What are the Benefits of Turning 50? Yes There Are Plenty

What are the Benefits of Turning 50?  Yes There Are Plenty

If you think there are no benefits of turning 50, you’re wrong and I’ll tell you why.

Each new decade brings with it something new and exciting. When you turn 20, you take an entirely new step from teenage-hood into young adulthood.

As you turn 30, you find that you become more comfortable in yourself – more settled in your career and relationships.

At 40, you might find that you take on career-related challenges you never would have previously dreamed of. So what are the benefits are turning 50? Turns out, there are more than just a few.

Real Friends Become a Priority When You Turn 50

When you’re in your 20s and 30s – and to a lesser degree your 40s – it can be tempting to keep in touch with people just so that you know you’ll always have something pencilled into your social calendar.

In your 50s, this will generally come to an abrupt halt.

benefits of turning 50

Maybe it’s the knowledge of how quickly time passes by – and the fact that you need to make the most of every day – or just that keeping up pretences can become exhausting after a while, but eventually, people in their 50s tend to save their time for real friends.

While this might leave you short of a social event to fill up every weekend, you’ll find that you enjoy your own company more anyways and when you do end up venturing out, it will likely be worth your time and effort.

Getting to Know Your Children Better

When your children are young, they are generally a mixture of adorable and pull-your-hair-out frustrating, but as they (and you) get older, they will grow into individuals who have their own opinions, needs and personalities.

These days, the average age to have a child is 30, which means that by 50, your children will be adults – and this means you get the chance to know them again as adults.

Many people find that they are amazed by how much they enjoy their children’s company when they grow up and it’s not surprising, as most of the time, they’ll have similar ideals and values.

This is a great starting place for a lifelong friendship.

It’s Ok At Fifty To Lean into Your Quirks

Youth is a trying time – especially when you’re at school. Everyone is trying so badly to fit in that everyone merges into some kind of beige mono-being. Luckily, when you turn 50, the fears of being “left out” don’t seem as important.

If you’re quirky, this is your time to shine and with that acceptance can come a hive of creativity and energy. In many instances, you can think of your 50s as an awakening – a second youth if you know how to make the most of it.

What it more, as most people tend to know themselves better at this age, it’s also a time to start taking up activities you know you’ll enjoy – sometimes, at discounted rates depending on where you live.

Many people have found that they change career paths entirely when they reach this age – only one of the many benefits of turning 50.

You’ve Turned 50 – Start to Spoil Yourself!

By the time you’re in your 50s, you usually have all those necessary items, like cars, homes and savings, so this is a great time to book that cruise, go for that spa treatment or cross something a little more expensive off your bucket list.

Anything that you’ve avoided before simply because of the expense could now be in reach and the best thing about it is that it comes guilt free – after all, you’ve earned it.

This is maybe some of the biggest benefits of turning 50.

A More Positive Body Image

The old adage goes “youth is wasted on the young” and it couldn’t be more accurate with today’s intense focus on body image. So much time and energy goes into worrying about body fat percentage and thigh gaps and this is something that tends to fade as we get older.

Couple walking outdoors on path in park smiling (selective focus)

By 50, most people are more confident, not only in their personality, but also in the way they look.

One of The Benefits of Turning 50 is Giving Back

Another of the great benefits of turning 50 is the time you suddenly have on your hands.

If you’ve spent a large part of your life climbing the career ladder, you’ve likely earned your place near – or at – the top, and so you’ve probably found that your time is worth a lot, allowing you to spend less time at work and more time doing what you want.

If you’ve been interested in volunteering, now is the perfect time to do it. Volunteering is a great way to keep active within the community long into retirement, but at 50, you’re more likely to be volunteering simply because it feels good to give back.

There are so many benefits of turning 50 and while most people realize this, what they aren’t always aware of is the fact that there are so many opportunities for those looking to make the most of the second half of their first century on earth.

Author

  • Stephen

    Stephen is now retired. He spent 25 years in community welfare and is one of the co-founders of life over 50. He has a keen interest in everything concerning this special age group.....and makes valuable contributions to the site. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, cycling and gardening. Also a keen jazz music lover!


3 thoughts on “What are the Benefits of Turning 50? Yes There Are Plenty

  1. There are benefits to turning 50? Who knew :))?! Just kidding. Every age has its own benefits that we should focus on more. There’s a saying that says something on the lines of “you become what you focus on most of the time” and I think this is so true. Karma is real and whatever you put out there eventually comes back and that means that we should all focus more on the good, the benefits of our lives and on doing good to others.

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