Things To Do Before 40: 40 Before 40 Bucket List Ideas

Everyone has a different list of what they’d like to do before they turn 40, but if you’re here, you’re probably looking for ideas to add to your before-40 bucket list. I’m here to give you a list of ideas that you could add to your “things to do before 40” list based on things I’ve done, and things I wish I had done before the big 4-0 passed.

40 is a big milestone, and historically, it was considered the halfway point in life, with big 40th birthday celebrations. I grew up seeing so many “over the hill” birthday card jokes on display at shops. I may have given one to my dad when he turned 40, too. It’s too long ago to remember now, but I do remember it was the running joke when I was a kid.

Celebrating Your 40th Birthday

Now that all of my friends have passed this milestone, I’ve seen people rent out a hotel ballroom and throw a big 40th birthday bash, with fancy attire, catered dinner, fancy decorations, and the works; then, on the flip side, I’ve seen some celebrating this milestone with something quite simple – just a birthday dinner out. Sometimes it depends on what your spouse is willing to do for you, too, if you have one.

For my 40th birthday, I opted to celebrate by traveling abroad (a month before my actual birthday). My actual birthday was right around my cousin’s wedding, and we were going to celebrate her big day.

I wanted to travel somewhere specific, but we couldn’t go where I wanted to go because it was way too hot at the time. So, we went somewhere I thought would be good for my family instead. We went to Korea with the hope that my daughter would be able to pick up some of the language and meet up with extended family, too.

In hindsight, I should have just found another time to go to the destination I really wanted to go to for my “birthday trip,” and call this trip what it really was — a trip to meet up with family in Korea.

I never made it to my desired destination, but I tried to make up for my disappointment by taking a different trip the following year that was similar to where I wanted to go.

If I were to do it again, I would have just planned what I actually wanted to do. It probably would have cost less than the trip we had taken, too.

So, this is what I’d like to start by recommending to you. Don’t do what I did.

Do what you really want to do.

Decide how you’d like to spend your 40th birthday, and if you don’t have anyone to plan it for you, plan it yourself. This is your one 40th, and it’s okay to celebrate it in the way that would be most fulfilling and joyful for you.

Time slips away, other priorities come up, and what you want can be delayed if you don’t seize the opportunity when you have the chance.

My 30s were a decade of so much activity – lots of moves, building a business, and trying to make the most of the time I had in NYC since I knew we wouldn’t stay there forever. If I’m honest, most of it was spent just trying to survive, trying to take care of my health and finances, working on my marriage, and learning to raise a little human. If that’s you, too, it’s a great idea to celebrate your big milestone in a way that will fill your cup. The 30s can be very taxing, so treat yourself well.

We spent my husband’s 40th birthday traversing 3 different countries on a multi-country trip to the cities of Marrakesh, Barcelona, and Paris. It took me 4 solid months of planning to make it happen, but I’m glad that I did because I still have fond memories of taking my toddler daughter on that trip, and he does too.

40 may seem like a big, scary number to you (I know it did for me) because it seems like you finally have to “grow up” for real and truly accept that you’re actually middle-aged. I just want to assure you that life doesn’t end after 40, and it doesn’t go downhill from there. You’re NOT “over the hill.”

In fact, many of life’s best adventures have yet to be lived, and the best of life is still yet to come! Truly, your life ages like fine wine, with more lessons learned, wisdom gained, strength for things endured, and lots of experiences under your belt.

Things To Do in Your 30s

Below is a list of 40 ideas of things to do before you turn 40. Take these ideas as inspiration for things you can do in your 30s, if you choose. It’s not a race, and you don’t have to do it all. It truly is about choosing the most meaningful things to you – things that matter to you most – and then caring for yourself enough to do them.

Time really does seem to speed up as you get older, so do what you can, seize the moment, and enjoy the journey!

Here are some ideas for things to do in your 30s.

TRAVEL

1. Take that bucket list trip!

Don’t wait for the perfect time. If you can swing it now, do it now. There will never be a “right time.” Life gets even busier as you get older, and often you have more energy and desire now than you might later.

