Do not panic. 40 is the new 20. You may feel intimidated by the number, but age is a state of mind. You are as young as you feel. Do not think of it as turning 40 years old, but 21 for the 19th time. However you feel about 40, it is definitely a time to celebrate and there are lots of ways to mark the occasion.
Here are five of the best to give you some ideas of how to do it your way.
Have A Party
The simplest answer is often the best one. If you are looking for a way to mark your fortieth birthday, having a party with your family and friends is an easy and fun way to do it. There are a lot of options available to you too. If you prefer a smaller affair, why not have a meal in a restaurant with your closest friends and family members? If you prefer a larger, raging party have a big celebration and invite just about everyone you can think of.
You can have multiple parties too. Have a more traditional daytime party with your family and
something more raucous at night with your friends. Giving your party a theme is a good plan, and these fortieth-birthday party ideas from Greenvelope can help you find the right one for you. Their guide can help you plan the party too, and their invites are the perfect way to build your guest list. The invites are all online, reducing waste, and when people RSVP it lets you know and keeps track of the numbers. This takes the headache out of party planning and lets you concentrate on celebrating.
Go On Vay-Cay
Taking a trip is a great option for celebrating your 40 years, and is the perfect alternative to a party if you do not like all the attention that comes with one. You can go away with your special someone, take a road trip with friends, or simply go solo to one of the destinations you have always dreamed of going to. You do not have to spend a lot of money either. A great vacation destination may only be a short drive away, and you can spoil yourself with a trendy Airbnb instead of a stuffy hotel.
If you do have a budget to play with, hitting 40 is the perfect excuse to spoil yourself. After years of toil in the rat race, you deserve an extended stay on a beach drinking cocktails with those little umbrellas in them. Look for an exclusive resort to spend a week or two chillaxing. Sun, sand, and sea are a celebration of life and you have plenty to celebrate. Take someone along with you if you want to, or spoil yourself and no one else. After 40 years on this Earth, you should be selfish at least once in your life and spend a good chunk of money on yourself and no one else.
Small Celebrations Yield Big Rewards
You do not have to go big. Parties and celebratory vacations are not everyone’s cup of tea. Do not be afraid to mark the occasion with something small, like a spa day or some retail therapy. Your fortieth birthday is about you and no one else so you should do you, boo. Whatever makes you happy, whatever you enjoy most, should be the focus of the day. If that is something as simple as spending a day at the movies and catching a few flicks then so be it.
Plan a “me day*. Treat yourself. You absolutely deserve it. Life is a lot of fun, or at least it should be, but it often has challenges and trying moments. You should reward yourself for getting this far in one piece, or near enough. Bring a friend, loved one, or someone special along for the ride. Share the moments. This is a great opportunity for some self-reflection, but make sure you keep it positive. Don’t go over the shoulda, woulda, coulda moments of your life and instead celebrate your achievements. It takes grit, determination, and perseverance to reach 40 without completely losing your marbles and going off your gourd. Treat yourself, and be good to yourself.
Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Get Nuts
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Sometimes the best way to celebrate the life you have lived and the life you have ahead of you is to get out of your shell and do something a little challenging and a little scary. Push the envelope of life, just a little. Scare yourself, but safely. Have you ever thought about skydiving? Now is the time to do it. Jump into the big blue of the sky and watch the Earth come rushing at you to meet you and greet you with a warm embrace.
Jumping out of a plane is not on everyone’s bucket list, but there should be something there that feels a little crazy, a little out of your comfort zone. Not the type of thing you typically do. Why not mark your 40th with a tattoo? If you have never had one before or your skin is covered with inks, getting something permanent and lasting to celebrate the day will be a good reminder going forward. Life begins at 40, so they used to say, so why not do something a little different and begin broadening your horizons a little? In the words of the dearly beloved and sadly departed Prince; “Let’s go crazy, let’s get nuts, let’s go looking for the purple banana ’til they put us in the truck, let’s go!”
Vegas Baby!
Going to Vegas isn’t a vacation. It’s an experience. Sin City is the perfect place to celebrate and indulge in a few of life’s vices. Have a drink, have a dance, spin some reels and take in some shows. There are so many things to do there that no matter what floats your boat, you can find it on the Las Vegas strip. The bright neon lights, bells and whistles of slot machines, and colorful characters on every corner make Vegas one of the most unique places in the world. It’s a trip, but not a vacation.
If you want to stay in a fancy, decadent hotel then Vegas has you covered but don’t overlook some of the excellent short-term rentals there. You can find some amazing properties with some great features like hot tubs and private swimming pools that can help make your Las Vegas getaway extra special. Whatever you decide to do in Vegas, make sure you pay a visit to one of its theme parks. The Strat Hotel has a theme park at its peak, 1,000 feet up. There are a bunch of excellent rides here that will thrill you, including one that tips you over the edge of the building, giving you a great view of the neon city.
The key to surviving your fortieth birthday is to embrace it. You cannot avoid it. Plan a special day for yourself and make it all about you, and your life. Turning 40 is a great excuse for a little self-indulgence and pushing your envelope a little. Whatever you decide to do, happy birthday!