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Just turned 40, what to know?

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It's simple, no secret sauce but most aren't doing it.
Diet and exercise. Also do some bloodwork, the preventive tests recommended at 40+.
 
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ElFenomeno said:
It's simple, no secret sauce but most aren't doing it.
Diet and exercise. Also do some bloodwork, the preventive tests recommended at 40+.
Click to expand...

Routine physicals and blood tests are a must. I've been doing that since my early 30s cause of family history and it's caught my bad cholesterol in its tracks before it became an undiagnosed problem in my late 30s or 40s.
 
Senua said:
Get your prostate poked

finger doctors GIF
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They do this with blood tests now, no finger poking required (at least not until your blood test come back with abnormal scores). It's called a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, and these should be part of your regular workup.

ElFenomeno said:
Diet and exercise.
Click to expand...
This is the real answer. If you're not already eating right and getting regular exercise, now is the time to start. Your quality of life will go downhill quickly in your 40s if you're overweight and out of shape. Ask me how I know.
 
Don't spend a single second on having age anxiety. I once heard a good thing: "what's the alternative to getting older?"

Too many obsess negatively over what is the privilege of being alive and getting to experience day after day. I want to become 80 years old and be able to reminisce over all the time I spent on appreciation and enjoyment.
 
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If you believe you'll live to 80, you are now half dead! lol

At 40, you should be in the prime of your career. Plan out your money, target retirement date and budgets where you estimate how much you'll have by then. Take into account capital gains taxes and every once in a while you need to put down big money for a new car, fixing the house, new appliances, TV etc...

Be conservative with your annual savings and expected annual investment gains. If it tracks to 10%/yr, shave it back to 8% kind of thing. If it all works out, by age xxx youre done!

Dont forget to do a will. You got time. But do it by 50. Get your bro or sister who is younger and good with process to be the executor.
 
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Trilobit said:
Don't spend a single second on having age anxiety. I once heard a good thing: "what's the alternative to getting older?"

Too many obsess negatively over what is the privilege of being alive and getting to experience day after day. I want to become 80 years old and be able to reminisce over all the time I spent on appreciation and enjoyment.
Click to expand...
Age is definitely relative, and 40 is still young in the grand scheme of things.

I'm almost 40 and recently played pool with my father-in-law and two other guys at their retirement community. I've been thinking of myself as old lately, so it was crazy to essentially be the child in the room compared to them. One of the guys is 89 and has grandchildren older than me.
 
You will have to get up to pee in the night.
You will feel too exhausted for hookers.
You will start to like pralines.
You question if jeans are appropriate.
If your hair is starting to thin, use one of the topical treatments now.
Every day you will contemplate changing careers and realise you cant afford to.
 
I'd say save for your retirement. Specifically google "Three fund portfolio" oh and never "invest" through your bank. (Since they'll probably try to scam you with annuities.)
 
Aesius said:
Age is definitely relative, and 40 is still young in the grand scheme of things.

I'm almost 40 and recently played pool with my father-in-law and two other guys at their retirement community. I've been thinking of myself as old lately, so it was crazy to essentially be the child in the room compared to them. One of the guys is 89 and has grandchildren older than me.
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Yeah, if people normally aged to 1000 years then being 40 would be seen as still growing up. Also, if the 89-year old talked to a 110-year old then he'd probably feel surprisingly young in comparison.

Somewhat tangental, but I know plenty of old people who still have a hunger for life and are happy and learn new stuff. The idea some have that you need to become grumpy and self-serious as you age is just a way of saying "I don't have any responsibility to take care of my emotional, mental and physical health any more. I can just blame my bitterness on my age as if it's an universal truth that old people must be this way."

A rather weird comparison, but something I've thought about is the mentality difference between RedLetterMedia's Mike Stoklasa and Nerdrotic. Mike is in his 40s, but has the vibe of an age-bitter 70-year old. He continuously refers to himself as old, albeit jokingly, but doesn't seem to relate some of those feelings to poor habits/thoughtpatterns. Then we have ex-drug addict Nerdrotic who's in his 50s, but has the energy and vibe of a 30-year old. One can explain that in some unflattering ways, but I have friends in their 50s too and they still game, have fun, enjoy life and don't obsess about age. I'm not saying that my thoughts about them are facts, just something I've sensed.

My point is that aging can be fantastic if you nourish a good mindset and nurture healthy habits. A depressed 20-year old can have less energy and enjoyment of life than a happy and fulfilled 50-year old.
 
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Trilobit said:
Somewhat tangental, but I know plenty of old people who still have a hunger for life and are happy and learn new stuff.
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I decided to start learning Japanese in my 40s, and it was such a wonderful experience. It tested my brain in ways that it hadn't really been tested since I was in college. It also expanded my travel horizons (I've now been to Japan twice). Weirdly, it helped to improve my English - and unexpectedly, my Spanish.

At 40, it's not too late to start in on a new skill or hobby.
 
Turned 40 a few months ago. Things you should know:

Aging pains are real, if you havn't already get your diet in order, cut sugars, and you'll find your body will be nicer to you (sugar really inlames joint paints)

You should be at a good point in your career now, know your worth and be pulling a senior level salary (director, or at least senior manager) if you are in corporate. If not, refocus on that, your 40's are your prime money making years.

By now you should have a good grasp of what matters in life to you, start refocusing on those things, the things that make you happy, and let go of all the fluff that others tell you you need to be doing to be happy.

Make a will if you havnt already, not for you, but for your family.

Buy some nice shoes. Get a nice mattress. Dont forget to live. Save for retirement yes, but spend on your now also, as 40 - 55 is likely going to be the last, best health period of your life if you do things right, so travel, do all the things now that 60 year old you may no be able to do. I've had ALOT of friend die in their late 40's and early 50's, so live life and dont over due retirement planning (as you may never make it, don't go to the grave rich).
 
I'm almost there and to be honest I still feel the exact same as I was 17 (knock on wood)

Maybe the secret is just a lot of weed lol

I do notice I have to watch what I eat a little bit more because apparently my metabolism isn't as good
 
Think fondly of the past but don't dwell on it.

Tell your family and friends you love them (Even if you don't).

You've seen some shit but never embarrass the younger ones, stay humble.

Smile, you made it this far 🤠
 
For myself 41, I don't really feel much different physically. Cold weather does bother me a little bit more, but I lived more then half of my life in the desert climate. Wisdom has leveled up a bunch. Patience I thought would be golden. Its actually almost zero now LMAO.
 
It's too late for you, OP

Death Spin Cycle GIF by Grim D. Reaper #grmdrpr
 
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Right.

Prime career? I've barely had any promotions nearing 40, and with salary inflation and commitments it's hard to pivot without a pay cut now to potentially get higher pay down the road. So stuck with a reasonable salary but definitely not comfortable/retire a little early.

Health is wealth though, so with that you could still do supermarket jobs if you really had to, should corporate kick you out.
 
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