Do you want to live a fulfilled, successful life and still retire rich? If YES, here are 50 life changing things you must do before you turn 50 years of age.
If you are under 50 years, then you have a lot to achieve before you hit the golden age of 50. The truth is that a good percentage of those who invented things that changed the world or those who started a movement that transformed the world were people who are under 50 years. This goes to show that if you want to do things that will outlive you, then you need to start now that you are under 50.
When you are under 50, you have enough mental and physical capacity to deploy into any project. As a matter of fact, you can hardly secure a promising job when you are above 50 years except you are coming in as the Chief Executive Officer or Director et al.
Whether you want to raise a family or influence the world, there are basic things that you are expected to do before you are 50 or else you can be rest assured that you will not be satisfied with yourself when celebrating your 50th birthday.
Having said that, here are 50 things you should consider doing before you are 50 years of age irrespective of the country you live in or your gender.
50 Life Changing Things to Do Before You are 50 Years of Age
- Get Basic Education
If there is anything you must work towards achieving before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you get basic education. By basic education I mean being able to read and write.
Although in most countries of the world, basic education is made compulsory but if by chance you missed out on it, then by all means, ensure that you get basic education; ensure that you can read and write. Good enough, there are adult education centers all across major cities and you can take advantage of this.
- Get a First Degree
Irrespective of the level of education you have gotten, if you don’t have a degree, you should try as much as you can to get one. Although getting a degree does not automatically guarantee you success in life but it will definitely broaden your horizon.
It will give you some advantage in life. Take for example, in some countries of the world, if you want to contest for the post of the president of the country or other political positions, you are expected to at least present a first degree. So, part of the 50 things you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age is to get a degree.
- Start a Business
A Chinese proverb says ‘the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago’ this means that the best time to start a business is yesterday. In essence, if there is one major thing you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age, it is to start a business.
No matter how highly positioned in the corporate world is an employee, you will definitely retire someday and in some cases unfulfilled.
The truth remains that in order to live a fulfilled life, you are expected to start a business before you are 50 years of age. Starting a business will afford you the opportunity to become truly rich and you will be able to create jobs for people and ultimately leave an inheritance for your children.
- Get Married
Even though some people may say that they are not cut out for marriage, but if there is anything that you should aim towards doing before you are 50, it should be to get married. Getting married before you are 50 will give you the opportunity to form a long term bond with your spouse.
Living together as a spouse from an early age will afford you the opportunity to provide emotional and other support to your spouse when you guys are retired and very old and your children are all grown and living on their own. The truth is that if you want to marry for the first time, then you should by all means get married before you turn 50 years of age.
- Give Birth to a Child/Children and Train Them
Whether you are of the Christian faith or whatever religion you belong to, one of the injunction is to be fruitful and multiply. As a matter of fact, giving birth to children is one of those things that is time bound especially for the females. Women that plan to have children must ensure that they do it before they hit menopause
Besides, having your children early in life will give you the opportunity to grow with them and also to give them quality training and education. The fact that children are the major legacies we leave behind when we are old and gone means that we should do all we can to groom them in the path we want them to follow.
- Start a Foundation
One of the 50 things you need to do before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you start a foundation that is addressing a cause.
The foundation could be helping less privilege children go to school, give support to widows and orphans or it could be a foundation that is fighting against cancer or any life terminal diseases et al. The truth is that loads of people find fulfillment in life when they are above 50 by running a foundation that is addressing a cause they are passionate about.
- Be Involved in a Charity Cause
It is quite understandable that it is not everyone that has the capacity to start and operate a foundation and if you are amongst such group of people, what is expected of you is to be involved in a charity cause that you are passionate about.
Being involved in a charity cause could be through your financial support or by volunteering or a combination of both. The bottom line is that you should try as much as you can to get involved in a charity cause before you turn 50. It is a way of giving back to the society that has helped shaped you to become who you are hence the need to use the remaining half of your life to serve the community via a charity cause of your choice.
- Learn How to Drive
Learning how to drive is yet another thing you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age. It might sound strange, but there are a good number of people that are above 50 that don’t know how to drive. As a matter of fact, before you turn 20, you should go for your driving test and if you pass the test you will be issued your drivers’ license. Besides, you don’t need to own a car before learning how to drive.
- Travel/Visit Other Cities and Country
Another important thing that you need to work hard to achieve before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you travel or visit at least a different city from where you reside or another country.
When you travel out of your city or country, you stand the chance to learn first-hand other peoples’ culture and way of life. Traveling is a form of education and you are likely going to maximize traveling when you do it when you are still young and vibrant.
