Things To Do Before Turning 40

I recently turned 31! On my birthday, I reflected on my life and accomplishments so far. While doing so, I decided to create a list of 40 things to do before turning 40. In 9 years, I hope to look back at this and see how much I’ve accomplished!

1. Disney World

I’ve never been to Disney World! Can you believe that?! Before I turn 40, I want to experience Disney with my husband and kids. My daughter has also been begging us to go since she was three!

2. Disney World Cruise

I’ve only been on a cruise once, in December 2019, right before the pandemic changed our world as we know it. Immediately after leaving the cruise, my husband and I wanted to book our next getaway. I am glad we waited because the pandemic shuttered everything three months later, and nothing has been the same ever since.

For now, we are a bit weary about going on another cruise due to COVID. Hopefully, within a few years, things will be different and we will be able to do a Disney Cruise with the kids!

3. Another Royal Caribbean Cruise

We LOVED our experience with the Royal Caribbean and want to cruise again with them! Our first trip was five nights from New Jersey to the Bahamas. We spent a day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean’s private island), and honestly, it is one of my favorite vacations to date.

4. Travel to London

Since I was a kid, I have always wanted to visit London. The history, landmarks, and British accent pique my interest. I want to visit Buckingham Palace and see how life is where an actual Queen exists!

5. Travel to Canada

I also have a fascination with wanting to visit Canada.

6. Travel to Jamaica

I want to try a 5-star resort and experience what everyone says about Jamaica.

7. Travel to Paris

I might do a Euro-Tour and find myself in Paris after visiting London. You can’t travel the distance and not see the Eiffel Tower in person! I would also love to see the home of the many luxury brands!

8. Attend a Cake/Cupcake Decorating Workshop

I love baking cakes and decorating them, BUT my decorating skills are that of a five-year-old. (I know this because my daughter and I can frost a cake side-by-side, and you wouldn’t be able to distinguish who did what.)

9. Successfully Create a Virtual Assistant Business

With my extensive work experience in the non-profit sector and government, I want to elevate businesses and be the driving force behind a business’s success. I’m hoping that I can be my boss and establish a reputable company with time.

10. Get my Dream Car

I’ve had a car since I turned 21. I’ve leased cars because I like newer things and didn’t want to settle. However, as I’m getting older, the leasing process in today’s market is not the same, so before I turn 40, I will buy my first car. This is hopefully either an Infiniti QX60 or Land Rover. (I can’t wait to look back at this when I’m 40 and see what I ended up with!)

11. Pay off all Debts and Student Loans

Buying a house and raising kids isn’t cheap. I hope to knock this one out before I’m 40! As a friend once told me, I already laid down the foundation and did everything people “save” their money to do (except travel), so now I just need to spend the rest of my time investing, saving, and paying off whatever debts I have accrued.

12. Commit to Savings and Investing

I want to invest in an IRA, ROTH IRA, Regular Savings, and maybe a CD. I want to be financially healthy enough that if I wanted to buy a car or another house I can without needing to pull from other resources.

13. Go to the Statue of Liberty

I was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Queens, New York but HAVE NEVER been to the Statue of Liberty! Sure, I’ve had a class trip on the Circle Line checking out the New York Skyline but I have never even been remotely close to Lady Liberty.

14. Explore NYC with my Family

I went to John Jay College in Midtown NYC but have never truly explored a city I spent much of my life in. Now that I have kids, I want to do family excursions in the city.

15. Visit the Hamptons

The Great Gatsby ignited my interest in traveling to the ends of Long Island. I never had a chance but the Hamptons are on my radar!

16. Air BnB

Everyone tells me how much they loved their AirBnB experience. I want to find out what the rave is!

17. Paintball

I know paintballing is painful but I’ve never done this and need to do it at least once in my lifetime! Hopefully, I don’t scream and laugh too hard, because motherhood opened up a whole new world of OOPS for me!

18. Go to a Vineyard

There are so many vineyards near the Hamptons, and I would love to visit one soon!

19. Take a party bus somewhere!

I always wanted to party it up in a party bus so when the opportunity presents itself (perhaps my 35th or 40th birthday!) I’d love to get on board a party bus and check it off my list!

20. Extend and Upgrade my Home

Bought a house (check!), but we bought a standard cape-style home that we wish to expand and upgrade. Hopefully, before I’m 40 we can at least start the process. Before the kids inhabit upstairs I want to add another bathroom upstairs and update the roofing to give them more room space.

