6 Things Everyone Should Stop Doing by the Time They're 30

When we’re in our early twenties, we feel as though time is limitless and we’re free to do as we please.

Life presents its challenges but we remain generally happy because we know time is on our side. The ball is in our court and we have all the time in the world to lounge around before we start playing.

However, once you hit your mid twenties, the air changes slightly. And once you’re in your late twenties going on 30, a slight panic sets in. You’re still lounging around, or at least you’re nowhere near where you want to be, and you’re running out of your youth serum.

Even if you kicked ass through university and landed a great job or started a business based around your passion, because you’re not even close to realizing your big dreams and goals, by the time you’re nearing 30 you realize you need to really start kicking it into high gear.

I recently went through that, so I have a bit of personal experience (about as personal as you can get) and a few pointers to help get you started.

When I turned 30, I had this epiphany that my life is my own and my choices are my own.

– Chrissy Metz

Here are six things everyone should stop doing by the time they’re thirty.

1. Stop blowing money on drinks

You’re now officially one third to one half done with your entire life and you only have so long to save for retirement. Every week you blow money on drinks, are lax with your spending, and don’t maintain a budget you’re wasting time more than anything.

Sure, you want to still go out and have fun with friends. I get it. But the point isn’t the drinks -- it’s that you need to get on point with your finances because you’re not getting any younger.

2. Stop treating your career like something you can decide “later”

Many people still don’t have a clue what they want to do by the time they approach thirty. Either nothing has ever struck them or what did they ran from because they were afraid of public ridicule or their parent’s stern eye.

But if you want to live a good life you need to find something you can devote your time and energy to that makes you feel alive. And you need to do it now while motivation is hot and time is still plentiful.

3. Stop living on your phone

Now is a time to reflect on your life: what you’ve done and have not done, what you regret and what you still haven’t done that you’ve always wanted to.

It’s not a time to sit zoning out on social.

Social media is great. It helps you stay connected with friends, family, and the stuff you care about. But if you’re on your phone for more than thirty minutes each day, you’re a slave to your phone and you need to reevaluate your priorities.

4. Stop kicking yourself over the things you didn’t do

High school, college, and our early to mid-twenties can bring a lot of regret with it.

We wish we had asked that girl or guy out, gone to prom, spent more time making friends (or studying), or taking those dance lessons like we always wanted to.

These are all morphed into excuses over time, regrets which remind us of what we aren’t and won’t become or do.

But there’s still time. There’s always time. If you’ve lived in regret or disappointment throughout part of your twenties, it’s time to brush yourself off and move forward.

5. Stop hanging out with toxic people

When we’re young, it’s more about going out to have a good time. For that reason, some of the people we’re hanging out with might not be the best of the bunch.

But as you move into your thirties, having a circle of close friends who truly care about you and who have your back becomes as important as ever.

If you’re still hanging around toxic people just because they’re a good time, it’s time to stop and move on.

6. Stop making your health an afterthought

A lot of us keep health as an afterthought when we’re young, if that, because we feel perfectly healthy and don’t want to be bothered with thinking ahead to the future.

Plus, if we’re honest, we don’t like the idea of going to the doctor, dentist, or whatever else we think we might need checked.

However, if you continue with this mindset you’ll quickly notice health issues arise over the years to the point where, eventually, something comes up and it’s far too late to do anything about it.

The time to start focusing more on health and fitness is now, not tomorrow. If you want to live a long and eventful life than it depends on your ability to take your health seriously.