Turning 40 is great. Ever heard the phrase, ‘life begins at 40?' It's true!
40 is a fantastic milestone and if you're reading this, you've either reached the big 4-0 or you're thinking about it in advance. Either way – congratulations!
I turned 40 a couple of years ago and before I did, I made sure I'd taken care of 7 essential things. And today, I'm going to share them with you.
Without further ado, I'm going to show you 7 things you need to do before turning 40.
#1. Take Care Of Yourself FIRST
If you've ever watched a pre-flight safety announcement, you will have heard this statement: “secure your oxygen mask before assisting others”. There's a good reason for this advice – you can't help people around you if you're unconscious.
The same principle applies here – if you can't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others.
By prioritizing your wellbeing, you are being selfless not selfish.
Naturally we want to take care of those around us. But the sad reality is that we often neglect our own health in the process.
Let me ask you, when did you last go to the gym? Or the doctor? (Do you know your doctor's name?) Or meditate?
You must make sure you're taking care of your own health as part of your daily routine. Follow my advice and adopt my morning routine to ensure you keep fit, healthy and are able to care of those around you.
#2. Turning 40? Invest In Yourself
It's easy to get sidetracked with daily life. John Lennon famously said “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans”. But if you don't make time to learn, you won't grow as a person and – worse still – you'll become stale.
Successful Men Never Stop Learning
Turning 40 is the perfect time to focus on keeping your mind active. Relish in the sense of accomplishment when you master a new skill or you learn something new.
Your brain contains myelin which helps improve your performance on when learning new things. The more you practice learning, the more dense this myelin becomes which helps you learn better. Keep it up and you'll be amazed at the speed at which you can pick up new skills.
And who knows? – You could utilize your skills in your home or business life!
The world's information is literally at your fingertips so there is no excuse not to take advantage of this amazing resource.
Listen to audiobooks on your commute (seriously, why doesn't everyone do this?), take an online language class or attend a workshop and meet new people. Many of these resources are absolutely free… there's absolutely no excuse!
#3. Guess what? You're Going To Die
Sorry to be morbid… but no one gets out of this life alive. You might be under 40, turning 40 or over 40. The results are the same.
Now I'm not going to tell you “YOLO” (I hate that expression) but I will tell you that we only have one life and our most precious resource is TIME. So don't waste it! Cut out the noise and meaningless distractions and focus on what is important to you.
Spend your time wisely by learning, improving and enjoying it with those you care about.
Ask yourself what you will look back on from your deathbed and remember fondly. I'm sure you won't look back and think “I really enjoyed arguing with my neighbor for 2 years over the size of his hedge”.
I'm going to go back to my first point for a moment; one way to ensure you live on is to ensure your loved ones are cared for after you're gone. And the best way to provide this security is to get life insurance. Don't put this off – go and get a quote today.
#4. Learn To Cook!
Eat Better, Smell Better, Be More Attractive: A real man is self sufficient and does not rely on unhealthy ready-meals. Research has shown that men who prepare their own food are happier and healthier than those who don't and freshly prepared food contains less sugar than processed food, meaning higher energy levels and better mental health.
Turning 40 is no excuse. It's time to start learning now! Cooking is an enjoyable and social activity and it's a great (and essential) skill to learn – and one you can pass to your children. Not only will you be healthier, you'll also save money.
Here's a Sunday tip if you live a busy life – bulk prepare all your meals on Sunday and freeze them. This gives you a supply of home made meals every day.
And guys – women love a man who can cook. Got a date? Invite her over for a home cooked meal. Or if your loved one has had a hard day at work, what better thing to come back to than a freshly prepared meal.
#5. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone
I'm willing to bet you did some crazy things when you were younger. I sure did. (Did you know I was arrested? And spent the night in jail!) As we get older, we become more risk averse. This isn't a bad thing but it's always good to try new things and push yourself.
Becoming comfortable in your surroundings can kill your productivity. Trying new things, which may feel uncomfortable at first, is a great way to get more done. It also primes you for facing unexpected challenges in life.
“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” – Brian Tracy
So go out and put yourself in uncomfortable positions. Shock yourself and be amazed at how well you adapted to the situation.
#6. Call Friends & Family Daily
You won't live long if you don't have friends or relationships around you.
As we get older and busier, we can lose touch with friends and even family. There's never an excuse for this – especially as they are only a phone call away.
I have a friend who calls his mom every day – just to keep in touch. And I berated a friend recently for not keeping in touch with his brother.
Don't take your friends and family for granted. Just pick up the phone and say “hey, how are you?” Your call could make someone's day.
#7. Pay Yourself First
It doesn't sound very exciting but it's important to set aside money for yourself and your future. You need an emergency fund and savings, retirement contributions and a pension.
You never know what's going to happen – so you need a backup if you fall on hard times. And you want to sleep easy at night knowing you have security for you and your family.
Money doesn't make you happy but it gives you options!
So there you have it. Make sure you do these 7 things before you reach 40. You'll thank me later. And remember – you're probably only half way through your life! If you're struggling to take action, you need to watch Take ACTION & Improve YOUR Life Immediately by Tanner Guzy.
