This month I turned 44 so it’s only one more year until I officially hit midlife. Yikes.
Now, I’m not a person who usually fusses over their age. I don’t tell people I am 5 years younger than I am and I don’t try to hide my age either. I am what I am.
However, the day before my 40th birthday a few years ago, I got all weird and anxious. Then, the next morning, I was like ‘meh’. The world didn’t end and I really didn’t feel any different.
And now that I’ve been in this decade for a few years, I‘ve found that it’s actually a pretty good season of life. I am much better at getting things done (the right things, that is) and I am happier overall. This has also given me hope for the next few decades to come.
I thought I would share some of my observations, to let my 20- and 30-something friends know that the best is yet come. And to give my 40+ friends a bit of a chuckle.
So, here’s what I’ve noticed:
1. I am better at managing my time.
I think the main reason for this is that I can no longer work crazy hours the way I used to be able to. This is partly because I get tired quicker and need more time to recover.
I mean, I can still get away with working until the wee hours of the morning from time to time but not as my normal, weekly practice. And, let’s face it, that’s no way to live anyway, which brings me to my other discovery.
I now know the long-term impact of this workaholic lifestyle and that there is a better way. Well, at least it only took me 20 years to figure it out…
In any case, the main benefit of this new attitude is that I make sure to start things on time and work on projects regularly. I mean, I’ve always been organised and proactive but I think I’ve taken this up a notch in recent years.
I am also much more careful about how much I commit to and I try to make sure that what I do get involved in adds value to my life. In fact, I think this has been the biggest game-changer for me. I am much more intentional these days.
2. I have improved my attitude towards self-care.
I now understand that self-care fuels my productivity and my happiness. I mean, I used to say this in my 30s but I don’t think I really lived it.
I prioritise sleep and regular exercise. I also include other forms of self-care into my weekly schedule, such as hobbies and time with family and friends.
I now see self-care as a way of being successful and getting ahead and not as something I need to sacrifice to get more work done. I’ve learned that being rested, healthier and happier helps me achieve better work results. Go figure.
3. I am more effective.
I have more and a wider range of experience than I did 10 or 20 years ago, which helps me learn quicker. I am not starting from ground zero and have relatable experiences to draw from to understand an issue faster.
I’ve also had the time to have some successes under my belt. This gives me additional confidence when I am tackling something new. I’ve proven to myself that I can tackle challenging projects…but also that things don’t have to be perfect to be helpful.
My patience has also improved, which has helped me reduce stress and increase focus. I understand that good things take time and experimentation (trial and error) so I am much more patient with everything – the process, with myself and with others.
Any thoughts?
Anyone else (care to admit they’re) in the 40+ club? How has aging been beneficial to you? Contact me and share your thoughts.
Thanks for taking the time to read the blog post.