Aging is difficult for everybody. Nothing much changes very quickly — only one day passes each time you wake up — but we all feel pressure and worry about getting older. This is especially true for the big round numbers like 40.
Intellectually, we know we can’t hang onto our youth forever. But dealing with that — emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes physically — can be very hard for some people.
Fortunately, a few simple strategies and tips will help. No, there isn’t a time machine, and you will never stop aging in its tracks. But the following four pieces of advice will help any woman on the cusp of turning 40 cope with the transition.
1. Change Your Mindset
Most 70-year-olds feel less limber and energetic than they did at 20. This is obvious. But the pace of change and how you feel throughout middle age is at least somewhat in your control. Genetics definitely play a part. But so do lifestyle choices like diet, smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, sleep habits, stress, and general wellness. You don’t have to become a monk just because you hit 40. But you can’t bounce back from stuff like you could in college. You need to be more mindful of all your choices if you want to feel and look your best.
2. Eat Healthier Today
Among all the choices in front of you, the best thing you can do is start eating better. Today! While there are so many viable ways of eating now, the best all share at least one thing: cutting out modern processed foods. You don’t have to necessarily go vegan, eat keto, or start fasting. But you need to be stop consuming junk and focus on real food. If a branded diet and some major lifestyles change over the next 30 days will help, go ahead and try it. The goal isn’t some crash weight loss or month-long cleanse though. Find a way to eat better that can last you for the rest of your life.
3. Skin Care Routines
Our skin naturally loses elasticity over time. For some, it happens fast and is very noticeable. For others, the epidermis doesn’t wrinkle or sag very much at all. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, there are ways to limit the damage and make your skin look better. Some general health tips will help here as well. Beyond that, use high-quality soaps, exfoliate properly, and find one of the best creams for wrinkles and fine lines that works best for you. If you stay consistent with your routine and invest in skin care now, you will be able to to maintain a youthful glow and younger-looking skin for years to come. Soap that will suit every skin type is goat soap. It is made out of natural goat milk and will not only moisturize your skin but also cleanse our skin by eliminating impurities. They are also rich in natural ingredients, which work gently without causing excessive dryness.
4. Learn to Relax
Stress is one of the biggest drains on our energy, health, and appearance. Some of this is unavoidable — as anyone with an awful boss or a house full of kids can tell you. But we do place a lot of it on ourselves. Work to reduce this. One of the easiest — and underutilized — strategies is to simply chill out. We feel so much pressure to go, go, go and always run around doing the next thing. You really just need to relax sometimes though. Downtime is a gift. Take an evening to do nothing and mentally let everything go. Spend an entire weekend reading or sitting outdoors with no agenda. Make sure to start scheduling some time to do less.
How to Meet 40 Head On
Self-care isn’t just a fad or a buzzword. It’s something we all need to start doing more. We aren’t really built to be running around 60 mph all day, every day. You need to start taking time for yourself — especially as you enter the phase of life when you want to feel your best.
Start by changing your mindset. Then you need to eat better and use skincare routines to make sure you feel and look your best. Finally, just relax a little bit. Combined, all these tips will help ensure that turning 40 isn’t some curse. If you use this time to start caring for yourself a little more, you really can continue to thrive for decades more to come.