It’s no secret that your 30s are rather weird. You’re not exactly young anymore, but you’re also not old either, and it’s during this decade that life speeds up. Many people hit their 40s or 50s wishing they’d done things differently, and here are ten of their regrets. Have you ever put off any of these, or are you already doing so?
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Getting a physical copy of personal records
While you might think that your digital birth certificate would be easy to obtain, it’s not until you need it that you realize it is anything but. People don’t bother collecting this stuff until it’s urgent. But it’s already too late. You should print it and other important documents to keep in a drawer, along with another copy that’s somewhere else.
Asking older relatives family questions
Trying to remember the name of that great-uncle who fought in a war, or the one who sold lawnmowers, is rather difficult. Many people regret not sitting down with their older family members during their thirties to ask them actual questions while they still could. All those family traditions & habits disappear rather quickly. Sadly, nobody even writes them down anymore.
Following a more specific skincare routine
You’re likely to either get way too into skincare during your 30s or completely ignore it. There’s no middle ground. Unfortunately, this is the time when random breakouts or sun damage also start appearing. Many people wish they’d figured out their ideal skin routine before they began spending all their money on trendy serums that don’t really do anything.
Learning how to read a document properly
Sure, it’s not glamorous, but any car leases or apartment agreements you sign will probably have terms in them that’ll cost you later. Many people in their 30s simply sign the paper, hoping for the best. It’s not until years later that they realize they should’ve read things properly to understand what they were getting into. That’s much too late.
Going on a solo trip
A solo trip doesn’t have to be fancy at all, as it could simply involve a weekend at a cabin or a city you’ve never been to. Whatever you do, going alone is a huge payoff. You’ll wish you did so before life became a lot louder, with kids & work stuff that you can’t escape. The appeal of a me, myself & I getaway never felt so strong.
Learning how to cook
You don’t have to become a home chef or anything, but being able to cook dinner without panicking is a real skill. And no, scrambled eggs & toast don’t count. Many people over 30 wish they’d worked out how to make a few meals before life became too busy for takeout. It really shouldn’t be that difficult, but sometimes, it is.
Understanding health insurance
Aging sounds great, until you realize that you owe $300 for something that was supposed to be covered under your health insurance. It’s during your 30s that you have to start dealing with those random checkups. So why not get everything sorted out now? Working out what’s in-network & what a deductible even is will save you a lot of money later.
Creating a will
Nobody wants to think about this kind of stuff in their 30s, yet that’s the point. You probably have something worth protecting by now, like some money or a house, maybe even pets or kids. Either way, it doesn’t take a lot to write a basic will. There’s no reason to wait a while & leave a mess for someone else to deal with. Take the time to fix it.
Getting financial advice
While you could always Google your retirement options, that’ll never beat actual human help for your situation. Telling yourself that you’ll figure it out later is hardly a good idea. What are you going to do when it’s two decades later & you’re still guessing? You’re better off sitting down with a good advisor & understanding it all.
Creating a list of accomplishments
Your 30s are when time starts getting away from you, and months fly by. Suddenly, it’s four years later & you’re not sure what you’ve done with your life, so you start wishing you kept a running list of it. Record everything. From promotions to breakups you’ve lived through, or even random moments of confidence, you should try to remember them. There might be a time when you can’t.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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