Well, I’m officially thirty! And in the words of Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on Thirty… I’m thirty, flirty and thriving! While I am not too sure if I would use those exact words to describe how I feel about turning thirty, entering into a new decade sure has made me feel a mix of emotions. I am a bit teary eyed that I can no longer describe myself as a “20-something”, but at the same time, I am looking forward to experiencing a new chapter in my life. 30 is the new 20 anyways, right?
I feel like turning thirty is quite the milestone. It’s the end of the end of an era and the start of a new one. While I still have many life moments and experiences ahead of me, I feel like I have learned a lot in my 30 years on this planet! So here’s 30 things I’ve learned in 30 years.
1. Love yourself first.
First and fore most.
2. Be grateful for what you have.
The older I get, the more grateful I am for what I have in my life: the relationships I have, the home I live in, my job, and my health. It’s so easy to complain about these things or wish you had it different. When it comes down to it, everything I have right now in my life are the only things I need
3. Worry less about what people think of you.
I wish I could go back in time and tell my 16-year-old self this. I used to care way too much about what people thought of me. While I do still care about what the people closest to me may think, as those are the most important relationships in my life, I just can’t be bothered to waste my time and energy thinking about what others who don’t even know me may think of me. Just do you girl!
4. Exercising is just as important for your mental health as it is your physical health.
I’ve always worked out consistently since my early 20s. It’s something that has become engrained in my routine and is so important to me, not only to my physical health and wellbeing, but even more so for my mental health. I feel so good after a good workout, and it really helps to set my intentions for the day. Also, I’ve come to the realization over the years that exercising don’t always mean going to the gym. I’ve been able to accept that other forms of exercise are just as valid and count just as much a gym session. At the end of the day, just move that body.
5. Get lots of sleep and drink lots of water.
Such basic things, but this truly is the basis of feeling good and looking good. Sleeping is something I prioritize, and I find that the older I get, the more I love to get my beauty rest. Ask anyone. My bedtime seems to get earlier and earlier the older I get. When it comes to water, drink as much as you can! We all know how important it is! #hydration
6. You don’t need to take a plane to travel.
While it’s always fun travelling to other countries, it’s just as much fun exploring your local surroundings. There are so many interesting and unique places to visit close to you. Hop in your car and go!
7. Never underestimate the power of a good music playlist.
Music almost always makes everything better. Need some motivation? Play some pump-up jams. Need something to listen to while you clean? How about some awesome 90’s tunes? Need a boost of energy? Rock out to all your favourite TikTok hits.
8. Stop comparing your life to others.
This is so much easier said than done and is something I’ve always struggled with. It’s so easy to look at others and play the comparison game. It’s important to remember to be proud of your accomplishments and that someone else’s success doesn’t diminish yours. Jealousy is unhealthy and can suck the life and energy out of you. Be happy for others and lift each other up!
9. Eat good food.
I love food. There’s not one type of food I don’t like… okay I may not be the biggest fan of cilantro but I will still eat it. I’m not a good cook by any means, but I do enjoy cooking my meals from scratch. I love scouring cookbooks and food blogs for new recipes to try. As much of an effort as it can be, take the time to plan out each meal and cook with real ingredients – your body and health will thank you later!
10. You’ll lose friends along the way and that’s okay.
Sometimes people just drift apart and there is no real reason why. Sometimes after you lose touch with someone you realize it was for the better. Maintaining friendships can be harder the older you get, but the ones that stick with you are the ones that are the most important and worth putting the effort into.
11. Spend time with your family. You never know when it will be the last time you see them.
The older I get the more appreciative I am of my parents and family. The older I have become, the more loss I have experienced too. It really puts things into perspective and makes you value and appreciate the loved ones in your life. So spend time and make memories!
12. It will be harder to make plans with friends, but it is always worth it when you do.
Everyone is so busy with life, work, family, relationships, travel. It can be so hard to schedule in time to see people. I also am someone who secretly loves when plans get cancelled. I promise you though when you stick to the plans and get to spend quality time with your besties, it’s always worth it.
13. Collect moments, not things.
See #22. Embrace the moment you are in and if you really want something to take home with you during vacation, snap those photos and bottle up some sand! Skip the cheesy souvenir store and spend the money and time on experiences and creating memories.
