34 changes to bring in your life after 40

Turning 40 is exciting! It is a big deal for many people. Some might think that the best part of life is over. For others, the best part is yet to begin. Many will agree though, by 40 you have learned a lot, and life is set on a particular track. Also, many have a set plan for the years ahead. Your 40s can even get better than how you have planned it. We bring you a list of 34 changes to bring in your life after 40. We won’t suggest you to drastically change your life, however, you can always take baby steps. Small changes in habits can have a huge impact over a period of time. Below are the tips to change your life for the better after 40:

1. Start Exercising

You’re 40 now. This is the high time to have an exercise routine. Don’t just plan it, put it into action. Experts say weight training should become a part of your exercise routine at this age as it does well for the body.

2. Take up a Physical Activity

Take up a physical activity of your choice. Even if you exercise regularly, take it up. It can be anything indoors or outdoors. Examples are Zumba, swimming, cycling, hiking, skating, and yoga.

3. Start a Journal

Writing down your thoughts in a journal is a good change to bring into your life after 40. It is not necessary that you write in it daily. You can just pen down your thoughts when you feel like. It is an excellent way to de-stress too.

4. Pursue a Hobby

Did you always dream of playing the guitar but never got a chance to learn? Well, now is time. People, pursue your hobby. It’s now or never.

5. Learn a Craft

Yes! Learn a craft. Select a craft and take a class in it. It can be pottery, glass painting, sketching, weaving, knitting, cooking, jewelry designing, and a host of other options. Think about what you like and learn the craft. It will give you immense joy to be creative.

6. Spend Time with Your Loved Ones

Start to spend more time with your loved ones, especially grandparents. As you turned 40, they have become older. Cherish the moments with them to make great memories.

7. Add Supplements

Add the right supplements to your diet. It can be omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D.  Follow your doctor’s advice about what needs to be added.

8. Change your Dressing Style

A new decade should have a new dressing style. Discard the old clothes of the 30s and decide on a new style. Choose a new range of colors for your dresses too. Be unique.

9. Change Your Looks

If you feel like it, go for a change in look too. Change your hairstyle. Change your hair color. Along with the change in your dressing style, change your looks, and see a change in your perspective.

10. Change Your Outlook

Be the original you. Do not do a certain thing because it has to be done in that particular way. Stop pretending. Do things your way. Do things in your style. Your time on Mother Earth is limited. Now, that you are 40, spend the remaining time as your heart says and, in the way, and style that you wish to.

11. Learn a Language

Always had a desire to learn a new language but cannot. Take the time out now. Join a language class. See the world with a new language. After learning the new language, read books in that language. There is so much to learn from reading books.

12. Use Your Approved Vacation Time

You have approved vacation time in your work. Use them all, if not at once but in lots. Visit a new place in the off-time. If you don’t plan to travel, use that time to relax at home. It will act as a stress-buster too. You will return to work rejuvenated. Studies deduce that returning from vacation makes you more productive at work.

13. Have a Complete Medical Check-Up

The body starts to make changes at 40. Visit your doctor for a thorough checkup. Make this a yearly habit or even better half-yearly. This will help you track any occurrences of diseases at the earliest if they are to occur.

14. Become an Early Riser

Learn to rise early if you are not an earlier riser. We are not stating to rise as early as the sun. you can start to rise early an hour than your regular timing. What will you do with that one extra hour? Well, utilize it for yourself. You can take a walk, exercise, meditate, do yoga, read a book, or just sit in silence in your garden and contemplate the day ahead. The early morning sunlight will have beneficial effects on the body. Studies have proved that early morning sunlight tends to lower BMIs.

15. Stop or Reduce Smoking

Smoking has harmful effects on our health. It is better to quit smoking once you reach 40. If you cannot quit, at least adapt yourself to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day. Formation of this habit will reduce the health implications that smoking brings.

16. Reduce on your Caffeine

It will also be a wise decision to reduce your caffeine intake. So, take control of the amount of coffee your intake in a day. Also, reduce sodas as they contain caffeine.

17. Eat Healthy

Start to eat healthy. Focus more on home-cooked meals rather than a takeaway meal or processed foods. By doing this you will have a well-balanced home-cooked meal. This sort of meal will be much healthier than a takeaway or processed foods.

18. Plan Your Finances

At 40, most people have a stable source of income. Most also have started saving and have already started planning for retirement time. If you have any debt, you should seriously consider paying it off. Having a secure and stable financial future should be a necessity.

19. Start Planning for Your Retirement

Have you started planning for your retirement? No? Better start to. It is never too late to start anything new. The same is the case with planning for your retirement. Talk to a financial advisor if you are not confident of doing it yourself. Who will not wish to have a secure future? Take this point into serious consideration.

20. Schedule a Meeting with a Financial Advisor

At 40, you are well settled in your career. You have a stable income. Most probably you have a loving family too. You need to plan for the future; your future and the future of your children. So, if you have not till now, you should meet up with a financial advisor to plan for your future.

