Although reaching 40 might stir up some anxieties, especially with society’s views on the midlife crisis, it’s really not all that bad. There are plenty of concerns you can finally leave behind when you hit this milestone, just like these 17 things you can stop stressing over once you hit 40.
Financial Security
By the time you turn 40, you should already have some sense of financial security. For example, Foresight writes that most people “are at a stage in their career whereby they have reached a level of professional success, giving them the means to prioritize their financial objectives.”
Updating Your Wardrobe
Entering your 40s means you care less about how people perceive you, and you’re happy just being you. Also, you may have acquired a lot of timeless pieces through your adult years, and this means you have to spend less money each season updating your wardrobe.
Unrealistic Goals
Reader’s Digest writes, “There is tremendous pressure put on young people from an early age to excel at everything.” Reaching 40 means you can let go of the fact that happiness only comes from achieving your goals. Try embracing gratitude for the things you already have and valuing the journey, not just the destination.
Negative Self-Talk
The older you become, the easier it is to acknowledge feelings without letting them define you. After turning 40, you can focus on your strengths and accomplishments. This allows you to shift from the negative trait of self-criticism to positively being able to support yourself.
Procrastination
If procrastination is something you struggle with and isn’t something you want to take into your 40th year, then try breaking up any large tasks into small tasks. This will make them more manageable, and you’ll avoid overwhelming yourself. Always try to set realistic deadlines and ensure you stick to them.
Saying “No”
Entrepreneur writes, “By learning to say no, you protect your time and energy.” You start to realize how important this word is after you turn 40. It allows you to have personal boundaries and gives you enough time for your own well-being. The older you become, the easier it gets to decline invitations without feeling guilty.
The Fear of Failure
It’s easier to view setbacks as opportunities for growth as you get older. You know not to allow one mistake to completely dictate your self-growth. You may even go out of your way to obtain constructive criticism, as this will give you the tools you need to be able to better yourself as a person.
Life On Your Phone Screen
Caring less about what’s going on when it comes to social media will save you a whole lot of stress and sleep. To improve your mental well-being, you can try going on long walks instead or taking part in other physical activities, as this will improve your physical health and mental clarity.
Finding Enough Time For Exercise
This should be one of your main priorities when you turn 40, as your physical health will help you stay healthy when you start aging. We start to find more time for ourselves as we get older, as we know how important it is to prioritize this, and it leaves us with plenty of time to exercise.
Sleep
News in Health writes, “Good sleep improves your brain performance, mood, and health.” As we start caring more for ourselves in our 40s, this often leads to improved sleep, which will improve our overall well-being. With less stress on our plates, it’s easier to fall asleep at night.
New Interests and Hobbies
The older you become, the less you have to worry about feeling pressure to try new things. Sometimes the best thing for you to do is to stick to what you know. Maybe you’d like to explore things you enjoyed in the past and rekindle a passion that you once loved.
Focusing on Meaningful Relationships
By the time you turn 40, you should have a strong idea of which relationships mean the most to you, and you’ll already know which ones you want to give your time to. This will mean there’s no longer an urgent need for you to feel like you must balance every relationship in your life.
Comfort and Safety
When you reach your 40s, you should have a firm idea of what feels comfortable and safe to you. This could mean that you already know you aren’t an adrenaline junkie and want to stick to things that relax you. It could also mean you’re financially comfortable, have your own house, and have a great job.
Perfectionism
You probably know by now that there’s no such thing as perfectionism. This is supported by LifeHack, which writes, “At the end of the day, you need to accept yourself for your own faults. Life’s too short to dwell on anything for too long unless it makes you feel happy and fulfilled.”
Your Luck
You don’t need to worry about how lucky you are because you know that you make your own luck through hard work and dedication. You’ve learned to take proactive steps toward your goals, as this is far more reliable than chance. There’s fulfillment in the journey, not just the end result.
Fears of What Could Go Wrong
Entering your 40s means you’ve probably learned that it’s only good to focus on what you can control and to let go of what you can’t. You may have learned strategies over the years that helped with this, and now this fear isn’t something you have to worry about anymore.
Worry and Anxiety
VCU Health tells us that one way to deal with worry is to “look at the realistic outcomes objectively, completely, and fairly.” This may have been something that you’ve learned to do over the years, especially if you’ve always been an anxious person. You may also have a great support network now that you’re older.