21. Create my Dream Backyard

After our home expansion/upgrade, I want to transform my naked backyard into a zen garden where my family and I can relax and enjoy our backyard.

22. Boardwalk with my Family and Dog

I used to go to Gantry State Park in Astoria with my husband and our dog but after we had our daughter and then moved out on the island, we haven’t had a chance to walk together as a family. We are closer to water now than we were before, so we will try different areas and find a new place to walk with our family.

23. Change Career Path

For a few years now I have been eager to change my career path. So much so that I began investing in myself by obtaining an MBA. Hopefully when the time is right and what is meant for me will come to fruition.

24. Lose Weight

I gained a considerable amount of weight after my PCOS diagnosis in 2016. I always said I wanted two kids and then I’ll get back to focusing on my body and health. NOW is the time to shift gears and do exactly that. Before I turn 40, I hope to be at a healthy weight and be in great physical condition.

25. Do a Family Photoshoot

I had a Christmas photo shoot the year we had my daughter but after we had our son we haven’t had a chance to do an updated family photoshoot. Rather than in a studio-like, as we did last time I want to do it in the fall with fall foliage or at the beach with the ocean in the background.

26. Have a Wedding Ceremony

My husband and I got married at our local county clerk’s office. At that time, we didn’t want a huge guest list or anything fancy, just our immediate family members. As we’re getting older, we both decided somewhere down the line during one of our milestone anniversaries we would give ourselves a wedding ceremony. I think it’ll be more special than a typical wedding because many marriages don’t last and this ceremony will be celebrating US and how far we’ve come TOGETHER. What’s even better is having our kids present with us during a big event in our lives. We are unconventional but I love it and wouldn’t change anything!

27. Publish Something

I want to be able to add “author” to my many hats and publish a tutorial, e-book, or children’s book before turning 40.

28. Participate in Church Activities

As a kid, my mom raised us in a church. I didn’t take much liking to my mom’s church but as I am getting older and now have a family of my own, I want to instill the very same things in my children and want to be an active part of my church’s community.

29. Spa Day

I did a prenatal massage when I was pregnant with my son and feel like I’ve missed years of pampering so I want to take a “me” day and head to the spa at least once before turning 40!

30. Couples Massage

I also want to do a couples massage with my husband so he can see what he’s been missing too! Haha

31. Couples Retreat

I want to go to a couples retreat with my husband. It just feels like something we need to experience together.

32. Start a Family Tradition

Sunday family dinners, game night, or Friday takeouts. Having a family of my own, I now want to create a family tradition. One that my kids will be able to look back on and remember when they reflect on their childhood.

33. Go to a Family Resort

In a few years, I’d love to take my family to a resort and have an ultimate family vacation!

34. Take my Family to see the Christmas Tree Lighting in NYC

I’ve been to a Christmas Tree Lighting with my parents when I was young (can’t remember being there but I do see pictures). Now that I have kids, I would love to take them too!

35. Attend the Ball Drop in Times Square

I’ve ALWAYS wanted to see the ball drop in person. If you’re a New Yorker it feels like a must. However, NO ONE wants to stand in a crowd for hours without access to a bathroom in cold temperatures (or even snow/rain!). I WILL make it happen at least once in my lifetime and it better be before I turn 40!

36. Go to a Concert

I went to a Trey Songz and J Cole Concert and I need at least one more in before I turn 40! I haven’t decided who I want to see yet, but if the time and location align I’ll be there!

37. Go to a Dave Chappelle Comedy Tour

I LOVE Dave Chappelle! My husband and I watched every single show he has on Netflix and he’s honest, genuine, and funny. I also like how he manages to school you on whatever he jokes about.

38. Participate in Murder Mystery Dinner

I love mysteries and solving things so I want to try this with my husband or a group of friends!

39. Get Jets Season Tickets Again!

I’m ready to make my Sundays great again! My husband is a Jets fan and we had season tickets years ago but of course, life happened and we had to put that on pause. It was a fun way to wind down and enjoy our alone time traveling together to New Jersey and watching him go crazy over his favorite team. I hope to get tickets again soon so we can pick up where we left off!

40. Sustain and Elevate my Blog

Last but not least, I would love to learn more about SEO, marketing, and running an influential blog to make my blog successful and stand the test of time.

Photo Credits: Unsplash.com