21. Stop Comparing Yourself with Others

You are yourselves. You don’t need to compare yourself with others. You don’t need to compare your career with anyone, you don’t need to compare your prosperity with others or for that matter anything at all. Everyone has their own route to walk. Everyone has their advantages and disadvantages to face. Hence, comparing yourself with others will only make you low on self-esteem. It will take you nowhere. You need to get yourselves together to pull up this change in you.

22. Change Your Job if Needed

Are you unhappy with your present job? Are you just sticking out on the job for financial stability? If so, then try for a job change. There are new opportunities everywhere. You need to seek them. Do not spend the years till retirement in a job that you dislike or hate. Try to find a suitable change. Never get the thought that at 40, nobody is going to hire you. That is not the case. There are ample opportunities in all fields of work. Try out. You never know, when can you get your dream job.

23. Take up Reading as a Habit

We are not saying that you become an avid reader. Take up reading. It will expand your horizon and knowledge. Taking an interest in reading will bring insight. There are hundreds of thousands of books to read in just a particular language. Imagine the number of books in all the languages of the world. Even if you can finish one book in just one week, you read only 52 books in a year! How less is that. You can start with the books in your area of interest. Start this practice and notice how fulfilled you feel.

24. Get Rid of Stuff You Don’t Need

At this age, you might have a lot of possessions. Take things out of the house that you no longer need. For example, the old clothes that no longer fit, the greetings cards that you have collected over the years, old shoes which are worn and torn, and many other things that you no longer need. There is no need to accumulate and stuff your home with things that are no longer a necessity. Start a new life from scratch by doing this. You won’t regret it.

25. Clear Your Mind of Clutter

Don’t just clear the clutter from your home, you need to clear the clutter off your head too. Make a list of all that worries you. Deal with that list one point at a time. If someone’s presence tends to agitate you, you need to learn to calm yourself down. If you hate a particular thing you have to do like visiting someplace with your spouse, stop doing it. Tell him or her clearly that you do not wish to go there anymore. Don’t keep anything in your mind that causes you stress. You are 40 now. Learn to live life on your terms.

26. Limit Your Gadgets Use

Gadgets have taken over lives. After 40, don’t spend time over the gadgets just to spend your time. Try to have the limited use of it to fulfill the necessary thing. Don’t deprive yourselves of sleep because you have to spend time on any one of the numerous gadgets you own. Try to keep yourself technology free for a particular period of time during the day.  Instead spend that time on your own or with your family. This will bring in some change around you.

27. Develop a Skincare Routine

Ladies especially, develop a skincare routine for yourselves. You will have to test and decide on what suits your skin needs. As you get older, you tend to get dry skin. You don’t have the skin of your 20s. So, learn to take care of your skin. It will make you feel good. Men, you too can delve into this change to bring in you after 40.

28. Raise your Confidence

You are 40 now. Learn to raise your confidence if you are low on it. Actually, you should be confident enough by now. If not, it’s high time that you are. You have experienced a lot by now. You have practically lived half of your lives by now. So, raise your confidence if you are low on it. Speak with people with confidence and assertiveness. Learn to say no when you want to say no. Don’t do a thing if you don’t feel like doing it. You don’t have to please anyone but yourselves.

29. Free Yourselves from Grudges

A major part of your life has passed by. You must have experienced a lot of ups and downs by now. Your memories of people can be pleasant and unpleasant. Now that you are in your 40s, we will suggest you not hold grudges. Nothing is achieved through holding grudges against someone. It affects your health negatively. Hence, free yourselves from grudges. Evolve in a new you to be able to achieve this. Experience peace of mind like never before by doing this.

30. Make New Friends

In your 40s make new friends. Treasure your old and faithful friends but be open to making new friends. They may not be necessarily of your age group. They can be younger than you or older than you. Make this change in your life and see something new in life. This is a way to change your life around.

31. Medical School After 40

If you had the desire to become a doctor but cannot at the correct age, take a break now and prepare for medical school. There is no rule in the book that states that you cannot start medical school after 40.

32. Spend Time Outdoors

Spend more time outdoors. The world is a beautiful place. Nature has extreme beauty. If you can’t travel to different locations, spend time in local parks. Soak in the sun. Hear the birds chirping. Walk on the fresh grass. All of this will have a positive effect on you.

33. Don’t Remorse over Past Mistakes

Don’t remorse over past mistakes or how things could have been better. The past is long gone. You cannot change it now. So, stop worrying about it now. Instead, look towards the future. You have years ahead of you. Don’t spoil them and become remorseful about the past.

34. Be Optimistic

The last change we will suggest to bring in your life after 40 is to become a positive thinker and be optimistic in all the things you do. Life is short as they say. Don’t think of the negative things. Make yourselves to think positively and see the beneficial changes it brings to your mind and health. This will lead you to how to drastically change your life.