Now that you’re in your 30s, you’re probably finding yourself way more comfortable in your skin, caring less about what people think, and overall just doing more of whatever you want.
You made it through your 20s, after all! No one gets to 30 without doing at least a little growing.
You’ve got to take advantage of the chance these ten years present to live your best life to the fullest, in a way that looks totally different from what your best life looked like in your 20s, and from what it will look like in your 40s.
In other words, carpe diem, baby. This is your chance to make your 30s the best they can be.
Don’t know where to start? Here’s our list of things to focus on in your 30s for the happiest, most fulfilled decade yet.
10 Things To Do In Your 30s
Be present.
You know by now how easy it is to slip into a pattern of not being present in your life. You go to work, you go home, you get on your phone, you go to bed.
But if you let that be your life, that is NOT really thriving.
To live your best life, you’ve got to make an intentional effort to live in the present moment. You don’t necessarily have to take a break from social media though trust us, it’s worth it.
But if you find yourself unable to put the phone down and hang out with your friends, it might be time for a social media cleanse. It will do you SO good.
If you struggle to be present in the moment even without your phone, practicing meditation can help you be more present in the moment, even outside of the practice.
Invest in your mental health.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, mental illness is a disease, not a personal failing. So if you’ve been putting off asking for help, the time is now.
Mental health is a key piece to thriving, so it’s crucial that you take care of it. Because it doesn’t just affect your happiness. In fact, having a mental illness before 40 can make you 58% more likely to have a heart attack, and 42% more likely to have a stroke.
Don’t stress if you’re in that boat. There are things you can do to reduce that risk, and we’ve included them here. To start, having a regular exercise plan, eating well, and getting regular check ups can help minimize your risk.
Find a workout you love.
If you’ve been around on the blog for a while, you know how much Lauryn loves exercise. It boosts your mood and it’s great for your physical health. What more can you ask for?
If you’re struggling to find a workout you love, we’ve got options for you.
Jennifer Aniston’s Favorite Workout
Or check out this episode of The HIM & HER Show with Lauryn and Michael’s trainer to learn more about his guide for strength training.
Plus, if you don’t know how to stay consistent, Lauren’s got tips for that, too.
Eat well.
Along with working out, eating well is crucial at this stage of your life, and not just for appearances. Everything from bone density, blood pressure, mobility, reduced risk of diabetes and a number of other issues can be avoided (to an extent) by taking care of yourself now.
Avoid processed foods, eat real food, cook most of your own meals and take care of your gut and you’ll be good to go. That doesn’t mean you can’t indulge a little. Lauryn has a piece of Hu dark chocolate almond crunch almost every night.
Freeze your eggs if you want to.
If you’re someone who wants kids, but isn’t ready to have them yet, you might want to consider freezing your eggs.
Dr. Ghadir even came on the blog and The HIM & HER Show to discuss the process. He recommends that anyone who wants to have kids later in life should freeze their eggs.
Why? Because if you’re unable to become pregnant, you’ll have access to your own eggs.
Be more exclusive with your social calendar.
Be more protective of your time. It’s one of our most valuable assets. You don’t want to be wasting it hanging out with people who do not catch your vibe (and don’t support your values). Get used to saying NO so you can say YES to more of the things that make you feel amazing.
Invest in that retirement plan.
Part of living your best life is ensuring you can always live your best life. We’re talking retirement savings.
It can be hard to save money in your 20s, but it gets easier in your 30s. If you haven’t started saving for retirement yet, it’s time to think about getting on it.
Need tips to get started saving? Here you go.
Trim down your career focus.
You may have spent time in your 20s making ends meet and doing the best you can job-wise. If that was you, it’s time to start chasing your dreams.
But remember, you can’t excel at EVERYTHING. You may have been a jack-of-all-trades in your 20s, but in your 30s, it’s time to nail down what you’re passionate about.
After you’ve figured out what exactly you do and DON’T want to be working on go after it. And outsource what’s not in your wheelhouse. You’ll be so glad you did.
Be open to change.
Things are going to change throughout your entire life, so it’s time to get used to it.
You and/or your family and friends might be getting married, having kids, getting new jobs, solidifying their careers, etc. Life might look drastically different than it did the year before but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Think about it: do you really want your life to look the same forever? There’s so much of your 20s that we’re sure you’re ready to leave behind. All that uncertainty and insecurity of those ten years came with life experience that can blossom into some major confidence, if you’re willing to accept the change.
Remember, you’re ALWAYS growing.
Just like life is always going to change, YOU are always going to change.
You always have the opportunity to grow into the best version of yourself. And once you do, there will be a new challenge for you to work on.
But that’s the fun of life, isn’t it? Getting to be whoever you want to be and growing in a way that makes you happy. That’s what life is all about.
What are you most looking forward to in your 30s? And if you’re already there, let us know in the comments the best thing about it.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ Questions to ask yourself to create the life you want.
++ 15 life lessons from Sahil Bloom.
30 AND THRIVING:
