'Going to sleep before midnight': People reveal the underrated hacks for staying healthy over 40

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 11, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

While we all mature at different rates, one realization that hits every aging individual at one point or another is that if they want to stay reasonably healthy, they need to put some effort into the process. There comes a point in the lives of most of us when we realize that certain diets, bad habits, or activity regimens that we have kept around for years are not going to do us any favors if we want to be our most functional selves when we're 80.

Still, it isn't easy to make the switch to all the things that are good for us. This is particularly true when in this day and age of niche fitness and diet influencers, there can be conflicting advice. While there is no magic fix to elevate anybody's level of health, there can sometimes be some good tips and tricks to help us along that path.

 

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    Cheezburger Image 10552808704
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    What’s the single best health habit you started after 40 that made a difference?

    I just crossed into my early 40s and suddenly all those things people used to warn me about, slower metabolism, creaky knees, hangovers that last three business days, etc. have become real life.
    via jaymavs
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    I'm curious: for the guys here who are past 40 (or even close to it), what's one health habit you started that actually moved the needle for you? Could be fitness, food, sleep, even mental health. Not looking for generic "eat better" or "exercise more" answers, I want to hear about the actual habits you've built that you now swear by. The small things that made a big difference.
    via jaymavs

  • When one man asked for some advice that went beyond the obvious for how to be as healthy as possible after the age of 40, people delivered various things that they felt had made a difference for them and for others. It isn't fun to wake up one morning and realize that your body is much older and creakier than you remembered, but there are definitely plenty of ways to soften the blow—such as this advice.

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    Current-Cockroach-57 Stretching every day, 90% of your body feeling old is you not being loose enough I swear
    via Current-Cockroach-57
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    Ojy Drinking water regularly. I cannot believe how much it made me feel better. I don't have any brain fog anymore, I realised that most of the time when I am craving snacks, I'm actually just thirsty, so my weight is a lot more stable now as well. I feel like I have more energy so I am even more active than I was before. If I wake up feeling really groggy, like I haven't slept well at all. Down a load of water and it completely disappears.
    via Ojy
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    mideon2000 Getting used to zero sugar beverages. No regular cokes, juices gatorade etc. All zero sugar versions and a bunch of water. I was at 13 on my aic and within 6 months I got it down to 7. Now im hovering around 6.
    via mideon2000
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    p3p3_silvia Regular doctor visits, bld work, and the a camera. Never sick really my whole life and just got stage 3 pancreatic cancer. BI d tests can show trends. Just go.
    via p3p3_silvia
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    BackInNJAgain Walking 3-5 miles every day in addition to my usual exercise routine (gym, bicycling). I'm 62 and have friends my age who get tired walking up stairs. I want to be able to walk to the store and carry a bag of groceries home with me when I'm 80.
    via BackinNJAgain
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    chubbyenzo Moisturizer, sunscreen
    via chubbyenzo
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    Zoldur Going to sleep before midnight.
    via Zoldur
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    low_effort_life I quit dating. Massive mental health improvement.
    via low_effort_life
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    Dramatic_Living_8737 Taking time for myself. Go grab 2 minutes of fresh air and collect your thoughts. Go sit in your car and listen to the radio. Mental health is so important for not only men, but for everyone.
    via Dramatic_Living_8737
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    Logicnofeelings Stopped drinking daily. Jesus what a change! I still have an occasional whisky socially but never a bottle of pinot Grigio in the evening to wind down. I also go to bed before 10pm at least three times a week.
    via Logicnofeelings
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    beck_is_back Intermittent fasting
    via beck_is_back
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    Cheezburger Image 10552809472
    via Jenny Hill

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    CaptnSave-A- Quit smoking. I was expecting a more dramatic change in my health that what it is, but it has improved quite a bit in smaller ways. No more rattling lung, and I dont wheeze anymore. No random coughing fits as well and im saving a ton of money.
    via CaptnSave-A-Ho
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    brestfloda Showing up for regular exercise and not eating too much garbage. There is no trick. Anyone telling you sh like "drink a green juice a day" is not telling you what you need to hear. Find exercise that motivates you and a routine for not eating garbage - meal planning, getting a box delivery or whatever it takes - it is the best investment in yourself you can make.
    via brestfloda
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    Bulky-Hamster7373 Kind of all of it - prioritize being good to you. Good sleep, exercise, nutrition, kindness, less stress, laughter.
    via Bulky-Hamster7373
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    Manual_brain 7-9 hours sleep has changed my life. Drinking loads of water, probably more than I need to. Those two things are the big game changers for me. The water thing was from about 30-32 but the sleep has been more recent at 39 and I feel brand new
    via Manual_brain
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    Background-Wait8277 At 34 I started racing dirtbikes(enduro) and it has been life changing. I eat better sleep better exercise and stretch everyday I'm in better shape at 40 than I was at 28
    via Background-Wait8277
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    trying3216 Avoiding foods that bother me. So I have tested different foods to know exactly which ones bother me and how.
    via trying3216
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    Alicewithhazeleyes I didn't start it after but at 35 (I'm41 now) and people constantly swear I don't look out of my early 30s is BICYCLING!
    via Alicewithhazeleyes
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    Cheezburger Image 10552809984
    via Anh Nguyen

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lifestyle health healthy life hacks askreddit advice aging reddit thread Reddit
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