The day you turn forty is the day you’ll really start to Blossom! This isn’t your typical list of 40th birthday celebration ideas and things to do.These ideas will show you how to celebrate your fortiethbirthday in meaningful, fun ways and create memories that will last the rest of your life.
Are you ready to live for today? The Sterling Silver “Live The Life You Love” Pendant Necklaceis one of thebest 40th birthday gifts you can give yourself, because it’s a visual reminder or symbol to “learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.” What better giftcould you give yourself, than to live in the moment and cherish every second you have?
This list of 40th birthday celebration ideas and activities aren’t about partying it up or trying to forget that you’re turning forty. Rather, these tips areabout living from your heart and soul and BLOSSOMING into who you were meant to be! For example here’s a great thing to do for your 40th birthday from the bestselling author Alice Walker:
“Begin a circle of women. Meet regularly. Don’t have an agenda. Get together simply to Be together. Eat, drink, be merry. Dance if you feel like it. Lie about on cushions. Tell stories. Share secrets. Teach each other how to garden, how to build fires. But definitely do not ‘plan’ what you are going to discuss or do. Whatever work needs to be done will be done without your trying to make it happen.”
One of the best 40th birthday ideasis to relax into your female friendships. I have two close friends – not counting my husband – and I’d feel lost in this world without them.If you don’t have friends to celebrate your 4oth birthday with, make meaningful friendships your goal this year.
11 Creative 40th Birthday Celebration Ideas
These ideas for celebrating your fortieth birthday are more emotional than practical. I didn’t celebrate my 40th birthday by throwing a big birthday bash, taking an exotic vacation (though I just got back from a two week trip to Jamaica!), or buying myself a new digital masterpiece such as a Kindle e-reader(though everyone seems to love them! If you want to celebrate your fortieth birthday by giving yourself a birthday Kindle, I am all for it. I hear they’re amazing).
These 40th birthday ideasare about being kind and gentle to yourself, and making your life more meaningful and beautiful. I turned 40 severalyears ago, Ilook forward to turning 47 soon, and I am ready to enjoy my life fully and completely :-)
1. Treat yourself to a luxurious 40th birthday gift
Anuschka’s Genuine Leather Hand Painted Walletis my absolute favorite 40th birthday gift. Of all the ways to celebrate such a huge milestone, something beautiful and artistic is the only thing that will do.
InCreative and Thoughtful 40th Birthday Gift Ideas for Her, I share a huge range of interesting and fun birthday gifts. If you know a woman turning forty, you’ll want to read that article. If you want to treat yourself to something special, you’ll want to read that article.
2. Declutter and surround yourself with simple beauty
Surround yourself with color, beauty, simplicity, and things that make you feel wonderful. If you’re a practical woman like me, a creative thing to do for your 40th birthday might be to decluttering and organize your home. If you’re more dreamy than practical, then decluttering and organizing aren’t creative things to do on your 40thbirthday – they can wait until the day after you turn forty :-) .
Getting organizedwill help you feel better about your life and home. Think of this 40th birthday celebration idea as spring cleaning for your life.
3. Accept what you can’t change in your life
My husband and I can’t have kids, and I don’t want to try IVF. Neither of us are keen on adoption. Now that I’m closer to 45 than 40, I’ve begun to accept that it’ll just be the two of us. We’re our family. For the past four years, I hoped for a miracle…but I’m letting go of it. It’s sort of bittersweet, to accept and even embrace this part of my life.
Surrender to your life as it is, and change what you can. This may not be the most exciting40th birthday celebration or idea, but it will change your life. Learn how to love yourself. ReadHow to Love Yourself When You Don’t Feel Good Enoughif you struggle with self-acceptance. This is the best 40th birthday gift you could ever give yourself.
Also – one of the most meaningful things to do on your 40thbirthday is to accept your present moment as if you’d chosen it. That’s one of Eckhart Tolle’s words of wisdom, from The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. Are you unhappy or scared to turn forty? Acceptance brings peace.
4. Write the book you’ve always wanted to write
Writing in my journal is one of the healthiest things I’ve ever done for myself. I’m more centred spiritually and emotionally, more grounded, and more in touch with God. I really did start to Blossom after I turned 40 – and that’s one of the best 40th birthday celebrations I could ever ask for!
Get yourself aClassic Retro Vintage Leather Diary & Journal– or some type of beautiful journal – and start paying attention to how you really think and feel. Honor yourself, and your self will honor you.
5. Refuse to be your own biggest critic
I’m tired of beating myself up for saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, and making mistakes. I’m tired of criticizing myself! What happened yesterday – and 10 years ago, 20 years ago – is done. It’s over.Instead of flagellating myself for my mistakes, I will focus on freedom and forgiveness. Instead of wishing certain people were in my life, I’m willing to let go of the past.I’ve done a lot of things right, and made a lot of people feel good about themselves. I’ve helped people, and cheered people up.
This is a wonderful40th birthday celebration and gift you could give yourself: focus on what you do right and what you do well. Learning how to accept yourself is one of the best ways to celebrate turning 40.
6. Take good care ofyour 40 year old body
What does your body need? Is your neck sore, your body tired, your muscles flabby? Now is the time to make changes in your physical health. Don’t keep putting it off — yoga is a fantastic, healthy way to get your body long and lean.
Namaste Yoga: The Complete First Seasonis an excellent way to stick with a yoga program. You won’t get tired or bored of the same old yoga DVD (though I do the same old ones all the time, and never get tired of them).
The gift of health and fitness is so important. I know that working out isn’t often fun in the moment, but your body mind and soul feels so awesome afterward.
Find healthy, fun ways to move your body. You’re turning forty – maybe your goal should be to be fitter than you’ve ever been before!
7. Try something absolutely crazy on your 40th birthday
Here’s one of the most interesting 40th birthday celebration ideas from a reader:
“I’m going to spend my 40th birthday racing exotic cars in Vegas, then flying to Mexico for a week, lying on the beach, golfing on perfect turf, going to see Mayan ruins, racing dune buggies in the sand, scuba diving, and chasing around my 26 year old wife. Fortyis not old….you’re as young as you feel. IF you wanna go get all responsible for your 40th birthday….go ahead…..or you can embrace the fact that you’ve only lived 1/3 of your adult life and have plenty more to go!”
8. Get out of town – my favorite idea for celebratinga 40th birthday
We celebrated my 46th birthday with a weekend getaway. I love leaving town on my birthday because I love exploring and traveling. My husband also gave me an assortment of little gifts including a Starbucks gift card, a book I’ve been wishing I had on my shelf, and a bottle of rum.
APacking Organizer Value Set for Travelis an adventurous idea for celebrating a 40th birthday – especially if it includes a trip out of town! This set of packing luggage “cubes” helps organize your clothes and toiletries, and keeps everything neat and wrinkle-free. The set pictured includes a toiletries kit, a shoes bag to protect clothes from dirty shoes, and an electronics organizer bag so you can keep all your electronic devices chargers, cords, and even batteries in one bag.
9. Think about how you want to spend your next 40 birthdays
Now that I’m in my forties, I’m starting to put money away for my retirement. Better late than never! Every time I put $500 or $1,000 into my RRSPs, I visualize my future vacations. I used to think putting money away for retirement was a meaningless chore, but now I see it as taking care of my future self.Same with decluttering and spending my time the way I want. I feel good when I’m surrounded by space and simplicity, and when I choose to do things I love.
So, for me the thing to do on my 40th birthday(s) is to take good care of my future, my environment, the people I love, and my emotional and physical health.Now that I’m 43, I’m finally learning how to set myself up for success and happiness. Those are my little birthday gifts and tips to myself.
How will you pamper yourself on your 40th birthday?
10. Take music lessons – or join a band or orchestra
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to play the guitar – or any musical instrument – now’s the time to pursue your dreams.
I played the flute in high school, and have always wanted to re-learn it. I loved the rehearsals, concerts, and feeling of being part of an orchestra! So I bought myself a flute a few weeks ago, and am working my way through a self-instruction beginners flute book. It feels so good to play, to learn and practice, to hear my musical skills improving. It’s also very healthy to learn to play a musical instrument!For me, joining a band is one of the most meaningful things to do when I turned 40. What about you? What have you wanted to do since high school, but haven’t gotten around to it? It’s time, my friend.
11. March to your own drum for your 40th birthday
I work at Big Brothers Vancouver, and am probably the oldest Mentoring Coordinator there – the rest of my coworkersare in their 20s.
My young colleagues areextremely nice, but I’m old enough to be their mother. Some of our work activities and events highlight how old I am. For instance, we have a big bowling afternoon coming up, and we all have to dress up in Fiesta costumes. I can’t think of anything worse – I’m a quiet, introverted, introspective writer. The thought of bowling in a Mexican or Fiesta costume with in a loud bowling alley with lots of young people makes me want to crawl under my bed with my dog.
So, my 40th birthday gift to myself is not to go. I’ll be one of the only employees who doesn’t attend – it’s a fundraising event, no less. I’ll donate money, but I don’t want to bowl. I feel like I’ve earned the right to give myself permission not to attend events that make me feel tired and unhappy.
I love being forty. The best way to celebrate any birthday in your 40s is to be kind to yourself, surround yourself with beauty and creativity, and stay connected to your heart and soul.What about you – how will you celebrate turning forty? I hope this post has given you a few 40th birthday celebration ideas.
May your 40th birthday bring joyful memories, countless blessings, and peaceful thoughts. Happy Birthday!
xo
