Stage 1: Childhood (ages 0-12)

Birth is a wonderful event for the parents but also comes with many responsibilities. Their impact is enormous throughout those early years of your life.

It shapes your rules and basic understanding.

It’s a phase at which you copy almost all behaviors, from walking to your foundational values and beliefs. And through play, you rapidly learn the basics to survive.

The pitfall?

Poor parental supervision or engagement can lead to trust issues. And on the other side, overprotection can lead to low self-esteem. That’s why parents bear such a huge responsibility at this phase of life.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: Dependent
Role in society: Playing
Personal growth: Copying values and beliefs.
Learning phase: Life essentials and primary education.
Relationships: Building trust.
Common pitfalls: Trust issues and low self-esteem.

Stage 2: Adolescence (ages 13-20)

During the teenage years, you transition from being dependent to independent. While becoming more responsible for your actions, you still have a safety net.

Fun and experimentation characterize this phase.

Think about going out and perhaps even having sex for the first time. It’s also a time when people explore society’s boundaries and experiment with legally forbidden stuff.

But it’s also a period of self-discovery. You become aware of your self-identity. And you may struggle with questions like:

Who are you?
What are you good at in life?
What’s most important to you?
What interests and excites you?
What career would you like to pursue?

Social interactions are also crucial at this age. You want to have friends and feel included in a group. And the social drivers are external validation and acceptance.

That’s also the key pitfall at this phase.

People who don’t feel included struggle during this time. And if they’re not encouraged in other ways, they risk developing fears and feelings of inferiority.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: Transition from dependence to independence.
Role in society: Experimenting.
Personal growth: Self-discovery.
Learning phase: Secondary and (early) higher education.
Relationships: Validation and acceptance.
Common pitfalls: Developing fears.

Stage 3: Early adulthood (ages 21-35)

Adulthood comes in 3 stages, and complete independence characterizes the early stage. It’s also a time of high individuality, finding your place in society, and striving for personal success.

At this point, you’ve got to decide what direction you want to get into – and what you want to leave on the table.

While many try out different jobs initially, most people commit to a career during this phase. After all, mastering valuable skills establishes your place in society. Popular starting points are studies, apprenticeships, or entry-level jobs.

At this time, building your foundational skills is crucial.

The same goes for relationships, where the focus shifts from validation to building the foundation for meaningful relationships. Though social interaction requires a proactive approach at this point. And you’re more at risk of isolating yourself.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: Independence.
Role in society: Building.
Personal growth: Maximizing one’s potential.
Learning phase: Specific skill development.
Relationships: Developing relationships.
Pitfall: Isolation.

Stage 4: Middle adulthood (ages 36-50)

The next stage of life involves a transition to interdependence. While most people still aim for personal achievements, we enjoy it better if we can achieve success collectively.

During this phase, most people seek to make an impact.

Individuals mastered their craft to a degree and have a strong sense of what they would like to accomplish. Natural progression leads them into leadership roles in their professional and personal life.

The pitfall?

Some people worry about the idea that their best years are behind them – even though most aren’t even past half-time yet… While there are still many opportunities, it’s not uncommon to get stuck at this age and give up on the dreams you once had.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: Transition from independence to interdependence.
Role in society: Leading.
Personal growth: Reflection and acceptance.
Learning phase: Transitioning into leadership.
Relationships: Deepening relationships.
Pitfalls: Losing excitement and no longer pursuing growth.

Stage 5: Late adulthood (ages 51-65)

Personal success becomes less important at this phase of life than helping others succeed. As a result, you enter total interdependence and your role shifts from leading to guiding.

You encourage and empower others to take the rope. And your ambition is to create and leave behind a legacy.

After all, you start realizing your own mortality.

It can also be a very conflicting stage in life. Some people have not achieved their dreams and struggle to accept that. Their children leave home and create a gap in their life. And feeling like a failure becomes a bigger pitfall at this age.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: Interdependence.
Role in society: Guiding.
Personal growth: Creating legacy.
Learning phase: Passing on lessons.
Relationships: Enjoying deep relationships.
Pitfalls: Resentment and inaction.

Stage 6: Eldership (ages 66+)

The final stage of life is about relaxation. It’s when most people stop working entirely to enjoy their retirement.

It’s also a phase in which people reflect on their entire life cycle and learn to let go of the worries they once had. Many people understand that the end is near and reach inner peace with that fact.

It’s also the phase of detachment.

Your health and energy decline. The relationships dissolve as those around you meet their fate. And for some people, the maturity circle completes as they become dependent on others again.

Key characteristics at this stage of life:

Maturity: transitioning from interdependence to dependence.
Role in society: Relaxing.
Personal growth: Reaching inner peace.
Learning phase: Detachment.
Relationships: Dissolving relationships.
Pitfall: Regret.

Struggling through the steps of life?

Feeling behind on the stage of life you’re “supposed to be at.” If you do, here’s a fantastic reminder from Gary Vaynerchuk:

So many people have a twisted relationship with time.