Start planning your dream trip and then see how you can fit it into your life. Use a milestone birthday as an excuse if you need to. Life is worth celebrating, and bucket list trips are worth taking any time you can make them happen!

Read about: Bucket List Ideas

2. Go on a babymoon

A babymoon is the perfect excuse to travel to that exotic place on your list! We went to soak in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, stopped by Amsterdam, Positano, Italy, and Santorini on a multi-country trip (I have a thing for multi-country trips since our vacations were so limited), and I used my “babymoon” as an excuse to go when I was pregnant with my son.

I’ve never regretted taking a bucket list trip and am so glad I made the effort to go, even when I was 8 months pregnant. Going that late in your pregnancy is not advisable, as I did get stopped for doctor’s notices on flights, so plan your trip for much earlier in your pregnancy — sometime in your 2nd trimester is best.

3. Create travel memories with your family

Taking your kids to places that you might not necessarily enjoy as much as they do is still worth the effort to go. We’ve taken our kids to Dinosaur World, Peppa Pig Theme Park, Disney World, Hello Kitty Cafes, and so many things that are very kid-centric.

It wasn’t always my thing, but seeing the happy faces on my kids made it so worth it, and eventually, I started appreciating all these kiddie activities too.

You can also travel to places the whole family would enjoy locally – museums, pop-up attractions, shows, nature hikes, and so much more. Kids just want to spend time with you, so doing things out of the ordinary anchors these memories more. Plus, you’ll always have pictures to remember these moments by.

See more: Check out all the kids’ attractions I’ve written about.

4. Take road trips

Sometimes traveling with kids to more destinations means taking them to as many places as you can through road trips. Even the seemingly boring stops at the gas station are things my kids remember more than the destination itself.

Traveling by car has allowed my family to check off more U.S. States than I expected, and it has taken us on different adventures than the typical flying into a city and flying out.

Planning roadtrips: I use Roadtrippers to plan my road trips. It’s been such a big help to find interesting stops during our long stretches of driving.

5. Take an anniversary trip

You don’t have to do this every anniversary, but I would suggest taking an anniversary trip for a milestone anniversary. We took an amazing trip to Thailand to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and it’s still one of my favorite travel memories. Marriage is not always easy, and I think anniversaries are milestones really worth celebrating, especially the big ones!

6. Take a trip with your parents (and pay for it)

I’m not sure if everyone thinks about this in their 30s because we’re so busy trying to raise kids or build a career that our lives revolve around what we’re trying to accomplish, and we sometimes forget to carve out extra time for our parents.

We might see our parents during holidays and other regular occasions, but it’s nice to take a trip with them or treat them for their milestone birthday! You won’t regret it. They raised us, and it’s just a little way of trying to give back for their love and sacrifice, and creates new memories with them too.

7. Schedule a family reunion

Having a family reunion with your whole family is not always easy, especially if you have lots of extended family, but so worth it. Hopefully, you have someone in your family who takes this initiative to plan this get-together, but if you don’t, maybe you can initiate one.

We had a family reunion trip that we took after my husband’s cousin’s wedding, and it was nice to visit Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend with the whole family. I still see the photos pop up on my Photos app, and it reminds me that we need to do more of these multi-generational family gatherings. It’s quality time at its finest.

8. Go to a spa or thermal bath

I really tried to find some time to pamper myself during stressful times to unwind from stress. Going to an amazing spa pool soak, like AIRE Ancient Baths in NYC, was one of my favorite things to do. There’s one also in Chicago.

There are also Korean spas called Spa Castle or King Spa that are good for a relaxing day.

A new thermal bath place I discovered was WorldSprings, an outdoor hot springs experience in Dallas. Read about our visit to WorldSprings.

There are spa vacations where you can take your kids while one parent takes care of the child. Not all destinations are family-friendly, so be sure to check.

