Here Are The Life Lessons Every Person Should Learn By Their 30s In Case You're Wondering
The best (and hardest) part of growing up? All the things you learn along the way. I recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share what everyone should know by age 30. Here's what they had to say:
1."Life begins when you stop caring about what others might think. Live your best life, do your thing, and be a role model for your younger self. Playing alone to fit in will make you feel lonely, but going your own way will lead you to your friends."
—Linn from Sweden
2."Pay your mortgage without help from mom and dad."
3."Travel alone internationally, especially in a country with traditions and customs very different from your home country. Being alone will push you to engage with the locals in a way you wouldn't do otherwise."
4."Hold yourself accountable, own up to your mistakes, give a genuine apology, and follow through. On the flip side, how to let go when people do not pay you the same respect."
5."Change a tire."
6."Remember that the only person that can truly make you happy is yourself."
7."You should know how to cook at least one solid dish. By that age, you can't live off takeout and cereal forever. Well, you can, but at some point, you might want to impress someone — or just feed yourself something that's not a sad sandwich. Having one go-to meal makes you feel like an adult, even if you're still eating pizza rolls the rest of the week."
—Sidney from Washington
8."Move out of your parents' house. I'm not knocking family units living together, but I think to truly learn who you are or who you can be, you need to be away from family for at least a period."
9."Vote regularly and in local elections!"
—Faith from California
10."By age 30, go to therapy. I want to note the privilege of being able to afford it, with or without insurance. This isn't accessible to everyone. My life has completely changed for the better, and I am looking forward to thriving through this next decade as my most authentic, compassionate self. Do you know how I got the skills to do so? I learned it in therapy! You owe this to your current and future self to allow the chance to learn and heal in a way that only a mental health professional can help you achieve. We need to evolve. Let the therapy and mental health stigma go for good! It starts with you."
—Hannah from California
11."How to live alone. This life skill is so important. I learned it at 17 because that is when I moved out, but that was 1981. It's so different now."
12."Take the damn chicken out of the freezer."
13."Be single indefinitely without the NEED to be in a relationship. Learn to be happy alone."
14."You should cut out any toxic relationship in your life. My husband did it with family, and as hard as it is, we feel so much better and lighter now."
—Juliette
15."Realize you're a damn adult and it doesn't matter if you haven't had dinner yet. Do you want that dessert? YOU EAT THAT DESSERT."
—KLW from Tennessee
16."Orgasm! Hopefully by a partner but more importantly, alone!"
17."Stop blaming your parents for how you turned out!"
18."Set healthy boundaries with friends, family, and work. I know too many people who suffer because they cater to everyone around them. They don't know how to set boundaries and keep them. It's OK to say no. You need to know how to say no."
—NK from California
19."Figure out directions without use of a GPS."
20."Talk about your emotions! You don't have to get therapy-level deep, but by 30, verbalizing how you feel should be a basic life skill."
—Em from Ohio
21."Make a doctor's appointment. I'm 31 and the last time I went, the receptionist was praising me for doing it because she still makes her daughter's appointments and she's my age."
—Anonymous
22."Asking for help. This is something that sounds so simple but is very hard for a lot of people. And I don't just mean asking for help in small situations, I also mean with life problems — a job they're struggling with, mental health, financial situations, or even relationships. We need to learn that it's OK to be vulnerable and that we don't have to endure everything alone. Many people believe they're showing weakness by asking for help, while in reality, it takes courage to ask. It takes strength, even if it doesn't come with bravery. That's why I think it's something that everyone should learn how to do, and teach their children how to do."
—Jawaahir A. from California
23."Try not to be a financial idiot! Pay attention to finances and learn from your mistakes. Question your spending. Is it a need vs. a want, and sit with that thought. I'd bet some needs are really wants."
24.And finally, "No 30-year-old is the same. Give yourself grace and stop comparing yourself to this image of what you should have been. The only thing you should be is happy, so work on that!"
—Flore Pensaert from Belgium
"You should know that life doesn't conform to meaningless milestones and everyone goes through life at a different pace. Haven't achieved half (or any) of the things on this list? That's fine! You've got plenty of time. Don't beat yourself over it."
What should every person know by the time they turn 30? Share your response in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
