27 Unbelievably Truthful Posts That Perfectly Capture the Unexpected Realities of Life in Your 40s

So, here’s the deal — turning 40 is like waking up to find your body’s decided to play a prank on you that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying. Suddenly, those late-night pizza binges become a crime against your lower back, and you catch yourself more invested in weather forecasts than the latest celebrity drama. I’m not even 30 yet, so I’m sitting here feeling pretty invincible, but the memes from folks cruising through their 40s paint a picture that’s both brutally honest and downright sidesplitting. What’s it really like hitting that milestone? Well, internet denizens over 40 have been candidly sharing memes that nail the chaos and charm of life in the fifth decade. This collection is a laugh riot for the free-spirited youth, and a comforting nod for those already “been there, done that.” Plus, I had a chance to chat with Ariane Sherine — a comedy writer and musical stand-up dynamo who hit the big 4-0 recently — about how much truth these memes really hold. Spoiler alert: it’s all true and just as wild as you’d imagine. Ready to dive in and see what aging really looks like through the meme lens? LEARN MORE

Article created by: Mantas Kačerauskas

Life changes when you turn 40. The back-aches start in earnest, you have to really start watching what you eat, and you’re more interested in watching the weather forecast than the actual news. But what do I know? I’m not even 30 yet and I think that life’s going to be as awesome in the future as it is now! No aches or secret maladies for me, no siree!

However, internet users that are 40+ have been sharing memes about what it’s like in the fifth decade of life on Earth, and it all seems funny and scary at the same time. Bored Panda has collected the funniest memes for you to nod off to (or laugh at and upvote if you’re still young and free like me!). Don’t worry, it’s all done with good intentions and it’s a bit of harmless fun. After all, in just a few short years, we’ll all be intimately familiar with these memes firsthand.

Bored Panda spoke about how much truth there is in these memes with comedy writer, musical stand-up comedian, and pop star in waiting, Ariane Sherine, who turned 40 last summer. Be sure to read on for my full hilarious and candid interview with her. [Spoiler Warning: yup, it’s just like we feared!]