Reaching the age of 30 seems to be a significant achievement – a point at which many people in the United States, in Canada, and all over Europe take a moment to ask themselves, “Have I done enough during my 20s?” In reality, there isn’t one correct way to go about things, but there are certain things to do before your thirtieth birthday that are regularly found in the experiences of individuals who look back on their twenties and have no regrets.
The guide divides the various things you should do by the age of 30 into six practical areas: career, money, health, relationships, travel, and personal growth, enabling you to turn your general feeling of ‘I should be doing more’ into a real checklist.
Career Goals to Hit Before 30
The 20s are the ideal decade for professionally experimenting since the consequences of making a mistake are at their lowest at that stage. As for what to do on the career side before your thirties:
Take up at least one job that challenges you; a demanding position—even if it’s only a mediocre one—will teach you more than a comfortable one.
Develop a skill that is noticeable. Whatever it may be—such as writing, coding, sales, or design—have one area that you can cite and state “I am good at this.”
Set up your own thing, even if it’s small—such as a freelance job, a blog, or a small e-commerce store—since this kind of initiative teaches you about ownership in a way that regular employment never can.
It’s important to learn how to negotiate; you should ask for a raise one time and request a better rate once as well, the key point being that the skill is more important than the result.
Make sure you have at least one mentor who is 10 to 15 years your senior and who actually keeps in touch.
A clear professional identity usually results from repetition rather than a single lucky break in people who get to their early 30s.
Financial Milestones for Your 20s
It is in the area of money that advice on what to do before 30 becomes the most detailed — and the most varied from one region to another. Although the names of the accounts may be different, the basic components are similar in the United States, in Canada, and throughout much of Europe (for example, 401(k) versus RRSP versus workplace pension).
Set up an emergency fund by putting three to six months’ worth of expenses into a different account.
It is a good idea to open a retirement account as early as possible, even if the contributions are small, since, thanks to the effect of compounding, the amount invested when you are 25 will be worth a great deal more by the time you reach 60 than the same amount invested at 35.
Check your net worth every year. Since retirement savings at age 30 differ greatly depending on income and country, it’s best to compare your own progress with that of your own savings rather than with a figure that appears in the headlines.
Eliminate the high-interest debt, starting with credit card debt and then moving on to student loan debt.
Find out how taxes and investing really work in your country rather than depending on guesswork.
Set up at least one additional source of income apart from your primary job, even if it starts off as small.
Health Habits Worth Building Early
The habits you develop in your twenties have a similar effect to money in that they compound.
Have a complete checkup, covering dental and vision as well — a great many people leave this out for years.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule since it has a greater impact on the rest of the items on this list than most people realize.
Choose an exercise that you aren’t afraid of; consistency is more important than intensity.
By learning to cook five substantial meals you will both save money and at the same time protect your health.
Tackle mental health issues early on, rather than waiting until burnout makes them have to be addressed.
Relationships and Friendships
In your twenties life usually centres on a constantly changing group of friends, roommates, and partners. The question of what to do before thirty isn’t concerned with achieving a particular relationship status—it’s about the quality of your relationships.
It’s a good idea to maintain between two and three friendships that started before your career began since those friendships would be more difficult to reestablish later on.
Have an honest conversation with one of your parents or siblings that you have been avoiding.
Find out what you truly want in a partner by gaining experience instead of relying on theory.
Get used to being alone. Those who never do so usually make decisions about relationships out of fear not from free choice.
Travel and Life Experiences
Travel is one of the activities that appears most frequently on any list of ‘100 things to do in your 20s’ and this is because it’s easier to find free time and energy at that age than it is later on.
Go on a trip that gives you a slight scare—something solo, to a new continent, or involving a language you do not speak.
Spend at least one year in a place other than your home town.
Act yes to unplanned activities more frequently than it seems natural.
Make a brief bucket list during your 20s and then go back and look at it again.
Personal Growth Before Turning 30
This is the area that people tend to underrate—the work done internally behind all the other items on this list.
Read about topics that lie outside of your normal areas of interest.
Again, get used to being a beginner when learning a language, an instrument, or a sport.
Set your own definition of success, not that of your family or of your feed.
Think about the decade of your twenties by writing it down; merely making a brief entry each year is enough to spot patterns that you would otherwise fail to notice.
Don’t think of 30 as a deadline; the early 30s, the mid 30s, and indeed later years are still part of the early stage, not the end of the road.
Before 30 FAQs
Is thirty a bit late to start over?
No indeed, the various aspects of one’s career, relationships, and health all change considerably during the 30s and 40s; thirty is a milestone, not a final point.
When you feel that you are falling behind, what should your attention be on?
Choose one area—typically money or your career—and carry out one specific action this month instead of attempting to make all the changes at the same time.
How much savings should I have accumulated by the age of 30?
The difference varies greatly from country to country and depends on income and the cost of living in the United States, Canada, and Europe; a more useful indicator than any absolute figure is whether your savings rate is increasing from year to year.
What is the difference between men and women reaching their thirties?
The career and financial aspects are basically the same; there are some differences regarding social expectations—for instance, there is more discussion about family timelines for women—yet the fundamental advice (such as achieving financial stability, maintaining good health habits, and having strong relationships) is relevant to all people.
Final Thoughts
Nothing on this list of things to do before you reach 30 is concerned with being perfect, since no one manages to achieve all 30 items. People who look back on their twenties and feel pleased generally made consistent, plain-old progress in a number of the areas—such as settling on a career path, building up their savings, forming a few genuine friendships, and taking one trip which had a significant impact on their outlook. So select three items from the list and begin them this month; that is a more sensible approach than attempting to finish the entire checklist before your next birthday.
