"Remember That You Can Only Control Two Things...": 18 Pieces Of Life Advice From People In Their 30s That Everyone Should Pay Attention To
As a 28-year-old, I am definitely looking forward to soon entering my 30s. I hear the 30s are some of the best years of one's life, so of course, when I came across a Reddit thread where u/uce_kefe asked, "Redditors over 30, what’s one solid life advice you would give to those 30 and under?" my eyes lit up.
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Honestly, a lot of the advice in this thread is gold. Here is what some people had to say.
Note: Some of these responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1."Don’t devote all your time and effort to your career. It is important, as it gives you the means to survive, but it is not what you should devote yourself to. I have spent the last seven years of my life focusing solely on my job. I wish I could go back and focus on living my life and finding out what brings me peace. Doing that now, and couldn’t be happier."
2."Work out regularly. As in, have a gym or exercise routine that is part of your weekly life. The older you get, the harder it is to start."
3."Invest in your health by making good choices about nutrition and fitness. Invest in yourself by saving money and not living outside your means. Invest in your future by setting goals and putting in the work to get there."
4."I don't care how hot that person is — don't take their shit, and have respect for yourself. Never beg to be liked. Be with someone who likes you, instead of transforming yourself into someone they will like, which doesn't work long term. Don't spend years in toxic relationships, even if there's amazing physical attraction and sex. It's also not your responsibility to save someone. You can help them save themselves, but don't be unhappy in order to make someone else happy."
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5."When the stakes are not that high, don't be afraid to take a chance. Failure is often fleeting and short, you will learn something, and the things you will regret later in life are the chances you didn't take."
6."Wear at least 30 SPF. Don’t be the person who settles for 15 because they want a tan. Any dermatologist will also tell you that 30 and up is the way to go."
7."Don't worry about being 'behind' other people, whether it's personal goals, career, financial, whatever. Once you're out of school, there is no timeline. Everyone does things at their own pace, and there is no perfect time to do anything. Everyone thinks they are behind in something in some way. So if everyone thinks they are behind, no one is."
8."Take care of your damn teeth. Floss, brush twice a day or more, and get checkups. This year has been over $2,000 worth of dental work (and that's with a huge family discount). I've had cavities filled, a root canal, a crown, rounds of antibiotics and steroids, and so many sleepless nights because of jaw pain. I cannot stress this enough. It's never too early to start taking better care of your teeth."
9."Be sure to pick friends and partners who build you up, not knock you down."
10."You will overthink things. Fun things, big things, small things. Relax, take a breath. You don't have to go hard all the time."
11."If you come from a not so financially well-off background, pick a career that you know is in high demand and pays well, with your hobby in the background. Don't slack — build skills, learn, and make enough money to be financially independent first; then you will have the money and time to do what you've always dreamed of."
12."Don't be afraid to fail. The only way to learn is to practice. You have to make mistakes in order to get better. No one is automatically great at everything. Let yourself love the journey of practicing and doing instead of the endpoint. If you concentrate on the endpoint, you'll end up so miserable that when you finally get to the endpoint, you'll feel let down. Try to have fun the entire time."
13."Travel. Money isn't the constraint. Time is. You might have less opportunity as you get older. Family, job, or health reasons can come up. Do it now."
14."Your social life really changes a lot when you are out of school, so be prepared. Meeting people and making friends becomes harder, as does following your interests. But the good news is, you have opportunities to do both of those things way better than before, and with better results. Put the energy into meeting new people, get rid of your toxic friends from school — but keep the quality ones, of course."
"Once you're out of high school, and definitely out of college, having a ton of friends in one or few groups just isn't that valuable. There is no need to put up with people who don't support you, who compete with you, use you, can't stop complaining, or are otherwise toxic. And be sure to make time for your own interests, outside of work and hanging out with your friends or partner. This is really key to staying happy and stable and beating the loneliness that can come with 'adult' life. It's what makes this your best life."
15."Don’t stress about hitting certain age milestones. The difference between 29 and 30? Not monumental."
16."People are temporary. You'll be shocked at how many of them just come and go. It doesn't matter how much you try to work for that connection. People are inherently selfish. Once you have nothing left to give or they've taken all that they can (or they find 'better' options, tbh) they will move on. This applies to both romantic partners and friends."
17."You can only control two things: your thoughts and your actions. All the time and anxiety you spend worrying about what other people think or do in your early years is wasted."
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