- Learn a Foreign Language
Learning at least a foreign language is yet one of the 50 things you should aim towards doing before you are 50 years of age. If English is your first language, then you should look towards learning French or Spanish or Portuguese or Chinese or Italian or Deutsche or any other foreign language.
Learning a foreign language will help easily make friends with people from other countries especially people that speak the foreign language you have learned. For example, as an American, if you know how to speak Chinese, it will be easier for you to become friends with someone from China when compared to another American that cannot speak the Chinese language.
- Go Mountain Climbing – Explore
Before you turn 50 years of age, one thing you should consider doing is to go mountain climbing. Please note that going mountain climbing does not mean you should aim towards surmounting mountain Kilimanjaro or mount Everest et al.
If you are a rookie when it comes to mountain climbing, you might just want to start with smaller mountains in your city or town before venturing out to go surmount Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest. It is a good way of exploring and maximizing your youthfulness before hitting the golden age of 50.
- Learn How to Swim
Learning how to swim is another important thing you should think towards doing before you are 50 years of age. The truth is that having a swimming skill can save your life especially when you are involved in a boat or ship accident.
Besides, it is easier to learn how to swim when you are still pretty young than when you are 50 years and above. So, if you are looking for stuffs to do before you turn 50, then you should put learning how to swim in your bucket list.
- Learn a Skill That Can Fetch You Money
Part of the 50 things you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you learn a skill that can fetch you money.
There are a host of technical or soft skills that you can learn before you turn 50. As a matter of fact, you might not start making money from your skills until you are retired, but the truth is that it will help you especially as it relates to DIY (Do It Yourself).
If you are looking towards learning a skill before you turn 50, here are some skills you should look towards choosing from: sewing and quilting, graphics, carpentry, barbing and hairdressing, baking and cooking, house painting, makeup artistry, video production, public speaking and photography amongst others.
- Get a Second Degree
The best time to get a second degree if you desire one is when you are under 50. So, one of the 50 things you should aim towards doing before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you get a second degree.
No doubt, it might be challenging to get a second degree when you are almost 50 or above due to the fact that you have a family to take care of and a career to pursue. But despite all, try as much as you can to get your second degree when you are still far below 50 years of age when the affairs of this life are not yet overwhelming you.
- Go on a Skydiving Adventure
Going on a skydiving adventure is yet another important thing you should consider doing before you are 50 years of age. Of course, it is not everybody that would want to put this in their bucket list of what to do before they turn 50 due to the fact that they have a phobia for height.
If you don’t have phobia for heights, then by all means try and go on a skydiving adventure before you turn 50; it is one experience that you will live to cherish in your lifetime. You can google companies that offer skydiving services within your location and make all the necessary inquiries. It will help you to prepare your budget and create time for it. Trust me it is worth going for.
- Own Your Own House
Part of what should top your list amongst the 50 things you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age should be to own your house. Owning your house does not mean leasing or paying rent for an apartment. I mean building or purchasing your own house.
Truth be told, it will pay you to own your own house before you turn 50 so as to avoid paying rent when you are retired. Since the most productive part of our life is when we are under 50, then we should by all means try as much as we can to do stuffs that will make the other half of our lives less stressful and chief amongst them is to own our own house.
- Invest in Shares and Stocks
Another important thing that you should consider doing before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you invest in shares and stocks. The best time to invest in shares and stocks is when you are under 50 years of age. The truth is that when you invest in shares and stocks when you are under 50.
When you are turn 50 or when you are much older, you will be able to truly appreciate the value of your investment. Please ensure that you engage the services of professional stockbrokers; they are in a better position to recommend shares and stocks that will grow with time especially when you need them the most.
- Write Your Lifetime Goal
You don’t need to get to 50 years before considering writing down your lifetime goal or working towards achieving your lifetime goal. The best time to write down your lifetime goal and work towards achieving them is when you are far below the age of 50.
As a matter of fact, you are expected to have achieved about 75 percent of your lifetime goal before you turn 50. This is because when you are 50 years of age, you are closer to retirement than when you were much younger, and you may not have the strength or motivation to go after your goal.
So, part of what you should consider doing before your turn 50 is to ensure that you write down your lifetime goals and work towards achieving them.
- Visit Jerusalem or Your Religions’ Holy Site
Part of the things that should be on your bucket list of the 50 things to do before you are 50 years of age is to try and visit Jerusalem if you are a Christian or Mecca if you are Muslim or your religions’ holy site if you are of another religion.
Adherent of most religions feels fulfilled when they are able to visit their religions’ holy sites hence the need to ensure that you achieve this before you are 50. Please note that you can as well plan towards visiting these sites even when you are above 50 years of age since age is not a barrier.