For an international spa trip, check out:

• Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa – Rotorua, New Zealand
• Mandala Day Spa – Budapest, Hungary
• Therme București – Bucharest, Romania
• Chocholow Thermal Baths – Krakow, Poland
• Paradise Hot Springs – La Fortuna, Costa Rica
• Alba Thermal Springs & Spa – Australia

9. Plan a hot springs vacation

A little pampering can be very good for the soul. You can plan an entire trip around a spa or a hot spring you may want to soak in. There are places where you can bring kids, too, so the whole family can enjoy.

For a kid-friendly hot springs resort in the U.S., try:

• Glenwood Hot Springs Resort – Glenwood Springs, Colorado
• The Springs Resort (specific areas for families) – Pagosa Springs, Colorado
• Old Town Hot Springs – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• Chico Hot Springs Resort – Pray, Montana
• Hot Springs State Park – Thermopolis, Wyoming

Visit Hot Springs National Park, where you can soak in hot springs at Quapaw Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

For the ultimate bucket list hot springs experience, you can go to:

• Blue Lagoon – Iceland
• Pamukkale Thermal Pools – Turkey
• Grutas Tolantongo – Mexico
• Saturnia Hot Springs – Italy
• Széchenyi Therma Baths – Budapest
• Mývatn Nature Baths – Iceland
• Vouliagmeni Lake – Athens, Greece
• Thermal Lake of Hévíz – Hungary

10. Visit a national park

Visiting a National Park was not on my radar until after I had kids, and I thought it wasn’t possible, but we did it by taking shorter hikes. I really love that I have photos with my kids in the most beautiful and scenic locations. We went even with one kid in a baby harness. It’s possible, and good for your health too.

Related: See the U.S. National Parks Bucket List for inspiration on where to go.

11. Take a hike to a waterfall

Taking a hike to a waterfall is like being rewarded for all that hard work walking and climbing stairs, especially if you’re hiking with kids. You have a nice photo opp for your memories, and it’s a great way to spend time outdoors. Below is our hike to Watkins Glen in New York.

12. Visit a sunflower, tulip, or lavender field

If you search near you, you may not need to go far to find a sunflower, tulip, or lavender field. You don’t have to fly to Holland or France. There might be one within driving distance. We found a sunflower field in New York state and there are tulip fields and lavender fields in Texas. Who knew!

13. Visit Niagara Falls

If you’ve never been to Niagara Falls, plan a trip to visit sometime. It’s one of those places you need to visit in your lifetime. I went there as a kid with my family, and I took my kids too. Their reaction to all that splashing is priceless.

We were even blessed to see a rainbow in the waterfalls that day. You can see it in photos and videos, but it just feels so massive in person. You have to experience it.

When you go, take a Niagara Falls boat ride from the Canadian side, which gives you the best view.

14. Take a scenic train ride

If you’re looking for a shorter scenic train ride that you can take with kids, I recommend the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Colorado. It’s long enough to see the beautiful sites, but short enough that kids won’t get too bored.

15. Visit a hot air balloon festival

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico is one of the most famous ballooning events because it’s the largest in the world. There are others that you can go to if you don’t make it to that one, such as:

• Red Rock Balloon Rally – Gallup, New Mexico
• Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival – California
• Great Reno Balloon Race – Reno, Nevada
• Labor Day Lift off – Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Plano Balloon Festival – Plano, Texas
• Great Texas Balloon Race – Longview, Texas
• New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning – Readington, New Jersey
• Arizona Balloon Classic – Goodyear, Arizona

There are many more out there than you might realize. Check to see if there might be one in your state.

16. Go on a hot air balloon flight

Even better than watching a hot air balloon festival is going on a hot air balloon ride yourself. I actually didn’t do this until after I turned 40, but if you have the chance, it is quite the experience you’ll never forget.

Our balloon flew over Bagan, Myanmar, back in 2019, and the hotel was able to babysit our son while we took our daughter up on the flight. I’m glad I took the opportunity to travel there before it became unsafe.

