15 Important Life Skills Everyone Should Master Before Turning 40

The proverbial clock is always ticking, and life has a way of creeping up on you. As we launch farther and farther into the future, it’s important to have a good basis in reality. There are life skills that people need to have as they get older. Here are 15 of them that should be mastered before you turned 40. 

It’s been said that public speaking is the average person’s number one fear, even more than death. There are going to be situations in this world where you need to address a large group of people and be heard, and if you can’t do it, it’s a problem waiting to happen. 

You’d be stunned how few adults have learned to adapt to a situation and find a solution to a problem. Thinking on your feet in a reasonable manner will take you extremely far, especially when you run up against people who don’t know how to do it. 

It can be hard to set boundaries in life, especially if people rely on you at work or at home. Learning to say no is a good thing; as the years go on, it’s imperative that we look after ourselves. 

Whether it’s business, family dynamics, or a tourist trap trying to scam you into something expensive, negotiating can be an extremely important skill. Knowing when to hit the gas and when to let up can be huge. 

It’s no use trying to stick to an exercise regiment — and this is something that’s imperative to do as you get older — unless you actually enjoy doing it. So now, before it’s, uh, well, too late, go ahead and find the thing you love to do. And start doing it. 

I shouldn’t even be allowed to write this entry, because there is nobody worse at this than me. My ability to drift off into my own head while somebody is talking is absolutely prolific. It’s nice to stay present and in the moment. Legitimately listening to somebody while they talk is helpful for that. 

Give and take. It’s what life’s about. Learn to stick up for yourself, but make sure you’re not steamrolling people. 

Sleep is unbelievably integral to a healthy life. You truly need to get enough of it. The best way to make sure this happens is to stick to a regular time, especially if you have a consistent work schedule.  

Criticism is going to find its way to you nonstop, for pretty much the rest of your life. It’s just how it is. If you learn how to handle it (especially if you can filter the good bits out of the bad), it’ll be a huge part of your developmental toolbox. 

By the time you’re 40, you should have a plan for your debt in place. You don’t want this to get away from you as you get older. Unfortunately, this is one of the most crippling problems we face in this country, so if you manage to figure this one out, consider yourself amongst the lucky. 

This seems to get harder as we get older, especially in an increasingly virtual world. But there’s still something to be said for old-world values, and a solid handshake and strong first impression remain incredibly important.  

Yes, AAA will do this for you, but why wait for them to show up? The ability to change a tire can get you out of an impossibly long list of road-based jams. And definitely make sure you’ve got the proper equipment (that’d be a lug wrench, jack, and spare tire) in your car already. 

Physical space is starting to become our greatest commodity; the cloud is an incredible savior. Make sure that important things like photos, music, documents, and contacts are stored in the cloud so that losing a physical item has no bearing on your life. 

If you get lost, you’re in bad shape without a map. Knowing how to properly use GPS and read a map can help you when you’re driving, yes, but it’s even better when you’re walking or traveling. 

This gets harder as the years go on, but we all need to know the signs of scams and ripoffs. This is especially bad in touristy areas, but it also fights you in your email and your texts. Please, learn when not to clink that link.  

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