Whatever way you look at it, turning 40 is a significant milestone—and there’s no doubt that entering your fifth decade is cause for celebration. After all, there’s no greater luxury than growing older. Many of us spent our twenties and thirties climbing the corporate ladder, establishing ourselves in our jobs, and deciding whether we wanted to prioritize marriage and babies over independence and flexibility. However, by the time we reach our forties, we frequently know ourselves better than ever before, and we have a level of wisdom and self-awareness that was previously unfathomable. This calls for celebration so here are 8 Life Adventures for women who are just about to cross their 40s.

Regardless when you’re just out of undergraduate school or nearing the big 4-0, there are a few life experiences you should have by the time you leave your thirties behind. As opposed to large, bucket-list vacations and once-in-a-lifetime events, we’re talking about activities that can help you connect and develop a deeper love and appreciation for the most important person in your life: yourself. From avoiding toxic individuals to perfecting a trademark dish, we chatted with women from many walks of life who offered the advice they would give their future counterparts.

8 Life Adventures for Women Crossing 40s

1. Understand how to be insatiable with your precious time

Wettengel recommends that if you’re in your 40s, things may get complicated, with partners, infants, high-powered occupations, and leading teams at work, so you need to be able to be selfish with your time and create limits. Whether it’s cuddling up with a nice book for half an hour a day, a ten-minute morning meditation, or a mile-long stroll each afternoon, make time for it and, most importantly, be present while doing it, free of caring about others.

2. Move far from your place of origin

There is plenty to see outside what we know, and finding your feet in a new place might be just the start of a great experience. Wettengel, who spent five years living in Australia, thousands of miles from her home state of Arkansas, advises: “Live away from your hometown. Not for college, but for a job change, not for a spouse, but for your own. Whether you live in a foreign city or simply travel to the next large city from your tiny hometown, living away from home was one of my greatest adventures, and I can assure you it will be the same for others as well.”

3. Begin an everyday Yoga or Pilates routine

Cazz LeMessurier, a mindset mentor coach, says that adopting a regular yoga or pilates practice is one of the most beneficial things you can do in terms of your mental health and your physical condition as you age. “Pilates as well as yoga are both fantastic full-body, noninvasive methods known for helping alignment and strengthening the structure of the body,” LeMessurier elaborates. “It’s never too late to begin a fitness program that will improve your physical condition and assist with calming your nervous system likewise.”

4. Dissolve links with individuals (and things!) who are not beneficial to you

Wettengel believes that cutting ties when things don’t serve you is a difficult but ultimately valuable lesson to acquire. “Don’t think that you need to keep pouring into a connection,” she tells you. “The battle for it’s your parents, a negative friend, or a spouse that no longer serves you, people only have a limited amount of time on this planet, which grows more evident as you age. Spend your time with people who matter, doing activities that are important to you.”

5. Develop how to prepare food

We’re not talking Michelin-star calibre cooking, especially if your kitchen is more like a galley than a fine-dining establishment. However, as you get closer to your forties, learning how to cook becomes increasingly valuable. “So numerous individuals don’t cook lately, which additionally saves a lot of money, but it additionally means that half of the time you don’t know what you’re eating,” Wettengel explains. “Learn 3 distinctive meals to ensure that you can learn how to not only effectively feed your abilities, but so that one will serve up for — and possibly impress — family and close friends when the occasion allows!”

6. Stop letting your biological clock determine your judgments

“Do not allow your biological clock to influence how you make judgments. There are so many ways to start a family, and if you focus on the clock, you may miss out on possibilities for an amazing profession, lifestyle-changing travel, or meeting new people who will alter your life for the better,” says Wettengel, who just became a mother at the age of 41. “Do what you truly love and have faith that when the time is right, the perfect little family will come, and while it may not look like you thought it would, it will be even more of a masterpiece and the most beautiful chapter than you could ever have imagined.”

7. Buy a plant that you are accountable for caring for

We are all aware that having plants in the house provides several benefits. They can assist in alleviating tension while also making us feel more at ease and comfortable in our surroundings. Stephanie Harper, a Colorado-based author, recommends that one life event you should complete before turning 40 is “getting a plant you’re responsible for caring for. Regardless you have an interest in gardening or not, having a plant to care for, especially if you haven’t taken on the role of mother or dog owner, will help build a sense of commitment. And, believe it or not, this can assist us in developing emotional ties.

8. Make an inventory of the activities that offer you happiness and fulfilment, and do them every day

LeMessurier believes that learning to foster pleasure is one of the most compassionate acts we can implement into our everyday lives. “The battle for it’s a daily ocean swim, a morning yoga session, or a carefully prepared meal every afternoon, write a list of everything that makes you happy — no matter how tiny — and make sure to check off at least one of them before the day is done. It’s the finest act of self-love!”