Some of the most popular destinations to take a hot air balloon flight are:

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia, Turkey
• Hot air balloon flight with Berber breakfast in Marrakesh, Morocco
• Luxor West Bank hot air balloon flight

17. Visit the Ark Encounter

Have you heard of the Ark Encounter in Kentucky? You can go inside Noah’s ark from the Bible and tour what it may have been like.

18. Visit Ice Castles

Have you heard of Ice Castles? If you’re looking for something interesting to do during the winter, this is a cool backdrop for some great photos and a unique memory. There are multiple locations — from Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and even Edmonton in Canada.

19. Ride a camel

This was on the top of my bucket list for a while, and I had the opportunity of going on a camel ride with both my kids, once on our trip to Marrakesh, Morocco, and another in the desert surrounding Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

20. Go on a helicopter ride

Seeing an incredible view from a helicopter is something I highly recommend if you have the chance. We took a helicopter ride in Hawaii to see the amazing view before kids. I also took one with my daughter from Westchester, NY, to Manhattan. Whether it’s stunning nature views or a city view, both trips were really amazing.

I purchased my helicopter ride on Groupon, which is great for getting a discount on your ride.

21. Visit a cave

If you’ve never visited a cave, it is a unique experience to see the world underneath with stalactites and stalagmites that have grown for thousands of years. Each one is unique and a unique site to see.

22. Swim in a cenote

23. Go parasailing

If you’ve never tried parasailing, it’s fun to do when you’re on vacation. We had friends look after our kids while we went to the beach in Mexico.

24. Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are one of those natural marvels you won’t want to miss. Truly beautiful places that are worth a visit at least once in your lifetime.

25. Visit a cliffside town

Visiting a cliffside town like Santorini, Greece, or Positano, Italy, has been one of my favorite travel memories. Being in an environment that looks so different from home, with colors that are so different, makes me feel like I’m on a unique adventure. Even though these are tourist hot spots, these towns, and so many others, are worth seeing for yourself.

26. Try an all-inclusive resort

You may think all-inclusive resorts aren’t your thing, but you never know until you try. We were a bit forced to take all-inclusive vacations for a while because we fell into a timeshare sales pitch and purchased one while we were too young to know better. Because of this, over the years, we’ve taken many, many all-inclusive trips.

All-inclusives can feel limiting when you’re young and want to tour the town, but when you have family, this is a big convenience you really appreciate. You never have to think about where your next meal will come from and can truly relax at the resort. If you’ve never been to an all-inclusive resort, you might want to try one. You never know if you like it until you try.

27. Do a destination photo shoot

If you don’t have great photos of you and your family, schedule a photography session at your next travel destination. We did this on one of our trips and these photos are still our favorite photos from our trips.

DINING & COOKING

28. Eat at a Michelin restaurant (or at a fine dining establishment near you)

There’s something about trying food that feels like art that opens your mind to what’s possible with various ingredients. If you haven’t tried eating at an expensive restaurant yet, make a reservation to celebrate a special occasion! Even if you have to save elsewhere to splurge on this one meal, it’ll give you an experience you can’t get at home, and a memory that lives long after that one meal.

29. Try a new ethnic cuisine

It’s easy to stick with what you know. Branch out to try a new food you haven’t tried before. Perhaps there’s a local restaurant that you never noticed before, or try something new the next time you travel. You never know when you’ll find your next favorite food until you try!

30. Learn to cook your favorite restaurant meal

Have you ever thought about learning to cook your favorite restaurant meal at home? If you’re always ordering the same things, like we are, maybe it’s time to try making it at home. Your future self will thank you.

31. Learn to cook an ethnic dish

Expand your culinary repertoire by trying to learn a new dish that you think you and your family would enjoy. I still have a memory of my daughter loving a Malaysian dish we tried while traveling that I know she would enjoy at home. Learning a new ethnic dish is another way to bring your travel experience home.

