For most men turning 40 it isn’t very exciting. The feeling isn’t quite like hitting 20s or 30s.
This is the time you are embroiled in chase of a job, partner and house. You are more passionate and animated about life, career and future plans. The freshness of youth drives you to face off day to day challenges with confidence.
But as you near 40, your body starts undergoing significant changes. The hairs start turning grey, wrinkles on the face get prominent, injuries take more time to heal and then those time bound hormonal changes.
Now it doesn’t mean that life ends here, rather mother nature is asking you to slow down. You can still truly enjoy things as you’ve been doing before but there are some strings attached.
Yes, you guessed it right. You need to make small changes to your lifestyle from here on. Wonder what these are? Here you go –
- Redesign your diet
As you age, your metabolism slows down, affecting the digestive system. Not only do you get more prone to having gut issues like diarrhea, constipation and indigestion, you also start putting on weight around your abdomen.
Studies say that men are more likely to put on weight after forty, which puts them at increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Consuming red meat, processed foods and junk food, which are filled with harmful saturated fat, cholesterol and preservatives, is like exposing yourself to chronic ailments and diseases.
Instead, try adding healthier food items to your diet. Green leafy vegetables, fruits, soups, oatmeal, boiled eggs, salmon and nuts are great alternative. Basically, eat a bit of everything minus fatty, oily and overly sugary items to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Smoking and Drinking need a check
You’ll realize that shots that you used to easily down in your twenties, are now haunting you as a day long hangover. The ability of your stomach and liver to synthesize and expel alcohol reduces, making it difficult for your system to manage.
Excessive drinking affects your liver, brain and other vital organs. And nothing worse if it becomes an addiction.
Did you know that nearly 9.8 million American men abuse alcohol regularly? About 62000 men die in alcohol-related deaths annually.
Similarly, smoking has been found to cause 18% of annual deaths in America. If you fear you may be addicted, now is a good time to take the recovery path. You can take small steps to kick these habits.
Experts say that your forties are the last chance to kick substance abuse, thereby avoiding cancer and other heart illnesses.
- Ensure the spark is alive
Another major physiological change that occurs after forty is to your sex drive. You will find that it is not what it used to be. Sex doesn’t bring the same pleasure to you.
Erections take time, refractory periods may grow long. It becomes difficult to move your body at will.
Make sure you regularly talk to your partner and discuss things. Do what you both like in bed. Go on spacations together. Change of place, healthy diet & foods, exercising, stress free routine will further help.
At this time, prostate also starts growing, which needs a regular checkup. Regular sex would also help in keeping prostate healthy.
- Give time to relationships
In your forties, you are likely to be saddled with work in your office and home. However, this is the age when your kids grow young and need your attention.
Socializing & meaningful adult friendships become key to healthy living now. Relationships are difficult to maintain if you are constantly working. Dedicate time for everyone and everything.
Take time off during the day, to simply talk to your family, how they are doing in school. Taking up cooking at weekends or playing with kids is a great fun too.
Of course, this also means that your phone should not be on your table at meal times!
- Stay active. Exercise more
If you have a desk job, there is a good chance that you are already struggling with excess weight. Lack of physical exercise, combined with stress, can cause joint, muscular and back pain. The body gets susceptible to heart disease.
However, there is a panacea for these problems: Daily Exercising
If you are more passionate about core strength, grab a good athleisure and hit the gym. Alternatively, there are number of effective (and fun) cardio routines you can take up.
Team up with your friends and go swimming. Join a Zumba class, play a sport or learn a dance.
The American Heart Association says that regular exercising makes you 25% less likely to contract heart illnesses. Combined with Vitamin D-rich foods, you are 8% less likely to contract ailments.
- Visit a doctor often
A number of mental and physical changes in your body after forty means that you should get a solid health plan beforehand. Visit a doctor often and get screened for necessary tests every six months.
Besides being at increased heart disease risk, you will also witness the slowing down of your neuromotor and sensory functions. Forties also put you at increased risk of depression, which often goes undiagnosed in men.
If you feel overwhelmed and stressed most of the time, seek expert help. Develop healthy habits. Don’t stay alone. Stress multiplies then.
- Don’t procrastinate anymore
We often tend to push our plans to travel and enjoy ourselves to our retirement. Denying yourself or delaying these simple pleasures mean that you will grow increasingly unhappy and dissatisfied.
This is the perfect time when you are reasonably fit and financially solvent to truly relish everything the world has to offer. Do not disregard it.
Instead, go out with your family every week. Meet your friends for game nights. Plan surprise trips for your partner and yourself. Pursue a new hobby, or take up an old one.
There is more to life than work. Be it anytime of your life, fun makes it all vibrant.
Final Words –
People might be motivating you on your birthday by saying, age is just a number but in fact, it is not. Turning 40 brings in added responsibility of making small, yet significant changes to your lifestyle.
What’s encouraging though is the fact that we have lived long by now. We are armed with wisdom and experience.
And I believe that’s what makes it easier to start in on!
Jenny is a creative blog writer who has many passions and interests. Health and wellness is one area where she likes to contribute as much as she can. She writes for renowned sites/blogs.
