Getting old isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s a privilege. One of the biggest privileges women over 40 have is the ability to brush outdated expectations and social norms to the side, just like the following 16 things they simply don’t have time for anymore.
Gossip About Drama
Gossiping is for office busybodies addicted to conflict. Any sane woman over 40 shouldn’t engage in this nonsense anymore. It’s not a good look, and nobody trusts gossip. Plus, it’s bad for your mental health, creating stress and keeping you trapped in a super-negative mindset.
Unrealistic Beauty Standards
With airbrushing and the right angles and lighting, women can look ‘perfect,’’ but this isn’t real life. Judging yourself by social media beauty standards will trick you into looking for your ‘faults’ instead of focusing on what’s amazing about you. The post-40-era is about natural beauty and just doing you.
Trendy Diets
Remember the Atkins diet? Probably not, because now it’s all about ‘going keto’… or is it vegan? We lose track! We could rant about this all day, but PennToday puts it best: “These diets aren’t really about the food–they’re about identity, status, and control.” Who needs all that nonsense when you’re hungry?
Emotionally Unstable Partners
Toxic masculinity, ‘bad’ boys, mansplaining? No thanks! After 40, the tolerance women have for emotionally unstable jerks and manchildren should be less than zero by now. You’re a grown-up who knows what she wants, and you deserve someone who deserves you.
Bad Friends
Bad friends are emotional vampires that drain your emotional reserves by complaining about everything, like the whole world is against them. Trust us–if they talk behind your back but put on a friendly face, ditch them. One or two real friends are more valuable than a whole ‘squad’ of fakes.
Financial Insecurity
Being broke in your 20s is no big deal, but it’s much less fun in your forties. This is the stage of life when you should start planning for financial stability in your later years. Learn about how money works, seek expert financial advice, and set short- and long-term savings goals.
Saying Yes to Everything
Hitting your forties as a woman is when you can finally let go of the ‘FOMO.’ You can say no and not feel guilty or anxious about missing ‘the best night ever,’ and you don’t need to make excuses either. Like, come on–is there anything better than waking up the next morning hangover-free?
Self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome
Every woman deals with self-doubt at some point, often in the form of ‘Imposter syndrome.’ According to VerywellMind, “Imposter syndrome affects internal feelings about your self-worth, affecting how you approach projects and relationships.” At 40, you’re already old enough not to worry about all that immature stuff. Just give it your best shot!
Social Media Drama
Facebook beef? Twitter battles? Nobody in their 40s has time (or the energy) for that. Don’t get sucked into the negativity; stop the doom scrolling, and if you don’t like what someone is posting, unfollow them or put them on mute.
Worrying About Their Weight
Getting below 10% body fat won’t make you suddenly feel fulfilled. Maintaining a healthy body weight is important, but obsessing over the scales can make you less healthy, physically and mentally. Unrealistic weight goals can also set you up for failure in other areas of your life, so just find a healthy balance.
Feeling Guilty Over Food
On the topic of weight, food guilt is something you shouldn’t give your energy to as a woman over 40. We have a really simple trick for managing this: just eat a balanced diet, schedule in treats, and if you do have an extra piece of cake, shrug your shoulders and enjoy your occasional treat.
Not Trying New Things
Confidence comes with age, and as a 40-year-old woman, now is the time to apply it to trying things you’ve always wanted to do. Learn a new language, try yoga, or attend a meditation retreat. Whatever it is, new experiences help you feel great, stay young at heart, and be engaged with life.
Beating Yourself Up About the Past
Forbes offers a relieving reminder that failure is an essential part of the human experience, so why are you still worrying about it?! At 40, you’ve definitely made your fair share of mistakes; you’ve probably got a few regrets, and that’s OK. Use this new perspective on the past to make better decisions today.
Getting Stuck in Your Ways
OK, so being 40+ means you’re not young anymore. We won’t argue with that, but you’re still a long way from whatever ‘old’ means nowadays. In other words, there’s still plenty of time to change, grow, and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. There’s a reason why they say life begins at 40!
Caring About Other People’s Opinions
Women over 40 are way too strong to listen to critics; this is your life, so start living it how you want! Prioritizing what others expect from us limits our potential, preventing us from living as our true and authentic selves. There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first anymore…heck, there never was.
The Pressure to Stay Young
To round things off, let’s be honest–getting old sometimes feels like some kind of personal failure, especially for us women. However, aging is about embracing who we are, what we’ve been through, and what we can offer, so practice some self-love. To quote Psychology Today, “True beauty is timeless…your worth extends far beyond the superficial constraints of cultural expectations.”
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