It can be a little scary reaching your thirties. You don’t feel all that much different from being in your twenties, but are well aware of the fact that this is the age you should really ‘have your life together’ (key word: should). What that means exactly depends on who you ask, but there are a few things that just about all of us thirty-something guys and gals can benefit from. Here are a few ideas:
Start Up A Side Hustle
Hopefully you’ve reached a stage in your life where you enjoy your career and have the job you want to be in, but regardless of your situation, it’s a good idea to start up a side hustle. It could be blogging, freelancing, tutoring, or a home business– either way, it gives you the chance to build new skills while earning more money. If anything happens with your day job, you have a stream of income to fall back onto, which is great, and in the here and now the extra money can be used to save, pay debt, or fund nice treats like designer clothes and holidays which we all love to have.
Focus On Your Health
Many of us are lucky to feel fit and well in our thirties, but if you have any niggling health issues, then it’s a good time to get them sorted. Like me, for instance. I had surgery last week for an issue I’ve had for over 5 years! Maybe you need stellate ganglion blocks after an injury, or perhaps you have a skin issue that always flares up. Whatever it is, chat with your PCP and get it sorted once and for all. Start eating well and exercising if you don’t already, and give up the binge drinking and smoking before it starts taking it’s toll on your body. You might have got away with it up until this point, but you won’t forever. Now is a good age to start taking care of yourself and thinking to the future.
Make Time to Socialize
Our thirties are a time where it can be hard to socialize. Most of us and everyone we know of the same age have busy careers, are raising family, some might be off travelling the world. It can be tricky getting everyone together to catch up, but it’s so important to do so when you can. Arrange monthly or bi-monthly meet ups, host parties and barbeques at your home, and/or meet with friends for days out when you can. It might be more afternoon coffee and spa days than pub crawls, but it’s just as fun once you’re no longer a party animal!
Get Your Finances in Order
Whether you earn a little or a lot, your finances should be under control. If you’re in debt then take steps to get out as soon as possible, work on saving money for a rainy day, and work to a budget so that each month, everything is getting paid on time. Sit down and go through your money, the way you pay things and how much, and figure out if anything needs to change. You could run through price comparison sites and get your bills down. You could set up a bills-only bank account and set all of your bills to come out by direct debit.
You could also consider checking out some of the free financial calculators online that are available to you. Getting your finances in order means looking at your budget, knowing exactly what your spending is and working out how you can get rid of all the debt you may have accumulated in your 20s. Finances seem like an adult thing to worry about, but as you’re in your 30s now, it’s time to worry about it. Financial calculators are a step that you take to embrace financial freedom, and you need to look at more than one so that you can get it right. Facing up to any mistakes you made in the past decade or so is much harder than you think, but you need to be brave and get to know your money!
Create a Home You Love
Buying a house is something that’s on most of our bucket lists, but it’s not always super easy. Maybe you live in a very expensive part of the world, or perhaps you’re still recovering from financial mistakes and debt from your twenties. If you can buy a house, that’s fantastic, but even if you’re renting, the space should still be somewhere you love to be. Invest in nice furniture- a good quality bed (my Cali King bed is the greatest thing ever), sofa, and pieces like a coffee table, dining table, and wardrobe. If you’re able to, redecorate in a way that suits your tastes and personality. Bring it all to life with soft furnishings, lamps, and accessories. Your home should be a place you’re proud to show off, somewhere you can entertain friends, raise a family, and make lots of happy memories.
•What are some things you do in your 30s that you definitely didn’t do in your 20s? If you’re in your 20s, what’s something you can plan to be more stable in your 30s?
Thank you for reading!
lyndsinreallife