How many times have you reflected back on your life and wish you had done things differently? If your answer is “a trillion” don’t worry, you’re not alone. If only we all had our very own crystal ball to let us know what was right around the corner of our life journey. Maybe then we wouldn’t have made so many mistakes in our younger years, right? Well, probably not. But with that being said, here’s a list of things I wish I had known before turning 30. Maybe it will help you with your own self-reflection. It’s never too late to continue learning and growing and becoming a better version of yourself!
1. Quit Your Dead End Job
The days of working the same job for 30 years are long gone. If you’re not happy in your job, you feel depressed every day on your morning commute, and you secretly wish your place of employment would go up in flames, just quit already. Don’t waste another day in a situation that’s stressing you out and affecting your quality of life.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
Failing is a part of life, so don’t be afraid to trip, stumble and fall down more than a few times. It’s not about how many times you fail, it’s about learning from those experiences, dusting yourself off and giving it a go once again!
3. Go Through Life at Your Own Pace
This isn’t a race. You should go through life at your own pace and trust that everything will turn out exactly the way it should!
4. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
You have to have patience if you want to see good results. Slow down a bit and learn to take a breather when you feel your impatience start to creep in.
5. Be More Trusting
You’re going to get hurt at some point, but you can’t block your blessings by refusing to trust anyone. Learn to weed out the bad people and have faith in those who haven’t let you down yet.
6. Travel As Much As Possible
Now’s the time to collect as many stamps in your passport that you can. Take advantage of being young and free of responsibilities, and book that trip to an exotic location you’ve been dying to visit. If the wanderlust bug hasn’t hit your friends yet, don’t be afraid to pack a suitcase and travel solo.
7. Live in the Moment
If you’re so worried about what happened yesterday or what’s going to happen tomorrow, you strip yourself of the joy of living for today! Stop worrying so much about the things you can’t control, and start paying more attention to what’s happening right there in front of you.
8. Don’t Waste Your Time on Those Who Don’t Deserve It
Time wasters will always try to sneak their way into your life, but it’s your job to stop them dead in their tracks. If someone keeps you waiting repeatedly, doesn’t contact you as much as you contact them, or just isn’t genuinely happy to see you or spend time with you, cut them loose!
9. Stop Making Excuses
Stop making excuses for why your life sucks, why your family hates you and why your boss is a jerk. Owning up and taking responsibility for the role you’ve played in these situations is a part of growing up.
10. Learn As Much As You Can
You should become a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as possible. Learn about different cultures, research new technology, or visit a local museum to peruse the aisles of extraordinary artwork. Just remember: Knowledge is power!
11. Ask for Forgiveness
Asking for forgiveness isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign that you’re willing to let go of the pain and hurt someone has caused you by giving them a second chance.
12. Unplug Sometimes
Seriously, get off your phone. Instagram and Facebook aren’t going anywhere, so unplug your devices and enjoy some technology-free quiet time. You can pick up a book, write in your journal, tend to your garden, or cook a hearty meal instead. You can’t live your life behind a computer and phone screen forever.
13. Let Go of the Past
Holding on to the past will stunt your physical and emotional growth. So learn to deal with your issues, heal your wounds, and leave the past behind you.
14. Hold on Tight to Lifelong Friends
It gets harder and harder to make friends as you get older, so hold on tight to your lifelong pals who’ve been there since day one. These are the friends who’ve seen you at your best and at your worst, and they still love and accept you no matter what!
15. Make People Earn a Spot in Your Life
Don’t just give anyone a free pass into your world. Make them earn a spot in your life by gauging their reliability, their morals, and their character beforehand. Neglecting to properly vet people will lead to more trouble in the long run.
16. Save, Save, Save
Always make sure to have a little bit of money stashed away for a rainy day. You never know when your transmission may decide to die on you, or when you’ll need to take an emergency trip out of state to visit a family member. Having a bit of a financial cushion will also give you peace of mind as you navigate your way through life.
17. Stay Active
Your metabolism is about to kick rocks, so you’ll need to stay as active as possible. Long gone are the days when you could eat a Big Mac, drink three sodas, and eat a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts without gaining an ounce. You’ll have to work harder to keep your figure and your weight in check, but working out and staying healthy will make you feel and look so much better.
18. Only Compete Against Yourself
Stop comparing yourself to your friends and complete strangers. You should only be competing against yourself in all areas of your life. This way, you’ll always come out a winner!
19. Quality Over Quantity When It Comes to Clothing
Your body is going to go through some changes, and wearing cheap clothing will only accentuate that new roll of flubber around your midsection. When it comes to your wardrobe, quality is more important than quantity. Invest in a few tailored pieces that fit your body shape and you’ll instantly look like a million bucks every time you step outside.
20. Don’t Stress the Small Stuff
Stress has the ability to wreak havoc on your entire body and your mind. Stop sweating the small stuff and learn to let things roll off your shoulders more. You’ll find that you’re much happier when you’re not getting your panties all in a bunch over the tiniest things.
21. Let Go of FOMO
FOMO is the fear of missing out, and it’s something that plagues most millennials. Don’t think that just because you declined an invitation to go to that new nightclub in town, that you’re going to miss out on the best time of your life. Trust me, all you’re going to miss is a bunch of drunk people dancing offbeat in a hot and smelly venue.
22. Listen to Your Gut
Your intuition has been trying to save you all your life, but you repeatedly ignore it. It’s time to finally trust your gut and listen to your inner voice. It’ll never steer you wrong.
23. You Can’t Always Depend on Your Good Looks
It’s hard to believe, but your looks will fade one day, and you’ll need something else to fall back on. What else do you bring to the table? Do you have a hidden talent? Are you well-traveled? Do you make the best enchiladas on the block? This is the time to become a well-rounded person and let others know you’re more than just a pretty face.
24. Ask for Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you’re in a bind. You may think you have no one to depend on, but trust me, there are people in your corner who will come to your rescue in five seconds flat.
25. It’s Not About the Journey, It’s About the Destination
Who cares how long it takes you to graduate, or how many years you have to save money before you’re able to buy a house. Don’t focus so much on the journey, focus on the destination. Keep your eye on the prize and know that everything will work out in due time.
26. Don’t Take Life So Seriously
Learn to laugh at yourself sometimes. You can’t take life so seriously because as they say, “You’ll never make it out alive anyway!” So morbid, but so true!
27. Make Amends With Your Parents
If you’re still holding on to resentment for something your parents did during your childhood, now’s the time to officially let it go. Realize that your parents are human, and we all make mistakes. They tried their best with the cards they were dealt. How much longer are you really going to hold things against them?
28. Learn to Walk Away
Whether it be a bad relationship or a bad friendship, you have to learn when to walk away. If the relationship isn’t full of positivity then what’s the point?
29. Ask Questions
Don’t just sit in silence. If you don’t understand something, speak up! Asking questions shows that you’re engaging in conversation, and you’re eager to learn more. Don’t forget to pay attention to the answer you receive too!
30. Pick and Choose Your Battles
You can’t fight every time something doesn’t go your way. Think to yourself, “Will any of this matter in five years?” If the answer is “no,” then it’s not worth it. Learn to let things go sometimes and keep your fighting words and cranky face for the situations that really matter.
