This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep my website up and running and is very appreciated. Thank you for your support!
It’s my birthday today (as well as Gandhi’s, so happy birthday to him!) and I thought it would be great to share with you all my feelings on turning 30 this year, and what I’m looking forward to this decade!
Ever since I could remember, 30s always had a negative stigma. Women, especially, would tell me how much they dreaded approaching their 30s and they’d pretty much act as if their lives were over once they stopped being in their 20s.
I used to be afraid about getting older when I was much younger, purely because of how everybody else was always freaking out about aging.
What I found out, though, is that I really enjoy each passing year.
I don’t fear age. Many people don’t even get the chance to live to the age that I’m in now, so who am I to complain about another year?
My 20s have been years of many important lessons, and you can read about 20 things I learned in my 20s in this post.
Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.
David Bowie
With that said, there are a number of things I’m looking forward to in my 30s, now that I’ve reached that stage of my life.
Pin for later!
What I’m Looking Forward To In My 30s
Being smarter with money
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been pretty terrible with finances over the last 10 years since I started working. On one hand, I wish schools taught finances, but on the other, I do blame myself for not learning about how to be more responsible with my money earlier.
About a year ago, I started obsessing with learning how to make more money and save more money. I have learned a lot, which is great, and I can’t wait for my savings to grow in my 30s. My vow to myself is to be smart with money every year from now on.
Here are some books that helped broaden my financial education:
Being more comfortable in my own skin
I think most of us struggle with insecurities to some level. In the past few years, my insecurities have been slowly going away for the most part. I still have bad days occasionally, but I think that’s completely normal. All in all, I’ve managed to reach a pretty good level of self-acceptance.
In my 30s, I hope to be comfortable with how I look and stop comparing myself to others. I will be in the same body for the rest of my life, and if I cannot fix it by eating healthy and being active, then I hope to accept it and take it for what it is.
Healthier living
Eating whatever I want and not taking my vitamins has really shown over the past few years. I feel terrible. My back always hurts, I get tired easily, and let’s not even talk about me having to walk stairs.
This decade I plan on eating more greens, cut down on dairy, and make smarter choices when eating out.
I also purchased Beachbody on Demand and you bet your behind I’ve already started working out. Being overweight and tired is not going to be my reality in my 30s.
Quality over quantity
I’ve become better over the years at not buying excessive amounts of clothes, makeup, and other random stuff. I hope that in my 30s I will continue this habit and only buy what I need, and focus more on the quality of what I’m purchasing.
This also will apply to events I go to and people I choose to spend time with. I don’t need to be everybody’s friend, and I don’t need to go to every dinner and event I’m invited to. Whatever, and whoever, I think is worth my time will get it.
Taking care of my skin
You guys, I don’t think I’ve ever had a professional facial done. I wear sunscreen daily and take my makeup off every single night, but facials? Never. Those are definitely going to be introduced to my skincare routine very soon. I actually think that as a birthday present to myself I’m going to go ahead and book myself a nice facial!
I also want to start investing in a solid skincare routine tailored to my skin. Having oily skin all my life has been exhausting when it came to finding products that combat the shine and treat imperfections, but I’m hoping to find something that works very soon.
And there you have it! The 5 things I’m looking forward to in my 30s. I’m actually really excited to be getting older and becoming the woman I was always meant to become.
I’d love it if you told me in the comments how you feel about milestone birthdays! Do they scare you or excite you?
Fabulous read! As I approach my 44th birthday, this makes me reflect that I had many of the same thoughts. I never dreaded turning 30, turning 40 got to me a bit, I don’t even want to think about 50! But as far as being more comfortable with myself and financially stable and independent – I am there! And it feels awesome!
Ah no way! I love that you’ve achieved financial stability and are comfortable with who you are- that’s beautiful! I hope your 40s, 50s and beyond will be less scary and more relaxing 🙂
Working from home’s really put me in a bad shape. I am spending so much time staring at the screen that I HAVE TO start living healthier. I am glad I am not the only one
I can relate to this! Good luck!
Great list! Happy Birthday (to you and Gandhi!) 😄 I hope your thirties will be amazing, but with such positive intentions, I’m sure they will be!
Maud | http://www.lifesworklab.com
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 🙂
I can’t seem to find your blog link to read a post of yours! Could you leave it as a comment here? 🙂
I’m slowly learning not to fear age as much. I truly believe my 30’s will be my best years where I will flourish! I hope you have an amazing birthday, lovely <3 x
I really hope they will be and that you find peace with aging! Thank you so much! 💞
First of all, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday.
Being in mid 20’s makes me quite nervous about reaching 30’s.This post gave a little bit confidence on what to focus on. Thank you so much!
Thank you very much! I think mindset has a lot to do with how you see age. I hope your nerves go away when you start approaching your 30s but for now, have the best time in your 20s! 🙂
Great post here, love your insight on looking back! I am currently trying to do the same thing with focusing on quality over quantity, just recently cleaned out my closet and realized I buy way too many things on impulse.
I can completely relate! I bet it felt so good to purge all those items you don’t use!
I love this! I’m turning 29 this month and have had some negative emotions around getting older. I love these goals, they really are refreshing and helped me change my perspective around this stage of life!
