Vital life lessons for your 30s
Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 by Tyler Durden in
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Vital life lessons for your 30s
SOUNDS funny, but nothing seriously momentous happens when you hit your thirties. Our thirties seem to hang over our heads all through our twenties. But when the time comes, you don’t wake up feeling wiser, nor do you suddenly become incredibly old.
What you do feel, is an obligation to get your life together, more than you attempted to in your younger years. The fun doesn’t end here, but it’s a time to start thinking about how you set yourself up for the rest of your life.
Not sure where to start? Here are some key areas to nut out:
Health
Exercise = life
This isn’t about training seven times a week or investing in an expensive gym membership, it’s more about getting yourself into good habits - your future self will thank you for it. As with your taxes, aging is inevitable and your body is likely to undergo some incredible (and scary) changes. The important thing is to continue to be as active as possible so it becomes part of your everyday. Find a workout you enjoy, rather than forcing yourself through that painful CrossFit circuit.
Check yourself
I’ll hit you with the blatant reality: you’re body isn’t the same as it used to be. But that’s okay, scheduling regular check-ups and being proactive about health issues will make sure any problems don’t carry through your later years. Find a doctor who you trust and feel comfortable having open conversations about your health with. Topics like pregnancy are raised among many people at this age so it’s essential you get the facts.
Finance
Start saving, now
No, I’m not talking about that stash of money you’ve been saving for that Greek Island holiday. You should be saving up for and anticipating big expenditures. Factoring in an upcoming wedding, mortgage, children, etc. will mean that you won’t be facing potential debt. Anything can happen in life, especially when these factors are involved; so preparing for the unexpected means you aren’t left in the lurch.
Learn to give
There’s no doubt that life can get expensive. Even if you have settled into a comfortable salary; home loans, student debts, car expenses all get in the way. It’s important however, to set aside some funds every year for giving back: charities, volunteering, etc. It’s a nice reminder of how lucky we are.
Fix your money mess
Your twenties has the potential to wreak havoc on your finances and if you allow it to follow through your thirties, it could mean problems. While you’re still fresh and in a good position, start tackling these important money issues:
- Creating a retirement plan
- Investing in life insurance
- Planning a will
- Killing credit card debts
Relationships
Let go of the bad
We tend to form harmful relationships in our twenties and they’re definitely not ones we should drag through a new life stage. There’s a simple trick to solving this: don’t spend time with people who don’t treat you well.
Cultivate connections
Anyone in their thirties and older will tell you that time is a precious commodity and seldom should you be spending on people who don’t matter to you. Especially when you start to grow a family of your own, spending time with friends and relatives who are valuable to you is more important than wasting your time with people who don’t.
Safeguard yourself
This may seem like a funny one, but it’s best to prepare for any kind of weather your relationship may face. Protecting yourself when you’re with a partner isn’t about separate credit cards or being secretive, it’s more about being smart and valuing yourself enough to determine what’s fair for both you and your partner in the future. Have serious discussions about what assets you’ll join and what you’ll keep separate. Understand what’s rightfully yours and what you’ll inherit with your relationship - don’t say “I do” to debt.
You
Practice resilience
You hit your thirties and there’s a new wave of confidence. You’re older, more established and more confident. But no matter how smart or talented you are, learning how to cope with setbacks is vital to facing life’s unexpected twists. Teach yourself how to be mentally and emotionally resilient, it will help you to face any problem that comes your way.
Respect yourself
“If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be,” said Maya Angelou. When you’ve reached this stage in your life, nobody has time to worry about what other people think. Respect yourself enough to be you, be your own beacon of respect. Whatever success looks like for you, go forth and conquer no matter what. If that means becoming crazy cat lady, then be the craziest one you can be.
Challenge your life PB
Life isn’t over at thirty despite what some people might say. Many people will reminisce about their twenties and how much things have changed. But the deadline for your bucket list isn’t over. Did you travel to five countries in a year in your twenties? Top that and travel to 10 now. Note: stop pretending to be 20 right now, as you’ll discover your body (and mind) may not be able to recover from certain things like they used to. Nevertheless, keep doing your thing, you’re heading much further than those who are too fearful to try.
