They say that age is just a number, but that’s not how it feels on certain birthdays throughout your life. Reaching a new decade is always a chance to reflect on the past and think about what the future holds for you. Perhaps no birthday makes humans ponder their existence more than their 50th one.
Maybe it’s because it’s half a century of living. For most people, reaching 50 means they think about how their life is more than likely on the back half. Middle age presents a lot of physical, emotional, and mental hurdles, so it’s important to celebrate and be positive on this birthday.
Whether you put the bug in your family’s ear or you decide to take matters into your own hands, it’s vital to make yourself feel special on landmark birthdays like your 50th. We’ll talk about some of the best ways to celebrate. This can be with material purchases, like getting insurance on a Maserati Ghibli, or with emotional investments, like time with your kids.
#1 – Buy a Gym Membership
Exercise is good for everyone, but it is especially important for 50-year-olds and up to stay active. Being in good physical shape will prevent many health issues that are common in middle age, like heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. You can never guarantee you will avoid health issues, but you can try your hardest to prevent them.
Exercise isn’t always fun for everyone, though. Some people who used to enjoy playing sports in their younger years may have a hard time doing the same activities when they get into their 50s because of past injuries or joint pain.
This is where a gym membership will come in handy. The number of different activities available with many gym memberships nowadays will excite even the most exercise-resistant individuals.
Swimming, yoga, and other mellow activities are good for people after they hit 50 if their bodies can’t tolerate the physicality of contact sports, and exercising can even be good for their mental health. People who stay in shape will have an improved body image, and they will be proud of the work they put in to maintain good health.
Seeing the results in front of the mirror and at your doctor’s appointments is great motivation to continue the great work you are putting in. Some people get depressed about aging when they reach milestone birthdays like 50, and staying in great physical shape might help alleviate potential depression.
#2 – Get a New Car or Truck
Buying a vehicle is a classic sign of a mid-life crisis. But you know, what? That’s completely OK. Buying a sports car like a Maserati Ghibli or a Chevy Corvette is invigorating. Getting behind the wheel of one of these cars shows you have accumulated enough money to reward yourself after years of hard work.
The act of driving the vehicle is also liberating. You should look great driving the vehicle, and talking about your new car with others is good for your social well-being. Just make sure you have enough money to buy these vehicles before following through on the purchase.
This is where people get upset at the classic car purchase on a 50th birthday. It can be seen as an irrational decision if you are still responsible for other members of your family. Verify everything is going to be stable in your bank account.
#3 – See Your Family Members
Not every 50-year-old has grandchildren. If you don’t have grandchildren at this age, think about seeing your kids or even other extended family members you haven’t visited in a while.
The same principles apply no matter what loved one is in the picture, but grandkids inspire a little something extra in middle-aged folks that other people just can’t.
Seeing your grandkids will remind you of all of the great things you have accomplished in your life. You can give yourself credit for raising self-sufficient adults who were capable of having their own children. Seeing your kids be their own parents is a tremendous joy, and it shows the legacy of your family in action.
Being around kids and grandkids makes you feel younger. It allows you to see life will continue for your loved ones long after you are gone from this world, and this is a comforting feeling for those who fear the unknown or uncertainty.
#4 – Start a Second Career or Side Hustle
The world of entrepreneurship is ripe with tons of creative opportunities right now. With so many people working from home, people have discovered the best ways to monetize their hobbies. These side hustles are incredibly rewarding both from a financial perspective and an emotional one.
Becoming an entrepreneur is an intensely personal experience. It proves you are good enough at something to profit from it on your own without company support. You are no longer closed off to many possibilities that are available for success as a solo worker. Being an employee or providing delivery service is secure, but it’s not always satisfying.
Take your favorite activity or product and see if you can make some cash out of it. It’s a great way to show yourself you are capable of something completely different and fresh in this new decade of life.
#5 – Go on Vacation
Going on a trip with the ones you love is another fresh and exciting way to show how much more life there is to experience at 50 years old. People often don’t think they ever have a reason to see the world because they’re busy with so many other things.
It’s unfortunate that for some people, it takes a milestone birthday to realize traveling and seeing new places is vital to the human experience.
You don’t even have to leave the state you are in. People often don’t stop to see how many fun shops, hikes, and restaurants are available right in their own state. Plan a mini-vacation with your spouse or friends to a local venue that will make you appreciate the area you’ve been living in.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it reminds you that turning 50 is a time to move forward rather than look at any regrets you may have in your past.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, QuoteInspector.com. He wants to help people realize their full potential no matter what age they presently are in life.
