Last year I turned 30, and in all that time I’ve learned quite a lot. Some of it important, like how to adult and some not so important, like the words to too many songs from the 90s. Most of these life lessons I learned in my 20s, but some are quite recent, like number 15. So here are my 30 life lessons from a 30-year-old.
- Have an outlet to relieve your frustrations; write, exercise, meditate etc.
- Prioritise by working out what is important to you.
- Stop spending your time on things you don’t enjoy. Hate a particular chore? Outsource it. Hate your job? Get a new one.
- Find your happy place. But be prepared, it might not be where you expect. My sister in law recently noticed that I really like it at the local strawberry farm. I feel comfortable there.
- You need to look after yourself before you can look after others. Sometimes you really do need to put yourself first.
- Get enough sleep, it really does make a difference to your day.
- Live in the moment and acknowledge what you are experiencing, especially if you have young kids.
- Really listen to people when they are talking with you. You don’t always need to say something in return.
- Never stop learning, whether it be for profit or pleasure.
- Give up judging people, it doesn’t do you any favours.
- Don’t be too afraid of making mistakes that you don’t even try.
- Learn from your mistakes, if you don’t you will probably continue to make those mistakes.
- Ask for help when you need it, you won’t get it unless you ask.
- What doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
- If something won’t take long, just do it.
- Celebrate the wins, even if they are small. Sometimes they can be few and far between.
- If someone means a lot to you, let them know.
- Be grateful, the things that follow may surprise you.
- Ask for what you want. If you want a pay raise, ask for it. Don’t wait until it’s offered to you. You might not be offered one or it may be much less than you think you deserve.
- Never stop saving your money. Even if you are only saving $10 a week, keep saving.
- Make time for family. Take the time to catch up with your family members. I go to pretty much everything I am invited to. We also arrange a family Christmas party sometime in December just so we can all catch up.
- Take all the advice you are given. People are going to give you advice whether you want it or not, especially when it comes to parenting. Take it and do what you want with it.
- Do it while you can. My husband and I spent a month travelling the US for our honeymoon. In hindsight, it cost us quite a bit but it was an experience we will never forget. It’s also something we may not have the chance to do again.
- Learn and know your body. Take the time to learn what your body is telling you. Also learn to track your menstrual cycle, the stuff they teach you in school is just not enough.
- Done is better than perfect. You can waste your life away waiting for something to be perfect. The perfect partner, the perfect time to have children, the perfect job, the perfect blog post.
- Don’t be afraid to let your guard down. The moment I admitted to my friends that I had experienced postnatal depression, I discovered some of my friends were the same.
- Put yourself out there. For years I have been really concerned about what others thought of me. This blog has helped me put myself out there more. I was absolutely petrified when the first person I knew in real life found this blog.
- It’s ok to change your mind about friends, partners, jobs and your health.
- Don’t be ashamed of your flaws. There are many people out there that are likely experiencing something similar. And on the contrary, wish for what you have.
- Always have a carton of long life milk in the fridge or cupboard as well as a loaf of bread in the freezer. Have you ever run out of milk and really don’t want to go out just for milk?