Almost everyone struggles during a stage of life – if not at every phase.

But why rush getting through the cycle fast? Many successful individuals decide not to retire and keep building their legacy. Doing that gives you more time to screw up, experiment, switch careers, and develop various skill sets.

Take a moment to realize just how MUCH time you’ve got.

You hold the power to create your own life story.

But what if you’re feeling really behind? And I don’t mean feeling stuck in your 20s or 30s – but in your 40s or even 50s and later. Can you still live an extraordinary life and achieve great things?

Of course, you can.

But only if you stay excited, seek personal growth, and have a personal conviction in the possibilities. Here’s some inspiration:

Stan Lee created the Marvel comic superhero’s in his 40s.
Colonel Sanders started KFC at age 65.
Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s franchise at 52 – after experiencing many personal failures.
Toni Morrison only wrote her first novel at the age of 40 and ended up winning many prizes, including the Pulitzer award.
Sam Walton opened his first Walmart store at the age of 44.
Julia Child is a celebrity chef who wrote her first cookbook at 50 after spending years in the media business.
And there are many more.

Remember that this list only contains celebrities and that there are many non-celebrity success stories too. In other words, it’s never too late to regain control and maximize your potential in life.

The decision is yours.

4 Simple tips for dealing with turbulence

Each stage in life has its seasons and comes with various ups and downs. And the winters can cause confusion and self-doubt.

How to deal with that?

The first step is to look at the common pitfalls during each stage of life. Did you fall prone to the common ones? If so, there’s a lot of information to help you get back on track.

But four essential areas always matter:

Relationships: Social connections are essential at every stage. And if you feel like this is lacking, make sure to reconnect with those around you. Alternatively, show up in places and build new relationships with uplifting and inspiring people.
Physical health: When we feel stuck, we often stop moving our bodies. But it’s crucial to keep moving, especially at a later age. Find an exercise routine that you enjoy and move often.
Mental health: You feel stuck when reality doesn’t meet your expectations. What to do about that? Accept your situation. After all, you can’t change it at this point, right? Instead, take responsibility for what you can control: What can you do to move forward?
Self-actualization: Everyone has a definition of success. Dare to dream and keep setting meaningful goals that motivate you into action. And yes, you can do this at any age.

Keep moving forward – you’ve got this!

More theories about the human life cycle

If you enjoy learning about the theory on the stages of life, there are more resources you might enjoy. Here are the most popular ideas about the phases of life:

Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of life

Erikson’s eight stages are about the development of a person’s ego throughout their lifetime. The phases are as follows:

Infancy (0-1) is about developing trust.
Toddlers (1-3) is about curiosity and learning independently.
Preschool (3-5) is about learning through social interactions.
Early school (5-12) is about gaining self-awareness and cognitive development.
Adolescence (12-18) is about developing social connections and a sense of identity.
Young adulthood (18-40) is about intimacy.
Middle adulthood (40-65) is about generativity.
Late adulthood (65+) is about integrity.

Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Piaget’s theory focuses on the way children think and learn. And thus, he only zoomed in on the phases of life that influence us as children:

Sensorimotor (ages 0-2): Children learn how to use their senses and motor skills to learn about themselves and the environment.
Preoperational (ages 2-7): Children learn to use language and symbols to communicate.
Concrete operational (ages 7-11): Logical thinking and actions characterize this stage.
Formal operational (ages 12+): Children learn to think abstractly and understand more complex structures.

Daniel Levinson’s 5 Seasons of a Man’s Life

Levinson defines the various seasons in a human life cycle by the challenges and tasks men must face. It’s essential to complete the tasks each season before one can move to the next. The seasons are:

The preparatory stage (ages 0-22): The individual is learning about the world and preparing for the next step of life.
The maturational stage (ages 22-45): Establishing yourself in the world is the main focus at this stage. That includes working on your skills and finding your place in society.
The settling down stage (ages 45-60): The main aim is to consolidate your place in the world.
The stabilizing stage (ages 60-75): Key focus on reflection. People retire to spend more time with their family and friends.
The declining stage (ages 75+): The focus lies on leaving a positive impact on the world and creating a legacy.

What’s next?

The stages of life provide clarity and perspective.

But do not stress if you feel behind. After all, everyone’s journey is unique and nonlinear. These stages only indicate common experiences and pitfalls for each age group.

Recapping the stages of a human life cycle:

Childhood (ages 0-12)
Adolescence (ages 13-20)
Early adulthood (ages 21-35)
Middle adulthood (ages 36-50)
Late adulthood (ages 51-65)
Eldership (ages 66+)

Take action: Self-reflect on your past stages of life and write down the key lessons you learned. Then reflect on your current phase, and identify the opportunities and challenges this stage represents that apply to you.

Related resources:

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6 Stages of Life and Its Essential Lessons [+Age Ranges]

What is a life stage?