40 Habits Doctors Don’t Recommend Doing After 40

17. Having a messy bedroom

You’re not a teenager anymore, so having a messy bedroom and leaving your clothes on the floor in your 40s is not acceptable. Moreover, a messy bedroom can also affect your sleep cycle.

According to Bill Fish, a certified sleep science coach and co-founder of Tuck.com, a resource on the science of sleep, your bedroom should be your sanctuary, the place where you feel peaceful and relaxed, and not a storage unit. He also explained that our minds are trained to race with clutter, so having a messy room will make it very hard for you to rest properly.

18. You’re spending way to much time on devices before bed

Spending too much time on devices is harmful and unhealthy as it is, but even more before going to sleep. According to Fish, looking at a screen in bed will really affect your sleep schedule and quality.

How? You probably wonder. Firstly, the blue lights from the screen are really unhealthy because they stop our body’s natural production of melatonin. Secondly, the activities you do on certain devices like laptops, tablets or phones won’t make you feel more relaxed, especially if you’re checking emails or working after-hours and stay away from any comment section if you want to avoid negativity.

So if you want to sleep better at night, make sure to limit the time you spend on devices before bed.

19. You’re not sleeping enough

If not sleeping enough didn’t affect you in your 20s and 30s, by the time you reach 40, things start to change a little bit. According to John Gilmer, PhD, a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at Trinity College Dublin, our brain sends a signal to our bodies while we sleep, telling it to discharge hormones and compounds that help lowering the risk for health conditions, keeping your hunger levels under control, retaining your memory and supporting a healthy immune system.

Even more, during sleep, our muscles rebuild and repair themselves. So if you’re into sports, a gym lover or you want to be fit, you need sleep to get larger and stronger muscles.

20. You don’t have a sleeping schedule

If you tell your kids that having a sleeping schedule is important, you should know they aren’t the only ones who should have a bedtime routine. A 2018 study published in the Journal Scientific Reports showed that participants who didn’t have a sleeping schedule and went to bed at different hours every night were more prone to gain weight and had higher blood sugar, higher blood pressure and higher heart attack risk, compared with participants who had a consistent sleeping schedule.

21. You’re constantly taking sleeping pills

If you’re so used to taking sleeping pills that you can’t sleep without them, you must stop taking them now. According to a study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in 2019, individuals who constantly take sleeping pills are 43 percent more likely to develop dementia when they get old.

22. You don’t like trying new things

According to Gilmer, people nowadays are scared to try new things. Most people come home from work, have dinner and then lay on the couch for the rest of the night, doing absolutely nothing.
While everyone needs those types of relaxing evenings, that doesn’t mean it’s ok if every night looks like that. It’s very important to have a hobby and try new things, because it stimulates your brain, makes you happier and is linked to a longer life expectancy, according to research.

23. You’re very lonely

40 is the perfect age for putting your personal relationships first. Whether we talk about friendships or relationships, it has been proven that doing so will improve your mental state and your health. Loneliness can really impact your health, according to a 2010 study published in the journal Health Communication.

According to Carla Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of Joy From Fear, after reaching 40, you should care more about your personal relationships and realize that the people in your life are essential for your wellbeing. Also, you should appreciate the time spent with your children and give them attention, because they will be adults before you know it.

Don’t waste any more time. Go to dinner with your friends, spend time with your partner and go to the movies with your kids as much as possible, because no one will give you your time back.

24. You’re not prioritizing your health

Most people tend to neglect their health, especially in your 40 when you have so many day to day responsibilities. But now is the time to start prioritizing your health, even though is just for an occasional checkup.

If you want to live a long, healthy life, going to the doctors’ office frequently, exercising and having a healthy diet is a must, Manly says.