32. Learn to bake something new

Are you a baker? I’m not, but there are a few things I’ve always wanted to try, like baking my own bread from whole wheat berries that I grind up myself. Whether you want to bake bread or make a cake, learning to bake something new will add to your culinary skillset, which is always a good thing.

FAMILY

33. Have kids or adopt (if you want to)

The 30s are the time to have kids if you haven’t already in your 20s. My doctor made it seem like 35 was the oldest I could be to have kids, and when I had my son at 39, they treated me like I was a grandma.

I know you can still have kids in your 40s, but it’s easier in your 30s, and I’m fully aware that not all are able to have kids (or want to). You’ll know what’s right for you.

Having kids is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding.

HOBBIES & ACTIVITIES

34. Pursue a creative hobby

Participating in a creative hobby is good for the soul. It gives you a chance to unwind, try something new, and feel the joy of making something yourself. I’ve had many hobbies in my 30s, and looking back, I see the role it played in bringing me a sense of peace through all the changes in my life. Here are some ideas for some hobbies you might want to try:

• Learn to knit a baby sweater
• Learn hand embroidery
• Try cross-stitching
• Make a punch needle pillow
• Create a macrame wall hanging
• Learn to sew something
• Crochet a basket
• Weave a yarn wall hanging

• Learn to watercolor
• Learn to use your DSLR camera
• Learn to edit photos
• Learn to cook
• Decorate your home in a new style
• Learn to oil paint
• Try urban sketching
• Learn to make jewelry
• Learn to use a pottery wheel

35. Learn a new instrument

Is there an instrument you’ve wanted to learn how to play, but never got around to it? It’s your time now. Learn how to play the guitar, piano, violin, or even harp! Whatever your instrument, it’s never too late to start.

Don’t think you’ll get around to it? Sign up for a lesson!

I took piano lessons while my daughter was taking her violin group class at the same music school, and it was a special gift to myself that got me back playing piano again. Although it was fairly short-lived, I was glad that I did it.

36. Learn a foreign language

Is there a language you’ve always wanted to learn? With so many language apps available now and online tutoring services, it’s easy to find a way to learn if you’re willing to commit to the effort.

My entire family was on our own unique learning journey using Duolingo for a year. It was fun having the family interaction as we learned together.

37. Try a new activity or sport

Sometimes, a new activity or sport is all you need to get you motivated to move your body more. Here are some ideas:

• Try pickleball
• Learn to ballroom dance
• Try a dance class
• Take a pilates class
• Learn to play tennis
• Learn to golf
• Learn to surf
• Join a running club
• Join a Conqueror Virtual Challenge
• Try a spin class

38. Learn to grow a garden

Learning to grow a garden was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. As a city girl, I didn’t learn how to grow anything until the spring of 2020, when we were all mandated to stay home. That summer, I grew an entire balcony of tomatoes, bok choy, cucumbers, lettuce, potatoes, kale, and so much more.

If you’ve never grown a garden it, I highly recommend you try. You can start with this easy self-watering starter kit that I used. It gives you a sense of accomplishment like nothing else!

39. Organize digital photos and videos

If you’re anything like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone that have never been organized. Actually, for me, as a constant picture taker, I have over 100,000 photos on my phone. It can be overwhelming.

But, chances are, if you have lots of photos on your phone, you’ve taken them to capture a special memory or something worth noting, so it’s a good practice to revisit them again.

You want to revisit your memories, and a great way is to create personalized photobooks, print them out and frame them, create a photo collage, create a family photo album, scrapbook, or even a video montage or a video book. Find a way of organizing photos that works for you, and a way to get them off your device to share them. These are the precious memories you’ll want to visit again and again.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

40. Start a business, YouTube channel, or blog

If you have the desire for it, create a business, YouTube channel, social media channels, a blog, or all of the above. I know so many people are looking for added income streams. There are lots of ways to go about it, so it’s best to find what appeals to you and match your skillset.

Although it’s a big commitment and a lifelong learning journey, with everything you build or create, you gain new skills, learn about yourself, and generate additional income, too.

