Who better to advise someone in their 20s or 30s than the many people who have already passed 40 and 50? We’ve put together many of the things we should do, and some we shouldn’t, to improve our lives in every way by the time we reach our 40s and 50s.
This article gathers ideas from the various life-hacks articles we’ve published.
1. Don’t try to be liked by everyone.
Although you should know this by now, many people refuse to accept it: not everyone is going to like you, whatever you do. Many people will love you for who you are, and others will hate you for the very same reason (for being lovable). Don’t waste a single minute trying to win over people who dislike you for no apparent reason.
2. Stop eating junk.
You can make a lot of money in 20, 30, 40 years and so on to buy whatever you want, but you can’t buy your health. Give up fast food before it takes its toll. A poor diet gradually does a lot of damage to our bodies, and it doesn’t show until it starts to show. As a rule, the damage starts to appear from 40 onwards.
3. Don’t smoke, and if you’ve already started, quit immediately.
Smoking is expensive and 100% guaranteed to cause health problems. If you want to be cancer-free at 50, or considerably reduce the chance of health problems, quit smoking.
4. Avoid clinging to the past.
Life is like a book. We have to turn the pages, especially the painful ones. Living in the past holds you back and wears you out, and unfortunately it can’t be changed. So set off with an empty backpack from the past, so it weighs little and you can fill it with everything you’ll experience today and tomorrow. The same goes for the future. It will certainly arrive, so don’t obsess over what it holds. Instead, start building it today.
5. Maintain or repair your relationships with your parents and siblings.
You probably won’t agree with your relatives on many things. But they’re your family, and they can help you with a lot. You’ll meet many people throughout your life. Some will stay and others will go, but in the end family is what matters most. They’re your own flesh and blood.
6. Stop sunbathing without sunscreen.
If you don’t want too many wrinkles and spots, or even skin cancer, use sunscreen before going out in the sun and considerably reduce your exposure to it.
7. Make sure you’re doing what you love.
Take a look at your life at 30. Are you doing what you love? Can you see yourself doing the same thing for another 20 years? This may be your chance to chase your dreams.
8. Don’t give up when things get hard.
When a 10-year-old finds something difficult, their own parents tell them to drop it, without realising what a devastating message they’re sending. From an early age we should learn to finish everything we start; otherwise we’ll carry around the idea that it’s fine to quit when difficulties arrive. Over time we learn to choose carefully which battles we’re willing to start, because we can’t win them all. So choose carefully which ones you want to start and are prepared to finish.
9. Don’t spend too much time watching television.
Remember: success is measured by the size of your personal library, while failure is measured by the inches of your TV.
10. Exercise regularly.
Build an active life now so it doesn’t take its toll when you reach 50. Keep your weight at a normal level, which is good for your body. Excess weight does all kinds of bad things to your health.
11. Drink orange juice every day.
This was one of the main pieces of advice from a 99-year-old man.
12. Start saving money, even small amounts.
Saving is always important. Even in times of crisis and financial difficulty, what you save now becomes a reserve for the future. Ideally, start saving as early as possible and increase what you save.
13. Learn to be content with what you have.
If you’re content with what you have, you may be a little less likely to end up a millionaire, but you’ll have a happier life, and if you do become a millionaire, you’ll be a happier, more fulfilled and more productive rich person.
14. Your attitude to problems.
Analyse problems carefully. Some problems you shouldn’t let keep growing: you have to settle them at once. But if you come across one of those problems that has no solution, let it go and forget about it. Life is too short to waste on worrying.
(Read: 4 strategies for making big decisions objectively in business or in life)
15. Don’t put off pursuing your life goals.
Want to buy a house? Have children? Get a second degree? Try scuba diving? Then start today. It really is true that time starts to speed up when you enter your 30s, and it keeps speeding up. It’s not that you can’t reach your goals later, but with time and preparation the process can be easier. Besides, if you’re going to fail at something, better to fail early. You always have time to recover sooner when you’re young. And it counts as experience.
16. Sleep at least 8 hours a day.
We all need enough sleep. Various studies have shown how sleep helps keep body and mind healthy, while lack of sleep and excessive exhaustion can lead to certain illnesses.
17. Look after your teeth.
Unlike many of the body’s health problems, dental problems get worse. Keeping your teeth healthy pays off. Someone once said that while you should save on many things, the dentist is not one of them, because spending on oral care is an excellent investment.
18. Collect memories and experiences instead of things.
You are the sum of your experiences. Don’t wake up at 50 and realise you’ve wasted your life collecting possessions. Memories don’t depreciate and can’t burn in a fire. Better to collect memories than things.
19. Read at least one book a month.
The brain never stops growing, and reading is a good way to exercise it. That way, when you reach 50, you’re less likely to have problems such as Alzheimer’s or memory loss. It’s also an excellent way to live other people’s lives and experiences. Success is closely linked to reading, or rather, successful people all agree that they are avid readers.
20. Learn to meditate.
The power of meditation is underestimated, when the list of benefits is endless and, compared with 10 years ago, there’s a long list of scientific studies to back it up. It can improve many aspects of both your mind and your spirit and give you a better quality of life.
21. Keep a diary.
By keeping a diary you won’t forget your most precious memories. It also boosts self-confidence, self-esteem and motivation in life. And if one day you become someone important, you’ll already have your memoirs to hand.
22. Look after your friendships.
Choose people who make you feel good, who challenge you by their example and whose company you really enjoy. Take time each week to stay in touch with them.
23. Avoid toxic people.
Toxic people come in many forms. Some show up as friends who add nothing to our lives and may even harm us in every way. Others come in the form of professional relationships or co-workers. However mentally strong you are, toxic people always end up screwing you over somehow, so the best way to avoid that is to limit your exposure to them. And if you get the chance, cut off contact with them completely.
24. Keep your sense of humour.
Whatever happens, or whatever has happened to you, never lose your sense of humour. Never let anyone take that away from you.
Read: 21 things young graduates and professionals need to know and accept in their 20s
Featured image: Wen95, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