Thank you!
wonderful read and honestly self care is something which i have introduced in my routine as well. Happy birthday Mariam and i hope you get to achieve your every single goal x
Happy birthday! I’m 2 years away from my 30s and I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, I definitely need to readjust my thinking. X
Lauren | http://www.laurenyloves.co.uk
I hope your perspective changes by then! Thank you for stopping by!
Fabulous list. Add one more thing, you will become more fearless and with time you will understand that life is all about evolving. You will feel more powerful 🙏.
I love this!
I love this! I’m 28 and honestly dread turning 30 in two years, but I know my 30s are going to be the best years of my life. I could feel it. 🙂
That’s awesome! 🙂
I can totally understand the fear of growing up, specially when people your age or older than you, say that life becomes more complicated and tiring. But in the end, it’s part of living. And if we’re always fearing to grow up, then will be stucked in the same place forever. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just be grateful for being alive and thank GOD or the universe for everything we have.
I think those 5 things you mention go all back to you, and its great! I love that you’re giving yourself the oportunity to take care of you. This was a great read.
Thank you so much, Amanda!
I love all of this! Thanks for sharing I have a few more years but always nice reading these positive notes about aging!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! 🙂
Great post and happy birthday for yesterday! I’ve always had a funny relationship with my birthday. But I’ve always been grateful because like you said, not everyone gets to live to this age. Or old age. I’m not quite 30 yet but I hope I can look forward to all of this too! x
Thank you Jenny! I hope you can, too. 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Thank you so much!
Happy birthday! I’m totally with you on quality over quantity now – I’ve bought so much stuff I didn’t need over the past few years! Definitely time to stop that.
This was an awesome post. It reminded me of things I prioritized when I turned 30. Especially managing money. Happy birthday!
Thank you so much!
This was such a great read! I always find birthdays are a great way to reset and come up with some new goals. It sounds like you’ve got some real positive stuff planned, wishing you all the best with it! Milestone birthdays tend to freak me out a bit, but I’m trying to look at each year more positively and come up with some new goals and look back on what I’ve already accomplished!
Thank you so much!
Happiest of birthdays! I love this post! I think birthdays are such a great time to reflect! May your 30’s be the best yet!
Thank you so much!
Happy birthday!
I have been working on a similar list, as I get excited for 40!!
Thank you!
I turned 35 this year and had mixed feelings! I agree with all the stuff you said about your 30’s and totally recommend starting a skin care routine! At this age I am really getting more comfortable in who I am and am definitely focusing on my health and wellness more than I have in the last decade 🤗
That’s great to hear! 🙂
I feel like I could have written this!!! I have never worried about getting older and I just started really focusing on my skin care. Happy future birthday to you! 😉
xo
samantha
http://www.waitingforweekends.com
That’s awesome- thank you!
I dreaded my 30s leading up to it because I completely bought into the negative stigma. Now, at 33, I can honestly say that it’s not at all what I expected. In fact, I know more about who I am now than I ever did in my 20s, which has led to some great moments as I explore that further.
Happy belated birthday! I absolutely loved turning 30! Life is so much better, I never worried about turning 30, embracing it is the way forward and it certainly sounds like you have x
I love this- thank you!
Quality over quantity is something I always try to remind myself of.
I’m 27 and everyone keeps asking me about 30 – I’m like, let me live! This post is super positive though I love it
Rosie
loverosiee.co.uk
Awesome blog post herein. I’ve learnt to be simple and I’ve been trying to be a minimalist for few months now.
Thanks
That’s great! Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing! This post makes me feel like I’m not alone, since I’m getting near to my 30’s financial stability is something I’m really looking for! By the way, happy belated anniversary!
Thank you very much!
one of my thing too before i hit thirty was to be smarter too with my money. I am still struggling there my eyes and needs exhaust me
I love the facial idea. I’ve been wanting to add a massage to my routine. It’s so hard to invest the money though! Maybe I’ll ask for a spa membership for Christmas HEHE!
Great idea! I might do the same!
Nice article. I’ve learnt to always believe on yourkself, and never compare yourself to others…
Thanks
Loved this post! I’m about to turn 30 and although there’s an ingrained part of me that worries about it, I also somehow feel extremely strongly that this is going to be an incredible decade and that I’m extremely lucky to be able to experience it. I know myself so much better than I did at 20 and I am becoming someone I like which is very important. I 100% need to work on the frivolous spending and the lacklustre skincare though, haha!
Beth x Adventure & Anxiety
Haha in right there with you, girl! I still have yet to get that facial. 😩
Something that may other people’s mind about aging is that in some poorer countries, with lower life expectancy, people think like; “Wow I am already 46!” In a way that they have had the fortune to reach that age instead of dying. Glass half full, not half empty. Every year is a new year and instead of thinking that we are losing ourselves, we should try to grow as persons to age beautifully. Decades ago, women started acting older when they aged, moaning about what in their body was hurting, believing that they were to old to learn and already wearing the old woman’s dress. Infants have many, many synaptic connections to learn and the ones not used disappear. It was thought that that disappeared forever from the brain but it turns out that they can form again at any time in someone’s life, through learning and experiences. You’ve got weightlifting grannies with abs. Being older shouldn’t mean losing yourselves. We should own our age.