Regardless of your age, you really ought to get on to mastering these 20 things

Happiness is many things but it’s almost certainly, at least in part, having a sense of mastery.

When we believe we’re good at something and feel in control, we feel happier.

And the good things is mastery can be learned; practice any skill for long enough and you’ll improve. Increasing mastery will increase happiness…

via the Ladders by Shana Lebowitz and Rachel Gillett

No one ever really feels like a “grown-up.” But if you’re approaching 40, well, you are one.

And it’s high time you refined some crucial life skills, from staying healthy to saving money.

Below, we’ve listed 20 skills you should master before you enter your 40s.

Negotiating

If the thought of getting into a debate with your boss over how much money you deserve makes you nauseated, you’re not alone. It helps to both research and practice, as much as you can stand.

If you’re negotiating your salary, the best strategy both for getting what you want and still coming off as friendly is to ask for a range including and above your target number. For example, if you’re aiming for a $100,000 salary, you’d suggest a $100,000 to $120,000 salary.

Another trick is to frame your proposal in terms of what you’re giving the other person as opposed to what they’re losing. So instead of saying, “I want $10,000 for my car,” you’d say, “I’ll give you my car for $10,000.”

Establishing a regular sleep schedule

We know it’s hard to hear, but it’s helpful to wake up at the same time every day — even on weekends. If you oversleep for even a few days, experts say you risk resetting your body clock to a different cycle, so you’ll start getting tired later in the day.

On a related note: Experts also advise against hitting “snooze” and going back to sleep when your alarm goes off in the morning. Instead, hit the snooze button once and use the time until your alarm goes off again to turn on a lamp and do some light stretching.

Making small talk at parties

Chances are good that, if you’re feeling awkward about chatting with a bunch of impressive people you’ve never met, other people are feeling the same way.

But as Marjorie Gubelmann, CEO of Vie Luxe, told Oprah.com: “Even if you won’t know anyone and you’re feeling intimidated, you must go. Do not stay home. So many people are afraid that no one will talk to them and they’ll leave feeling awful — but has that ever happened to you?”

One solid way to improve your small-talk skills— and alleviate some of the pressure you feel — is simply to demonstrate interest in your conversation partner. Ask the person questions, let them talk about themselves, and allow them to teach you something.

Finding and sticking to an exercise routine you enjoy

A professor of behavioral medicine told The New York Times that research suggests people who dislike or feel inept at their workouts are unlikely to continue. So experiment and find an activity you really love, whether that’s spinning, Zumba, or weightlifting.

Remember: In your 30s, you start losing muscle mass, so it’s especially important to exercise at this time.

Finding your career ‘sweet spot’

Brian Fetherstonhaugh, worldwide chief talent officer at The Ogilvy Group, writes on TIME.com: “Your career sweet spot is the intersection of three things: what you’re good at, what you love to do, and what the world values.”

He says you should “use your 30s to test out hypotheses,” like whether you’re skilled enough in one area to make a career of it…

…keep reading the full & original article HERE