GENERAL ADVICE

The following items are not necessarily bucket list items, but things I wish I had been advised as I entered my 30s. It’s the wisdom I gained after living my own life experiences, with some lessons learned the hard way. I hope to spare you some of the pain.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Appreciate your body right now

If you’re a woman, you’ve likely spent a lifetime judging your body already. Between the picture-perfect magazine images and Instagram influencers flaunting their modelesque bodies that we’ve been inundated with, we’ve been conditioned to see our “flaws.”

The truth is, if you’re in good health and you are able to do the things you want in your life, your body has been supporting you all of these years despite all the stress you’ve probably dumped on it. For moms, we’ve endured childbirth and have seen our bodies expand and create a miracle. Our bodies have endured a lot.

No matter what shape it is in right now, we should appreciate all that our bodies have enabled us to do and treat our bodies with the love and respect it deserves. No more self-judgment or body shaming. Your body is a miracle, just like the babies that we, moms, have carried during pregnancy. Let’s appreciate our body as it is right now. Our metabolism is still better now than it might be in our silver-haired years, and we have a lot to be thankful for.

Stretch and exercise regularly

Following up on the previous point, we should appreciate our bodies for where it is now, but it’s also a good idea to take care of our bodies through stretching and exercise. As I am writing this, I am probably about 10 years older than where you are now, and I can tell you that it is easy for exercise to take a backseat if you haven’t developed the habit of exercise in your 30s.

Do yourself a favor and find an exercise you enjoy. Don’t worry about losing ___ pounds in ___ weeks. First, learn to enjoy the exercise you do, and your body will naturally change its shape to match the routine you’ve built and the effort you put in. You’ll thank yourself in your 40s, 50s, and beyond.

Find an exercise target goal

For those of you wanting to be a little more ambitious about your fitness, finding a target goal can motivate you into action. Perhaps you want to run a particular race… go for it! Maybe you want to do the splits again. That’s possible too. Do a triathlon? It’s all up to you.

Start small, dream big. Every target achieved will fuel your confidence. It’s never too early or too late to start moving towards the goals you’ve always wanted to achieve.

Cut down on sugar

Sugar is a bigger culprit in people’s lives than many realize. Removing it can prevent certain illnesses, help you drop pounds, reduce inflammation, balance your blood sugar, and remove sugar addiction. If you have a soda habit, a candy or dessert habit, an alcohol habit, or even putting sugar in your coffee or sweet tea habit, there are alternatives. Do your research and find the best alternatives.

We gave up soda in our 20s and alcohol in our 40s, but wish we had done it earlier. It wasn’t easy, but we feel so much better, and our wallet thanks us too.

Eat a healthy diet (if you aren’t already)

The healthier your diet, the more energy you will have. Good food is just that -good for you. More nutrition intake means more nutrients for your body to run on and heal from excess stress. The 30s can be quite a high-stress time, and I know I needed all the energy I could get.

Try to create a nutrient-dense meal plan for yourself and your family. You’ll notice a big difference in your energy levels. And for the times you can’t quite get there, consider taking a high-quality organic food-based vitamin. These are the vitamins I used in my 30s.

PERSONAL CARE

Get more sleep

This is easier said than done if you have babies or little kids, but so important for good health – physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s tempting to stay up late to unwind after the kids go to bed, but getting good rest pays dividends. Your body will thank you.

Edit your wardrobe

If you’ve had kids in your 30s, your wardrobe will be changing a lot in your 30s as your body changes shape. Even if you don’t have kids, your style will inevitably change as you mature and grow out of your 20s style. This is the time to consider what you want to keep, what you want to change, and who you want to become.

They say, dress like the person you want to become. There is an element of truth to that. Curate your wardrobe to reflect not only who you’ve already become, but who you want to be in the future.

You won’t always be worrying about prenatal or postpartum clothes. What are the clothes that reflect your new lifestyle in your 30s and potentially 40s? Keep what you love and shed the rest.

