20 Things to Look Forward to If You're Turning 40 in 2020

1 | Your self-esteem will get a major boost.

Turning 40? Your "subjective evaluation of [your] worth as a person" is only going to get better with age, at least according to a 2018 study published in Psychological Bulletin. So, get ready to feel better about yourself than you ever have.

2 | You'll be sweating less.

Women aged 40 and older tend to sweat considerably less than they did in their 20s and 30s. That's according to an oft-cited 1987 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, which found "an age-related structural alteration in the eccrine glands," otherwise known as your sweat glands. Whatever the new year brings you, it won't involve sweat stains.

3 | Your car insurance rates are going down.

Turning 40 is even better if you have car insurance: Your rates will drop. Of course, they'll go back up when you reach 75, but for now, enjoy the significant discount, baby!

4 | You can expect to get a little friskier at home.

You thought you were having great sex now? Oh, you have no idea! A 2012 study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that women over 40 are more satisfied with their sex lives than they were in their younger years—and that satisfaction only increases with age, so you have something to look forward to.

5 | You're entering the prime of your earning potential.

PayScale, a firm that tracks and studies compensation data, found that workers in their 40s and 50s were at their financial peak of earning power. And it just gets better from here, with your salary continuing to increase, or at least staying the same, into your 50s. The best age for earning starts now.

6 | You're about to work less.

According to a 2018 Reuters report, companies around the world have been testing a four-day work week for their employees, and the results have been nothing but positive. Fewer hours not only made their workers less stressed out, but they also increased their motivation and productivity. If your boss isn't considering it yet, there's a decent chance they will next year.

7 | You'll have a science-backed excuse to take a longer vacation.

A 2018 Finnish study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging found that even with healthy habits like a nutritious diet and exercise, middle-aged men who took fewer than three weeks of vacation a year had a 37 percent greater chance of dying than those who relaxed for longer. Just in case you needed another excuse to plan the trip of a lifetime for your 40th.

8 | It's the best year to start a new business.

If you've ever considered launching your very own business but worried that you were too old, banish those negative thoughts. A recent study by MIT Sloan School of Management found that the average age for somebody starting a new business with at least one employee is 42. And if your startup is in the same field where you've had the most experience, you can expect to be 125 percent more successful than new business owners without the same track record.

9 | You can enjoy a glass of wine even more.

We don't mean drinking to excess every night. But science says that you should be indulging! Not only is a glass of wine healthy, but also your "concentrated discrimination of the taste of wine" will actually improve, according to a Yale neuroscientist. And this means that when you're thinking hard about the taste of wine and how it's affecting all of your senses, that's the same type of mental stimulation as doing a crossword puzzle or listening to a classical symphony. So bottoms up!

10 | And you can drink lots of coffee.

Here's one daily habit that you won't have to feel guilty about in your 40s. According to a 2018 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, there was "an inverse association for coffee drinking with mortality." Apparently, the study says it's OK to drink eight or more cups of java per day. You might feel a little jittery, though.

11 | You're about to get a whole lot happier.

A 2017 survey from Prevention magazine found that women over 40 were "happier, more confident, and less stressed than they were 20 years ago." Get ready to spend a lot more time smiling.

12 | You're going to be healthier.

Yes, you're officially due for your first colonoscopy. Now, that might not sound like good news, but take the "glass half-full" look at it. At 40, it's terrific news that you're being more proactive with your health—and that includes seeing a doctor before something becomes an issue.

13 | Your gray hair is just making you more attractive.

According to a Match.com survey, 72 percent of women say they're attracted to guys with gray, silver, or "salt and pepper" hair. The silver fox look is in—embrace it.

14 | It's a great age to become a dad.

Whether you're planning on having a second (or third) kid, or you're a first-time father, you couldn't have picked a better age to jump into parenthood.

Not only are you more likely to be more emotionally prepared, but you're also more likely to have an above-average and intelligent kid, according to 2017 research published in Translational Psychiatry.

15 | You've officially reached the ideal astronaut age.

A 2017 PLOS One study on successful NASA astronauts found one common denominator: They all tend to be in their 40s. This isn't to say you should quit your job and apply for the next mission to Mars, but just keep this fun fact in your back pocket. You're not old! You're in your astronaut prime!

16 | You're part of a new "Ageless Generation."

In a recent survey by marketing agency SuperHuman, as reported by The Telegraph, 80 percent of women in their 40s and 50s claim that middle age is far better than what they'd expected—and more than two-thirds considered themselves in the prime of life. They're more active than their parents, happier and healthier, and 84 percent say they in no way define themselves by their age. You couldn't have picked a better time to turn 40.

17 | You're entering your decade of peak creativity.

Statistics show that the average age for U.S. inventors applying for patents is 47. You might not be sure what great idea you're going to come up with in 2020, but you're at the perfect age to get your creative juices flowing.

18 | You'll be more trusting.

With age comes a greater ability to trust. That's according to 2015 research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, which determined that one of the benefits of getting older is an increase in trust and, thus, an increase in well-being.

19 | Good music awaits you.

Alanis Morissette is releasing her first album since 2012 next year, as well as going on a tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her most notable album, Jagged Little Pill. It's like she waited for your 40th birthday!

20 | You're in amazing company.

Turning 40 in 2020? You're in good company! Jake Gyllenhaal, Gisele Bündchen, Ryan Gosling, Channing Tatum, Kim Kardashian West, Chris Pine, Olivia Munn, and Ashanti all turn 40 in 2020. Not that we want to place too much of an emphasis on looks, but it's worth remembering that they're still considered some of the most attractive faces in Hollywood.