Our 20s don’t last forever. When it comes time to voyage into our 30s, things start to get serious.
After three decades on this planet, we’re supposed to become “well-rounded adults,” but what does that even mean? These suggestions should lead you in the right direction—find out what you should stop doing by the time you turn 30!
1. Constantly Checking Social Media
While social media is in our lives now more than ever, that doesn’t mean you have to keep it that way. Taking breaks from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is a necessary part of growing up. Social media promotes negativity—it gives you a reason to compare yourself to others. Not only that, but it’s also the root of many immature online arguments that you don’t need to burden yourself with.
2. Eating the Wrong Foods
Eating McDonald’s at midnight should no longer be a frequent occurrence. The same goes for eating at restaurants every day of the week and indulging in fast food too much. All of this unhealthy eating catches up with you as you get older. It’s important that you make changes to your diet now, rather than later.
3. Keeping Toxic People in Your Life
When you’re always busy with work and family, the last thing you want to deal with is toxic relationships. Toxic friends can put a damper on your day, and will just put you in an overall bad mood. Learning how to identify toxic people, and actually getting them out of your life is an instant stress-reliever.
4. Skipping out on Yearly Physicals
If you haven’t been to the doctor in years, it’s time to call up an office and make an appointment. Just because you aren’t over age 50 doesn’t mean that you’re immune to having health problems. Even if you have very minor issues, seeing a doctor now can prevent even worse health problems in the future.
5. Not Taking Care of Your Teeth
As a teenager and young adult, you might’ve gone days without brushing your teeth. By the time you’re 30, it’s expected that you have an oral hygiene routine that you stick to every day—no one wants to come face to face with someone who has bad breath. In addition to brushing your teeth twice per day, you should also get used to flossing and whitening your teeth as well.
6. Ignoring Your Skin
Have you noticed forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and smile lines forming on your face? Even if they’re faint now, you should make a point to take care of your skin. We won’t get to keep smooth, wrinkle-free skin forever, so you can at least try to make it last longer by washing and moisturizing your face on a daily basis.
7. Spending Beyond Your Means
Your 30s is the time to hunker down and really start thinking about your spending habits. Blowing money on extravagant clothes or cocktails gets old fast when you realize that you’re low on cash. If you’re guilty of frivolous spending, rethink your expenditures and try to focus on only buying things you really need.
8. Being a Bad Friend
Canceling plans out of laziness, forgetting your friends’ birthdays, or not attending a friend’s party just isn’t cool. Take the time to maintain your friendships, and you’ll earn back the trust of your friends.
9. Dwelling on the Past
At age 30, you might wish that your life turned out differently. Looking back on missed opportunities, past relationships, and negative experiences is something that we all do. In the end, turning 30 doesn’t mean that you can’t progress any further. It’s actually the perfect time to forget about the past and work to influence your future.
10. Not Having a Savings Account
Everyone needs a savings account, regardless of age. If you don’t already have one, now’s the time to start saving. Don’t forget to consider opening a retirement savings account as well.
11. Neglecting to Clean Your House or Apartment
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of having a personal cleaning service. We all know that cleaning is an annoying task, but it just needs to get done (preferably on a daily or bi-weekly basis). Living in a dirty house or apartment just isn’t healthy, and it’s a surefire way to deter guests.
12. Failing to Apologize for Your Mistakes
Maturity is owning up to your mistakes. As much as you might hate apologizing, it’s the appropriate thing to do when you’ve done something wrong. A sincere apology can put you on better terms with the person you wronged, and will relieve you of pent-up guilt.
13. Giving Up on Fashion
It’s easy to lose your sense of style over time. Instead of leaving the house in the comfiest clothes possible, try putting the effort into your look—you’ll feel much more confident when you rediscover and rock your new style.
14. Beating Yourself Up
Don’t let your negative thoughts tear you down. Even if you can’t get all of this done by your 30th birthday, do so at your own pace. Stop beating yourself for things you did or didn’t do, and look forward to a new era of your life.
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