FINANCES

Pay down any student loans or credit cards (if you still have them)

Life gets busy, and it goes by fast, and sometimes those pesky student loans and credit card balances just stay around too long. If you still have balances that need to be paid off, make a plan and work it. You don’t want to carry these bills into the next decade.

Invest and save for retirement

You’re probably already investing and saving for retirement if you work a corporate job, but in this economy, where you don’t know what will happen next, it’s prudent to invest a bit more aggressively and cut unnecessary expenses. In your 30s, it sometimes feels like things are going great, but you want to hedge against anything that may arise in the future.

Buy life insurance

If you have kids, it’s time to get life insurance. I know this is not a fun topic for anyone, but I just thought I’d add it here. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Life insurance, travel insurance, health insurance, business insurance…you probably already have it, but just in case you don’t, cover yourself.

HABITS & LIFESTYLE

Use sunscreen

This one shocked me, and I regretted it a bit too late. No one told me that you can get sun spots much more easily when you are pregnant. I was out in the Santorini sun without sunscreen and came home to see lots of sun spots on my face that I didn’t have before. And they never went away. Use sunscreen on your face, especially when you’re pregnant.

Remove any vices from your life

This may not feel urgent, especially if your vices don’t seem “that bad.” Trust me, it’s better to face them now rather than putting them off for later. We regret spending all that money on alcohol while living in New York, when all that could have gone towards investments and other wiser choices. We’re so glad now that we kicked the habit. It was a coping mechanism, but now we have healthier ways of dealing with things.

Take care of your teeth

This may seem like a strange one because you’ve already heard from your dentist to floss and perhaps wear your night guard. I’m talking about taking care of your teeth nutritionally and managing stress.

I had one of the most random, painful teeth moments, where my tooth cracked somehow, and I had to get the whole tooth extracted and get an implant. It was a very long process, and I hope you will never have to go through it. I’ve had a tooth chip too. It’s really annoying when it’s your front tooth. It happened to my husband, too, so I know it must be more common than people realize.

Lesson learned is… if you’re not taking care of your health and giving it the nutrients it needs to restore teeth health, it will be more prone to chipping. I know it could be part of aging, but just do your best to take care of your nutrition.

Take care of your eyes

This is another strange one, but maybe, just maybe, you might be able to delay the whole bifocal eye thing. I used to make fun of my parents for having to extend their arms to read things because they couldn’t read things well up close. Well, wouldn’t you know it, it happens in your 40s. I thought I was immune, but it happened to both my husband and me.

Not sure if eating more carrots for beta-carotene would help, but do some research. Maybe there’s a way to delay it or prevent it altogether. It’s a minor inconvenience, but I definitely notice the difference. I have to wear bifocal contacts now, and it’s just not as crystal clear like things used to be with regular contacts.

Curb online shopping

Online shopping can be very tempting. In the whirlwind of your life and raising kids, and doing all the things, it’s so easy to just add to cart and have it delivered to your door so quickly. I’ve seen so many of us fall prey to buying things we really don’t need because of Amazon’s recommendations or because of Black Friday sales!

Just be more mindful of what you actually need before building an impulsive add to cart habit. Leave things in your cart a day or two before checking out to make sure you really need them because everything you buy, you’ll need to find a place to store it, and then later declutter it. A little patience will go a long way.

Don’t keep up with the Joneses

I know this is a funny one, but I say the following with sincerity. Depending on what city and neighborhood you live in, you may feel the pressure to “keep up with the Joneses.” You might even feel pressure from online social media. I’m here to tell you that it’s time to take a step back and really evaluate if everything you are doing is truly for you and your family, or if you are trying to impress others.

The 20s and 30s are a time when this pressure is the highest, so as a late 40-something-year-old now, I’m here to tell you that this is not where you should place your focus. I felt the pressure and succumbed to it for a while, and I saw the negative effects of it. I’ve had people who lived in my previous neighborhood tell me that they felt the pressure to keep up with the Jones’s too, so I know this pressure is real. When everyone is acting fancy, it’s hard not to follow suit, but I implore you to reconsider this course of action despite all the temptations that may come your way.

