40 things to try before you're 40

I hit 30 and had a quarter-life crisis - yes it's a thing. And now I've hit the 40 mark i've watched and supported a few friends through it to. I'm not really to sure why it's referred to as a crisis though? For me, it was a turning point and I created a list of 40 new things I wanted to experience and try. It became my 'life to do list':

1. Get a new tattoo

2. Start a side-hustle business

3. Go on Safari – Kenya

4. Play the guitar

5. Straighten my teeth

6. Try Yoga

7. Go to music festivals and gigs – Reading Festival, Imagine Dragon, Red Hot Chili Peppers

8. Swim in a waterfall – St Lucia

9. Go to a National Trust once a month

10. Go on weekly date nights/days

11. Remove stress from my life

12. Revamp my hair and style

13. Experience a Helicopter ride – New York

14. Snorkel in the sea

15. Go to the Fat Duck

16. Vacation in a water villa – Maldives

17. Publish a blog – hannahmadefun.com

18. Learn a language – Spanish

19. Volunteer and/or support local charity – Soup Kitchen

20. Take part in a professional photoshoot

21. Eat at The Hand and Flowers

22. Start a New Year on the beach

23. Feast at The Savoy

24. Try paddle boarding

25. Get an allotment and grow my own vegetables

26. Cook and try new foods

27. Swim outdoors

28. Do more weekend getaways in European cities London, Manchester, Prague, Switzerland

29. Dine at Tattu

30. Buy a peloton bike

31. Run a half marathon

32. Make an effort to slow down with Meditation

33. Lapland/Northern Lights

34. Be medication free – UC in remission

35. Read 20 books a year

36. Start my day earlier 5am Club

37. Spend Christmas in Spain

38. Join a fitness group/community and work out every morning for a year

39. Feed Meerkats

40. Learn how to cook and book a cookery school experience - The Woodspeen

    
    

I appreciate life isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about collecting stories, stretching your comfort zone, and filling your memory bank with moments that make you grin years later.

I think experiences have the power to shift your perspective, spark joy and introduce you to a part of yourself you didn’t know existed.

So wherever you are in your life journey, pick a starting point, dive in, and remember: the point isn’t to race to the finish – it’s to savour the journey, laugh at the detours, and celebrate every achievement along the way.