Anonymous wrote:I would actually advise to not put the pressure on yourself to make every day count.
I feel like carpe diem is fine in theory - and also is a LOT of pressure, and also you'd make different decisions if today were your last day, than if today is another day in a life you're building for yourself, that you hope will be long. Think of how you eat on vacation v how you eat in regular life.
My advice would be to build yourself the life you want to be living, as much as you can. Find out what you like and do those things. Save some for retirement, and spend on things that give you pleasure and make your life easier. Do you like your job? If not, does that matter to you - and if it does, can you spend some time now, figuring out what you would like better and trying to do that instead?
Don't "invest" in too many expensive clothes that may not fit if you put on some weight in your 40s. (!!) But wear all the beautiful things you own now in your regular life. Don't save those shoes or that dress - they are meant for using.
The PP's advice to find exercise you like, and do it, is good. I'm grateful - knock wood - every single day that I love walking, and walk and walk and walk, and have been doing it for decades - and am not having to start from scratch at 50.
In that vein: wear shoes that will make your feet and back happy.
^ But I'd also add: try to let go of the natural anxiety you're probably feeling about 40 being around the bend. My 40s were better than my 30s, which were better than my 20s. I've just turned 50 - my lord! - and I feel guardedly optimistic about this decade, too. Knock wood, you've got a lot of decades left to enjoy yourself.