We live in a world where we’re being fed ads nonstop. I’m lovingly encouraging you as a mom who cares about you… Stay true to what you know deep inside is the right course of action for you. Don’t stretch yourself to buy a bigger house than you need or a better car than you need, or buy fancy things you don’t even really want. Don’t do things for show. Do things for you. Do things that are aligned with the needs of you and your family.

Please don’t overextend yourself in any way that could be harmful to you. Live life simply, splurge on the things that are meaningful to you, and spend money on things that truly bring you and your family the greatest value and joy. Layoffs are real, properties sometimes don’t sell quickly, sickness happens, hard times do come, and padding your savings and investment accounts can save you. Be secure in the humble path despite everyone taking the flashy one.

Living frugally in a land of excess is wise during these times.

Remove yourself from toxic environments and people

This one I’m telling you as someone who’s suffered from a lot of toxic environments without even realizing I was in them until I was out. I know you probably have too. Sometimes we settle for less than how we deserve to be treated because we’re too nice, or we want to serve others, or we put other people’s needs before our own.

I know this is not everyone, but if this is you, I want you to know that having a healthy you is the best thing you can do for yourself, which will subsequently affect others around you – your spouse, children, family, friends, etc. If you wouldn’t treat people the way you are being treated, that is your biggest clue that you are in a situation, environment, or around people who aren’t respecting and honoring you. Find a way to gracefully leave that environment.

There is a saying… a healthy goldfish placed in a toxic environment will get sick. But if you take a sick fish and put it in a healthy environment, it will get healthy.

Are you healthy? Is the environment you’re in healthy? If not, please pray about what you should do. I pray that you will find the right resolution for your situation.

Forgive all those who have hurt you

I know you probably don’t expect these last few on your bucket list, but I feel that it is important life advice at this stage of your life (or any stage). In order to live free from the burdens of our past, we must forgive all who have hurt us.

By forgiving others, you release the burden you are carrying from what may have been done to you. Forgiveness does not mean that what they did is right. It just means you’re willing to release yourself by releasing them from your heart. You are letting go of any bitterness or resentment, or offense you might be carrying that do not add to your life. These are weights. It’s time for you to be free.

Declutter your life

Decluttering your life will also lighten the load you are carrying in life. Whether it be belongings, excess emotional baggage, toxic thoughts about ourselves or others, a mail pile that’s been ignored, disorganized files, or any other area of your life where you’ve let “junk mail” in. It’s time to clean it out.

This is a long process, but it’s worth the effort. I’ve decluttered my life many, many times, yet still, when things get busy and overwhelming, things slip through the cracks, and I have to do it again. This one may not be fun, but the work will reward you with a sense of peace, order, and freedom that you’ll want to have as you enter your 40s.

FINAL THOUGHTS

My last piece of advice would be to savor everything. Those toddler tantrums? One day, you’ll laugh and miss those days when your kids were small, when they would hug you all the time, when they would say the funniest things.

The things you think are the big things may not always be the important things in life. One day, you’ll look back and realize that those little moments, those seemingly unimportant ones, the ordinary things that are so easy to overlook, are the things that were actually the most important.

Cherish your loved ones… they may not always be in your life. And those challenging child-rearing years? One day, your kids will be out of your home, and you’ll miss them being constantly around.

Don’t take anything for granted. Find the good in each moment, and appreciate all the blessings you already have around you. Anything you get to check off on your bucket list is just icing on the cake.

Free Bucket List Template

You can use my free bucket list template to write down and keep track of your bucket list:

Related Posts

• Bucket List Ideas
• U.S. National Parks Bucket List
• 50 Before 50 Bucket List: 50 Items to Check Off Before Turning 50
• 100 Ideas To Add To Your Bucket List for Summer
• Before 30 Bucket List
• My Bucket List

If you haven’t already, grab your Free Trip Planning Template to plan your next trip!

Pin it for later!