Grayson West
Turning 40 isn’t about getting old. It’s about finally having enough life experience to stop doing dumb things. You’ve earned the right to quit pretending, stop caring about nonsense, and embrace who you actually are. So, here are ten things you should absolutely leave behind once you hit 40.
Pretending To Like Things You Hate
Life’s too short to fake enthusiasm for activities that drain your soul. You’re not obligated to attend every social event, pretend craft beer tastes amazing, or act excited about camping. Your thirties were for figuring out what you actually enjoy. Your forties are for unapologetically doing only those things without explanation.
Tolerating Toxic Friendships
That friend who only calls when they need something? The one who constantly creates drama? Cut them loose. You’ve got maybe forty good years left if you’re lucky, and wasting them on energy vampires is absurd. Quality over quantity applies to friendships, too. Your real friends will understand why your circle suddenly got much smaller.
Staying Up Late For No Good Reason
Scrolling through your phone at 2 AM accomplishing absolutely nothing isn’t edgy anymore—it’s just stupid. Your body needs sleep to function, and hangovers now last three days instead of three hours. Unless you’re doing something genuinely worthwhile, get in bed. Your younger self stayed up late; your current self actually values feeling human.
Caring What Strangers Think About You
Wear what you want, pursue weird hobbies, live your truth. Random people’s opinions about your life choices, appearance, or career path matter exactly zero percent. You’ll never see most of these people again, and their approval won’t pay your bills or make you happy. Strangers’ judgment is just their problem, not yours.
Apologizing For Having Boundaries
Your forties are for guilt-free boundary enforcement without endless justification. So, stop saying sorry for leaving parties early, declining invitations, or protecting your time and energy. Boundaries aren’t rude. They’re necessary for mental health and adulting successfully. People who get offended by your reasonable limits aren’t your people anyway.
Eating Like A College Student
Your metabolism has left the building, and that third slice of pizza will absolutely haunt you tomorrow. You can’t survive on energy drinks and takeout anymore without consequences. Your body is sending signals, so start listening before things get dire. It’s time to actually learn what vegetables are for and why fiber matters.
Comparing Yourself To Everyone Else
Social media shows everyone’s highlight reel while you’re living your behind-the-scenes reality. But comparing your chapter 40 to someone else’s edited version? That’s just pointless and exhausting. Someone will always do better and someone will always do worse—neither fact actually matters to your journey. You need to run your own race at your own pace.
Buying Cheap Furniture You’ll Replace Later
“Later” has arrived, and you’re still sitting on that wobbly chair from your first apartment. Not right. Stop shopping like a broke teenager when you’re no longer one. This is your time to invest in quality pieces that’ll last. Your back, your budget, and your living space all deserve better.
Ignoring Your Health Problems
That weird pain that’s been happening for months? You need to see a doctor instead of Googling symptoms at midnight. Your body’s not invincible anymore, and small problems become big ones when ignored. So, schedule the checkup and take care of yourself. Preventive care beats emergency intervention every single time.
Saying Yes To Everything
Your time is finite and increasingly precious. Stop treating it like an unlimited resource. Every yes to something you don’t want to do is a no to something you actually care about. In your 40s, learn to decline requests, invitations, and obligations without elaborate excuses. “No thanks” is a complete sentence that requires zero justification.