14. You will never regret spending time reading a good book.
This is something I have always strived to do but I’ll admit, it’s hard to find the time. I need to get better at prioritizing reading because I absolutely love it.
15. You’re never too old to go back to school.
You can always go back to school! There are so many great options with online and distance learning nowadays that you can enroll yourself in all sorts of classes and programs. I’ve taken a full program in interior decorating and a course in home staging while working full-time. It’s a great way to pursue interests without having to go back full-time. But if you want to go back full-time, you go for it!
16. Learn to let go.
Let go of things and move on. There’s no point in holding in negative energy – it’s draining and time consuming. Some things you may never get over, and that’s okay, just don’t let it eat you up.
17. Own your mistakes.
You are not perfect – no one is. Mistakes are going to happen. It’s easy to blame others and owning up and taking ownership of your mistakes is not always easy. Make it a learning opportunity and find the life lesson in it and take charge.
18. Life doesn’t always go according to plan.
Nope, it sure doesn’t! Be prepared for all sorts of curve balls thrown your way. Don’t let it discourage you though – life has a weird way of making things happen and things will eventually work out!
19. Wear that sunscreen!
Just do it. No one wants wrinkles or skin cancer. Find a good moisturizer with SPF and your skin with thank-you when you’re 50.
20. You will still rely on your parents.
More than ever! Living so close to your parents can be a blessing and a curse, but more so a blessing. How many times have I run out of an ingredient while baking and have had to call my parents asking them to drop some off? Too many times to count. How many times have I called my parents when I still had my old car to tell them the mechanic is saying something else is wrong with it? I’d run out of fingers to count on. Point is, just when you think you are an independent woman, you will still call your parents for help more often than you think.
21. Surround yourself with positive people who make you feel good.
You don’t need to be friends with everyone, especially those who don’t make you feel good about yourself. Spend time with people who make you happy.
22. Record your life. Take the pictures. Make videos. Capture those moments. You will love looking back on your life later.
I know it’s important to live in the moment and take everything in, but I love documenting my life in photos and videos. I love looking back on moments in my life and trips I’ve gone on and experiences that I’ve had.
23. It’s okay if you are not where you thought you would be in life by now. Things will happen when the timing is right.
I often have to remind myself of this many times. Everyone is on their own path in life and while you may not be where you thought you would be 5-10 years ago, you have still made a lot of progress and experienced a lot of accomplishments. Sometimes it’s hard to see that. So enjoy life as it is, don’t stress about the small stuff, and look forward to what life has to bring!
24. Maintain good habits and routines.
I tend to be a creature of habit. In fact, I’ve almost always had the same breakfast every day for like 10 years and I’m still not sick of it. It’s all about the little things and small daily habits that make positive changes. I’ve always felt my best when I have a routine in place. It makes me feel good and makes me feel like I’m staying on top of things.
25. Those beanie babies will still not be worth anything.
I hate to break it to you, but all those collections from your childhood are likely not worth anything. What a lie we were all told to keep the tags on those beanie babies. Not goin to lie, I will probably still hold onto my collection. Maybe they will be worth something by the time they are passed down to my great-great-grandkids!
26. Be nice and expect nothing in return.
Just be a nice person!
27. Quality over quantity.
This can apply to so many things in your life, but especially to relationships and material items in particular. Choosing fewer, but more meaningful relationships and owning less stuff is more important than anything else.
28. Loving and accepting your body will come when you have a healthy balance in life.
This took a while for me to understand. For someone who has always struggled with weight and having a healthy relationship with food, it has always been hard to love and accept my body. I’m finally at a place in my life where I truly love my body and feel good about myself. I realized this shift when I stopped stressing about food and working out all the time and included more balance in all aspects of my life.
29. Don’t lose your inner child.
I will argue with anyone that 90s kids had the best childhood. Because of that, I am such a big kid at heart. I will watch a Disney movie anytime and will talk about old 90s tv shows and trends with anyone. A part of me will never grow up and I love that about myself. Also I’m a sucker for nostalgia.
30. You don’t have to have your life together by 30.
It’s okay to take the time you need to figure things out. There will be many times when you question all your life choices and wonder what it is that you are truly meant to do. Focus on what makes you happy and that will help you get to where you are meant to be.
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