On a sunny day in May 2024, I came to a stark realisation that I was going to turn 40 in less than 2 years.
It wasn’t a surprise that I was growing older. I know we all are 🙈
But something happened that day that changed everything.
It was like I shot back to the teenage me who used to think that 40 was a lifetime away and here I was, about to reach such a major milestone without clear thought to it.
It was a much needed wake up call, and led to me creating a list that has changed so much of my life in the last few months
On that day, I sat with myself and started asking some hard questions:
- Is this what you imagined your life would look like at this time?
- Have you achieved some of the things you’ve always wanted to do?
- If you were to leave earth today, can you honestly say you have been a good steward of the blessings given to you and will leave a legacy?
As you can imagine, it was a big fat ‘No’ to these questions..

Next, I started researching things to do before 40.
This led to me creating my own list of 40 things I want to do and achieve before my 40th birthday.
It has been such an exciting journey, and it has also allowed me to revisit the things I loved (but forgot about) and identify the things that matter to me.
In honour of that process and knowing that you’re probably in a similar boat, I have shared below ideas of 40 things you can do before you turn 40. Many of the ideas here came from my own list, and I think it will be pretty cool do this together. 😃🙌🏼🙌🏼
You can get the worksheets here, which give you room to personalise the list and change up a few things.
Remember, this is not about a particular age, you can create your list at any time, whether you are 27, 31, or 49.
What matters is that you reflect on your life so far and make sure you are living the life that you have always dreamed of.
Enjoy!
40 INCREDIBLE THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOUR FORTIETH BIRTHDAY.
- Host an event in your country.
2. Speak at a major public event.
3. Climb a mountain.
4. Visit one country in every continent.
5. Learn a new language.
7. Write a book.
8. Learn to paint.
9. Visit at least 3 of the 7 New Wonders of the world.
10. Fly first class.
11. Walk at least 8,000 steps daily.
12. Volunteer with a charity.
13. Mentor one younger woman.
14. Host an event outside your country.
15. Build your dream fund to $15,000.
16. Fast for 40 consecutive days.
17. Visit all the states/cities in your country.
18. 40 acts of kindness to 40 people you know.
19. Write a proposal to the local government about an issue you’re interested or passionate about.

20. Eat one fruit and veggie each day
21. Learn a signature dish and cook it for your loved ones.
22. Attend a musical festival or the opera
23. Swim with dolphins
24. Zipline or bungee jump.
25. Travel to 5 African countries.
26. Create a personal Mission statement, memorise it and keep it in a conspicuous place to remind you of your life’s vision and values.
27. Re decorate your home to suit your new style and values
28. Create a capsule wardrobe.
29. Create a signature scent.
30. Go on monthly retreats.
31. Go on a safari.
32. Build your personal brand.
33. Read 40 life changing books, this could be both fiction and no-fiction books.
34. Invest strategically and consistently.
35. Build systems for your home and work life.
36. Get a mentor or coach.
37. Buy a house.
38.Create a morning and evening routine that simplifies your life.
39. Retain professional advisers (lawyer, accountant, and coach)
40. Write a will and update it every couple of years.
Your dream life starts here
That’s it!
Don’t wait to start, start today and be more.
You have the power to create the life of your dreams.
One of the things I love about these lists is that they cut across different areas of our lives, so you end up growing holistically. That’s definitely a win-win.
Remember to grab your copy of your 40 things before 40 worksheets here.
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