- Learn and Play a Sport
Learning and playing a sport is part of what you should consider doing before you approach the golden age of 50. Of course you are not expected to go professional with the sport you are playing, but it will sure help you to stay healthy and be in a good frame of mind.
There are loads of sports you can’t afford to engage actively in when you are 50 and above hence the need to enjoy such games when you are still below 50 years. You can play football, basketball, rugby, handball, hockey, volleyball, lawn tennis, table tennis or run, sprint or swim et al.
- Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument
Another thing that you should consider doing before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you learn how to play at least a musical instrument.
Come to think of it, aside from the fact that learning to play a musical instrument can give you fulfillment when you are old, it is easier to learn how to play most musical instruments when you are much younger. You can learn how to play the keyboard/piano, saxophone, guitar, drum sets, or virtually any musical instrument when you are much younger than 50.
- Learn How to Fly a Plane
Of course you are not expected to fly a commercial plane, but learning how to fly a small plane should be part of what you need to work towards doing before you are 50 years of age. In the united states of America, Canada, Japan and German et al, people are allowed to learn and fly small planes.
It is one adventure that is worth pursing before you turn 50. It might be risky, but trust me it is worth the while. You can go on the internet to check out companies that are offering such services and the amount they are charging.
- Write a Book
Another important thing that you are expected to put in your bucket list of what you are expected to do before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you write at least a book.
When you write a book you will be able to communicate your idea or what you believe in to the people that will read your book. Although you can afford to write a book at any point in your life, but choosing to write a book before you turn 50 years of age can be part of what you need to celebrate your golden jubilee birthday.
- Go On a Ferry Trip or Boat Cruise
If you are part of those whose medium of transportation revolves around road and air transportation, part of what you should consider doing before you turn 50 years of age is to ensure that you take out time to go in a ferry trip or boat cruise.
Going on a ferry trip or boat cruise is one thing you don’t have to wait till you are 50 to be able to experience. Even if you don’t live in a city with a river or sea, you can drive several kilometers on road or air just to go on a ferry trip or boat cruise.
- Ride a Power Bike
Riding a power bike is one thing that some people would never consider doing. This is because it is considered a very risky activity to engage in.
The truth is that if you want to overcome fear, part of the things you need to do is to confront the fear headlong and riding a power bike is one of the things you should do if you want to overcome fear. You are expected to master your fear before you turn 50 which is why part of what you need to do before you turn 50 is to ride a power bike.
- Donate Blood
Another thing that you should consider doing before you are 50 years of age is to try and donate blood. Of course there are people who are regulars when it comes to donating blood, but if you are not, you should consider it as part of what you should do before you are 50 years.
There are several blood banks all across major cities, you should look for one and then follow the procedures required and donate your blood. The truth is that the blood you donate will likely save a life and the life might be someone you know.
- Own a Personal Library
Owning a personal library is yet part of the 50 things you are expected to do before you are 50 years. The truth is that you might not be able to maximize your personal library until you are retired, but you will do yourself a whole lot of good if you start building your personal library when you are far below 50 years.
So one major thing you must put in your ‘to do list’ before you turn 50 years is to ensure that you start building your personal library.
- Learn How to Dance
Part of the 50 things that you should do before you turn 50 is to learn how to dance. As simple as that sounds, there are loads of adults that can’t dance and the truth is that there are some occasions that you are expected to put on your dancing shoes and hit the dance floor.
If for nothing, learn how to dance for your 50th birthday celebration. If you want to learn how to dance, ensure that salsa, ballet hip-hop dance, tap dance and jazz dance, modern dance and social dance are part of the dance steps you should learn.
- Get a Professional Certification
Getting a professional certification is yet another thing you need to do before you are 50 years of age. Although there is no time limit to when you are expected to get a professional certification, but it will pay you to get a few professional certifications before you turn 50 years.
If you want to make an impact in your career path, you should work towards acquiring all the needed certifications in your area of specialization.
You are strongly encouraged to pursue professional certifications before you turn 50 years of age; it will go a long way to show your commitment towards your career path. Certification validates your competency and shows that you are highly skilled and committed to your career.
- Learn How to Shoot Guns/Acquire Shooting Skills
If you live in the United States of America or in any country where it is permitted to own a gun, then part of what should be on your list of what you should do before you turn 50 is to learn how to shoot guns. Going on a gun shooting range is one experience that is better experienced than imagined.
Just ensure that you look for a gun shooting range company to enroll in. Gun shooting companies provide indoor and outdoor targets for firing handguns, shotguns, rifles and other arms.
Handgun ranges typically have their own indoor stations, while rifles can be shot at disks and a variety of other targets. It is the norm for a standard gun shooting range facility to provide target practice, shooting lessons, gun and protective equipment rentals.
- Adopt Healthy Eating Habits and Diets
If there is any better time to adopt healthy eating habits and diets, it is before you are 50 years of age. So, part of what you should do before you turn 50 is to adopt healthy eating habits and diets.
The truth is that the advantages of adopting healthy eating habits is unquantifiable and it will become very obvious when you are over 50 years old. Adopting healthy eating habits and diets will help you stay healthy, fit and of course you will be able to live long.
- Go on a Fishing Expedition
Going on a fishing expedition is yet another activity you should put on your ‘to do list’ before you turn 50 years of age. Although some people prefer going on fishing expedition when they are retired, but the truth remains that you can’t learn how to make use of left hand in old age hence the need to start when you are much younger in order for you to get used to it.
- Sign Up for a Retirement and Pension Scheme
Another important thing that must be in your list of what you ought to do before you turn 50 is to ensure that you sign up for a retirement or pension scheme. There is a saying that goes thus “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”, in essence if you fail to make plans for your retirement, then you are planning to live a miserable retirement life.
The truth remains that the best time to start planning for your retirement is from the very first day you are employed or from the first day you start your own business as an entrepreneur. So just ensure that you talk to a retirement expert (could be a counselor) on how you can best plan for your retirement.
- Work Towards Being Debt Free
If you are in debt especially debt accrued from your days in college (student debts) then you should try as much as you can to offset such debts before you are 50 years of age.
If you are able to clear your student debt before you turn 50 it will give you the opportunity to concentrate towards saving for a project and investing funds in ventures that will give you good returns when you have less mental and physical strength to work for money.
- If You Own Your Business, Make Good Succession Plans
It’s often said that one of the greatest gifts you can give to your children aside from good education and good morals is establishing a thriving business for them to inherit.
One of the best things you can do before you turn 50 years of age as a business owner is to ensure that you make a good succession plan. It is important to spot at least two or more employee or family members that you can groom to take over the business from you when you retire.
The joy of any business owner is to see his or her business grow beyond him or her even after retirement. So ensure that you invest in training the person you choose as your successor and also expose the person to all your trade secret.
- Invest in Real Estate
Another important thing that you must put in your ‘to do list’ before you are 50 is to ensure that you invest in real estate. When you invest in real estate before you are 50 years of age, you will be able to have what to fall back to when you are retired.
One good thing about landed properties and real estate investment in general is that such investment always appreciate and hardly depreciates.
- Work Hard to Grow to The Peak of Your Career
Working hard to grow to the peak of your career should be part of the things you need to do before you turn 50. The fact that you are going to become less productive as you age should be the motivating factor for you to strive to grow to the peak of your career.
The truth is that the higher you grow in your career, the higher you earn and in most cases the lesser you work. There are loads of benefits for top executives in every organization. For example, if you are a lecturer, it will be to your best interest to grow beyond a lecturer with Master’s Degree to become a professor in your field.
- Buy Life Insurance and Other Relevant Insurance
Buying life insurance and other relevant insurance cover like health insurance is yet another thing you must ensure you do before you turn 50. The truth is that the older you get, the more expensive the premiums you are expected to pay for your policy, and the younger you are, the less premium you are expected to pay for a life insurance policy cover.
So ensure that you speak with your stockbroker to advice you on the best life insurance cover that will be suitable for you before you turn 50 and one that will be to your advantage when you are over 50 and retired.
- Set a Target Date for Your Retirement
Another important thing that must be in your ‘to do list’ before you are 50 years of age is to ensure that you set a target date for your retirement. The truth is that it is pretty late not to have set a date you are expected to retire from active service.
Of course, we are not saying that you should retire before you are 50, but what we are saying is that you should ensure that you have set a target date for your retirement before you turn 50 and you should work towards achieving such target.
- Join an Investment Club
Joining an investment club is yet another important thing that you should consider doing before you turn 50 years of age.
Ensure that you vet the various investment clubs within your locations before picking up membership. It is very important to clearly state that one major factor that will count in the success of an investment club is the investment philosophy and perhaps the ideology and commitment of the members of the club.
The truth is that if the members of an investment club don’t share same investment philosophy and ideology, the club may likely struggle to make headway simply because there will always be clash of interest from time to time and that can stall progress.
- Have a Will
No one says you will be dying soon but it sure does pay that you have a will ready. So this is one of the things you should consider doing before you hit the 50 mark.
- Take Fitness Seriously
If you won’t take fitness serious at any point in your life, do consider taking your physical health seriously before you turn 50. This is very essential because you would need to strengthen all weak bones in your body and stay as fit as possible.