40-Year Milestone: How to Age with Grace?
For those of you who are about to hit your 40th birthday in a few weeks, it might be a little daunting to see that many candles on your birthday cake. However, even though the thought of turning older can be quite overwhelming, it is important to remember that aging comes with its own new milestones.
It comes with patience, wisdom, and expertise. There are plenty of women across the globe who’ve climbed the ladder of success in their 40s. From Meryl Streep, the cinema superstar, to JK Rowling, the mastermind behind the infamous Harry Potter series, millions of women are setting an example by gracefully embracing their age.
This year, the oldest millennials (born between 1981 – 1996) are about to turn 40. History tells us that, at this age, we must have figured out our finances and family and built a successful career for ourselves. Transitioning to 40 is thought to be a fork in our life. At this point in life, you get two choices – to either embrace what is about to come or make the same old excuses of staying busy and not taking care of yourself.
The Societal Stereotype About Aging
Growing older means you’ll grow wiser and you’ll be able to share important experiences of your lives with your loved ones. But it seems that society and social media have created a stereotypical image about how women should be when they turn 40.
Women at this age are told to wear age-appropriate clothing instead of focusing on what they love to wear. In fact, a survey has reported that nearly 39% of women across the globe are made to believe that they’re well past their “sell date” after they’ve turned 40. Not just this, women are also under excessive pressure from society that they should’ve made their careers by this age.
Social media and society also make women feel less valued after they turn 40. In certain extreme cases, children and spouses often blatantly express how women become boring as they age and are less productive when compared to those in their late 20s or 30s.
Reevaluating Your Health at 40
At the age of 40, several women start noticing that their lives are about to change drastically. This is also a time in a woman’s life when her plate is to the fullest. Your kids may have attained an age where they’re liable to commit life-changing mistakes, which is what most mothers worry about.
Maybe your children are just about ready to leave the nest, and that thought is sitting heavily on your heart. You may also feel burdened with the thoughts of paying your child’s college tuition fee. On the other side of the coin, you may also feel worried about your parents’ aging, and these thoughts can provoke anxiety and stress.
Adding to all this stress and anxiety is the societal pressure and expectations every woman has to face. In the back of your mind, you might still be that vibrant and happy 20-year-old, but the world forces you to accept that you’re a 40-year-old perimenopausal woman. Women at this age also feel immense pressure to look sexy and youthful, which can lead to emotional distress.
All these expectations and unwanted stress call for a reevaluation of your life. The best thing to do here is to take up a hobby that you have always wanted to pursue but could never do, pay attention to your body’s needs, and stay in control of your mental health.
Embracing Great Mental and Physical Health at 40
Turning 40 for women means embracing new thoughts and new bodily changes. It is important to pay special attention to your health to learn how to deal the best with these changes. In the fifth decade of your life, it is critical to adopt healthy lifestyle changes by eating right and bidding goodbye to a sedentary lifestyle.
Several physicians recommend including mild to high-intensity exercises in your daily routine to temper your stress. Exercising releases endorphins (aka the happy hormones) that help your body alleviate the stress it is feeling.
Remember that a woman who’s well in her early 20s can probably eat a whole pint of ice cream and munch on a bag of chips all day long without negatively affecting her body. But, a woman in her 40s has to take active control of her body and change their dietary habits to cope with her body’s metabolism.
You’ll often find yourself wondering why you’re gaining weight when you haven’t even changed your eating habits. The reason behind this is the hormonal fluctuations and the slowdown in your metabolism. Exercises such as stretching, yoga, and regular cardio can help you boost your metabolism and live an active life.
It’s a habit for us, to self-reflect at night or just overthink before we go to bed. However, you can also go through sleep disturbances due to the added stress and anxiety of hitting 40.
Therefore, to bring your thoughts on the right track and channelize your inner positivity, it’s a good habit to start self-journaling. Writing down your priorities and thoughts on a piece of paper can help you gain some much-needed self-confidence.
Tips to Feel Fabulous at 40
If you want to learn how to age with grace and feel fabulous over and beyond 40, then ladies, I’ve got you covered! I feel that cultivating joy and listening to your body’s needs can help you overcome the anxiety and stress you might be feeling about turning 40. Let’s take a look at some of my recommended tips to embrace this new decade of love and life!
1. Embrace Your Changing Looks
It might be hard for you to face the reality of grey hair and fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, dark circles, etc. when you first look into the mirror. Varicose veins, brown spots on the extremities are just other typical signs of aging. The best thing to do in such a case is to say positive affirmations about your body in front of the mirror every morning and gradually fall in love with the way you look.
2. Confront Your Fears
The fear of aging can compel you to maintain a youthful image in unconventional ways. Some women resort to spending time with younger individuals, some try to fit into their old clothes, and some even borrow their daughter’s clothes to feel positive about their bodies again.
This is a type of denial that masks your anxiety and fears about your aging. You must face your fears and let go of the illusion of youthfulness. If your idea about your beauty and wellness is dependent on external sources, then you must bid goodbye to this habit.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to a Stereotypical Image
Don’t measure yourself against the image of a stereotypical older woman that society and social media forces you to believe. This often leads to negative and obsessive thoughts. Learn to accept yourself the way you are and visualise your strengths and weaknesses. Believe in the phrase that there’s nobody like you in this world and you’re just as valuable and unique as any younger person out there.
4. Learn to be Comfortable in Your Own Company
One of the most recognised fears in women about turning older is being left alone. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to conform to the norms of marriage and children or are feeling apprehensive about your children leaving the nest, then you must learn to be comfortable in your own company.
Do a victory dance after an exhaustive day, watch a movie alone and make yourself some popcorn while you’re at it, engage in a long lost hobby, go for a run whenever negative thoughts begin to plague your mind, etc.
5. Learn to Express Yourself
Stop worrying about what others might think of you and instead be true to your emotions and feelings. Wear clothes that you feel the most comfortable in and the ones that freely express your personality. If you’re still in the middle of finding who you are, then that’s okay too. Experiment with new styles, make time to live a little and enjoy with your friends without feeling pressured, learn a new skill, do what motivates you the most, and finally recognise your own worth and value.
Final Thoughts
For those of you whose minds were plagued with the question, “how to age with grace,” I hope I was able to provide you with an answer. Unfortunately, we often feel overburdened by the thoughts of our changing physical appearances when we start to age.
But instead, we must remember that the signs of aging on our body tell our stories and preserve our lifelong memories. Aging gracefully is not based on appearance. It’s about accepting your bodies the way they are and supporting yourself.
Apart from adjusting your lifestyle as per your body’s needs, it is also essential to do things that truly make you feel happy from within. Therefore, dedicate a happy time for yourself and identify your core purpose for being.
Lastly, if you want to eliminate the undue stress that’s shadowing your mind, body, and soul, you must start forgiving yourself and others. This will help you get rid of your emotional responsibilities and lead a more fulfilling life.