That was seven months ago that I turned 40, and I swear, I feel like I've aged considerably during that time. Like everything just looks so much older now. I feel old. The wrinkles around my eyes. Some noticeable grey chest hairs. What the hell just happened?

Ughhh… Not looking forward to this… lol


31 comments

  1. Yes this is actually accurate. You see the biggest phase changes around 44 plus or minus a few years. Your next one will be in your mid ’60s good luck

  2. This happened to me at 44. Literally aged a decade in a year. I hear it happens again on your mid 60s

  4. Not me, my 40s kinda had me still.looking like I was 30, not until I hit 50 did I have ageing really kick in, last few years has seen my eyes go to shit and grey hair really kick in 😬

  5. But mentally you still feel like you are in your early 30s, right? I feel like I look way older than I feel I am.

  6. I had the same feeling. Health-wise I feel like my body just GAVE UP at 40. Everything hurts, I’m fatigued all the time, I am weak, developing all kinds of stupid little ailments that I need to get worked out… gardening has been SO HARD in 2025 even though I’m doing way less than normal this year.

    As for appearance… I normally don’t think about it too much, but I have definitely notice the change in body shape as skin loosens and makes me look flabby. The hairs on my chin are turning gray RAPIDLY. I always would have 1 or 2 grays even in my late 20s, but now it’s like… noticeably “salt and pepper” beard…

    A little while ago, I looked at myself and actually felt shocked and unhappy with what I looked like for the first time in my life. Like I just looked bad overall to myself. Signs of aging and tiredness and such. I have never had poor body image, even when I have been very unwell and looked gross. But for the first time, I turned on my webcam, and thought “wtf I look disgusting” and felt very demotivated and ended up not recording any videos (uh I realize now this sounds like I’m an OF model or something; I do Let’s Plays on YouTube lol) because I was so upset with myself.

    All of this hit me like a truck at 40. I swear, most of 39 I was skippin’ along feeling and looking like a spring chicken. Then BAM.

    But personally, DESPITE all this, I think I’m looking forward to the rest of 40s. Looking at it as a new era of potential. Just taking baby steps for now to improve myself to fight these feelings, and haven’t gotten very far, but I’m feeling good about it.

  7. That’s it? Surface signs of age commiserate with 40 years of life?

    Look in the mirror less and enjoy yourself. 

  10. You are what you eat? Lifestyle and all that jazz. No seriously the body doesn’t work like your 20s anymore, cant even do dramatic lifestyle change cause the body doesn’t heal as fast.

  12. Let me break the good news: Rupert Murdock just got married! (He is 94)! Buzz Aldrin the same (at 95)!

    After hearing these great news, I have a question: did you get smarter since you were 18? Do you think today you are wiser than before? Do now you know things better than before?

  13. Keep your diet in check and be disciplined in staying active. I turned 45 this year and I haven’t missed a step. I still drink and smoke weed, but I am disciplined in keeping active. I can still run and lift like I used to. I don’t feel old yet. I can still wear clothes from almost 20 years ago. I also am not a naturally thin man.

  14. Make sure to moisturize your face, around the eyes etc. also you must wear sunglasses and sunblock in the sun. Make sure to put sunblock around the eyes.

  15. Sleep. Diet. Exercise.

    My uncle used to look older than his own uncle but changed his lifestyle and looks so much younger now. Youth is often found in ability to take on the world. Maintain that ability.

  16. 44 so far I have noticed the most changes. Vision, tiredness, dry eyes… i have been on pills since late 20s so no new ones… I have much more grey hair in the last 4 years…

  17. This hit me at 34, 3 years ago when my second son was born and we started a wild medical-needs ride.

    My beard now has a heap of grey in it, and I’m shocked looking back at photos from a measily 3 years ago.

    So my question is, how are your stress levels at the moment?

  18. Man I don’t know what to expect. I am 38 right now, I don’t feel any different than when I was 21. I still stay up all night, I still go out partying and clubbing, I still go running and biking, like literally not much has changed

    I see all of these posts of people some even younger than me, talking about how they can’t do shit or they’re dead to the world when they have a couple of drinks at night.

    Like what the hell is in my future

  19. My FIL is 78. He’s pure muscle and joy. Eats really well, goes to the gym every day. Has chronic health issues, may have to stop golfing soon, but he’s still loving life. 

    You too can have a good time as you get older, if you work on it. 

  20. I’m 40 this year and it’s all started for me – grey hair noticeably increased, starting to feel aches and pains in my knees and tiredness from things I don’t normally get tired from. I don’t think it’s really accelerating, I think I just became conscious of it because I turned 40. The real cause for me is likely that I’m just working harder this year and last year, and as we age our bodies can’t forgive us for not taking care of them like it used to. Had my health check recently, looking forward to making a few changes so I can ski with my kids in winter without worrying I’ll break everything from a little fall

  21. Just hit 60 but got in shape the past 4 years. Get in shape and stay in shape now. I regret that I didn’t do it at 40 but I’m making the most of it now. It doesn’t have to be crazy, just regular activity. It makes you look younger and feel younger.

  22. The warranty on your body is up. Shit starts breaking. Preventative maintenance is required.

  23. I was delayed slightly, but that is how I have been feeling since I turned 41. It’s like I went from 20 to now and totally slipped my 30s, and now I age a year every month.

    You’re not alone. It fucking sucks, man

  24. 2 and a half years ago, I (54m) was able to run sub-6:30/mile pace for up to 5 miles on a treadmill. Today, I haven’t been able to run for two weeks because something is wrong with my knee and I can’t get to the doctor until the 21st. Both shoulders are aching with arthritis and I haven’t done a weights workout in over a week. I even stopped doing sit-ups because my shoulders are making my neck and upper back tight.

    I am pissed off. I was doing well. Hell, I was doing GREAT. If they can’t make my knee stop hurting, I’m going to run through the pain until I can’t walk, anymore. Fuck it. I’m going down swinging.

  27. I believe there’s been some research that shows we don’t age linearly and that there’s some big bumps. Around 40 is the first one with another around 60. Sounds like you’ve just hit the first one. FWIW, both my wife and I have noticed that things just got worse (health and energy based) after we turned 40.

  28. well, I’ve only just turned 30 and most of the women I know around my age say that 40 yr old men who take care of themselves are hot. Do with that what you will lol. I know it’s not everything, but to even me, it sounds like it counts for something…

  29. Well brah I’m turning 42 and embracing the fuck out of my ageing body and balding pate. This is life. Enjoy the process.

  30. I recommend reading Cicero’s “On old age”.

    Good reminder that aging is not only about appearance and physical shape, it is also, in many ways, about mental improvement.

  31. Like you said, you hit 40. But the issue isn’t the aging symptoms, but that you haven’t changed along with it, so now it’s a bit of a mismatch.

    If you at least stay fit, or get fit, pick up some now hobbies, the right glasses, you’re going to fit right in.

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