Kiran Athar
Being in your 30s is a weird stage in life; we’re adults who are starting to settle down, but we still have the wild energy of our 20s running through our veins. We have goals but we also enjoy partying; we like to travel but most are stuck saving for a mortgage!
Not to mention, when we start comparing what we’ve achieved to that of our friends, it can make us feel like we’re falling behind in life.
However, if we put that to one side, there are actually plenty of things most of us do without even realizing it, that contribute to a fulfilling and well-rounded lifestyle!
So, here are 12 signs you’re thriving in your 30s (even if you don’t feel like you are!).
1) You’ve learned from your 20s
Let’s be honest – your 20s are for making mistakes, and your 30s are to learn from them!
20 is the age when we’ve become adults but still lack valuable life experience. We enter relationships we probably shouldn’t, jump from job to job, and drink far too much on the weekends.
So, if you’re now in your 30s and you’ve taken the time to look back and reflect on the mistakes of your 20s so you don’t repeat them – you’re thriving!
Even if you don’t realize it, you’ve got at least a decade more experience than you had when you first entered adulthood. Now, you know what to prioritize in life!
And talking about priorities…
2) You’ve got a career
Another sign you’re thriving in your 30s, even if you don’t feel like it, is having your career more or less on track.
By now, you’ve got some idea of what industry you’d like to work in and hopefully, already have one foot in the door (if not both).
You see, the difference between your 20s and 30s is that your 20s are for experimenting and exploring different jobs and roles. By 30, you should have a stable career.
But that’s not all…
You’re beyond thriving if you’re also taking risks and creating a career that works for YOU.
Whether that’s becoming an entrepreneur, working remotely, or freelancing, our generation has raised the bar when it comes to the standard 9-5 office job!
3) You’ve got savings
And if you’ve managed to secure the point above, there’s a good chance you’ve now got a nice buffer for rainy days.
But let’s not get caught up on how much you should be saving; the important thing is that you are. Even if it’s a small amount, by 30, if you’re not putting away every month you’re still in the 20s mindset.
That’s because once you hit your 30s, you should be looking for independence and to start making plans for the future.
But there’s a catch:
All of that costs money!
Buying a house, having kids, traveling, cars, Netflix subscriptions (because now you can’t piggyback off your parents)…none of it is cheap!
So if you’ve managed to start a little savings fund, good on you! Not only are you thriving in your 30s, but you’re setting yourself up well for your 40s!
4) You’re financially independent
I mentioned in the last point about not piggybacking off your parents – this is another sign you’re on track in your 30s.
You don’t need the bank of mom or dad, you know how to handle your finances, and you’re more than capable of paying your own way!
So, why is all this so important for 30-somethings?
Well, this is the time when you should be exploring who you are, developing independence, and doing what makes you happy. Needing to ask mom or dad for money every time you want to do something is completely counterproductive!
5) You’ve started getting to know yourself better
And talking of exploring who you are, if you’re spending time getting to know yourself better and developing your character, you’re most certainly thriving in your 30s!
Even if you don’t feel like you’ve got your life together or that you’re still an emotional wreck, it’s important to remember that self-growth doesn’t happen overnight.
What is crucial is that you’re taking steps to reflect on your past, work through childhood traumas and heal yourself from the mistakes of your 20s!
6) You’ve got a good group of friends
Another sign you’re thriving in your 30s is that you have a fantastic group of friends by your side.
And when I say friends, I don’t necessarily mean hundreds of them, I mean a couple of people who know you intimately and have always got your back.
You see, as we get older, it can be harder to be social. In your 20s you were likely out a lot more and meeting people through parties, university, or work.
But being more settled in your 30s means it’s not always easy to find the time to see friends and just hang out.
If anything, it feels like you have to schedule appointments months in advance because everyone is so busy working, doing up their houses, traveling, or raising kids!
So, if you’ve got people in your life that make the effort with you, care about you, and support you when you need it, know that you’re luckier than most!
7) You’re investing in healthy relationships
But it’s not just friendships that should be flourishing in your 30s; your romantic life should also be less turbulent than in your teens and 20s.
By now, you should only be investing in a partner who you can grow with, who you have fun with, but most importantly, who makes you a better person!
The truth is, many of us get into toxic relationships during our 20s simply because we don’t know better. Also, we’re more up for experimenting because we’re not thinking of settling down.
But in your 30s, it’s time to find someone who you can trust and begin to build a life with!
Now, with that being said, toxic relationships exist in all age brackets. So if you’ve experienced a few of those since being in your 30s, don’t beat yourself up, just learn and do better next time!
8) You’ve got hobbies that fulfill you
Do you have passions and interests outside of work?
Have you found something that’s just for you – a hobby or activity that brings you to life?
If so, it’s another sign you’re thriving in your 30s, even if you don’t feel like you are!
The truth is, having something that you can call your “happy place” is so important, especially for our mental well-being.
Being a fully-fledged adult with responsibilities isn’t easy, so having this escape allows us to reduce stress and keep a positive outlook on life!
9) You make good decisions for your life
I don’t know about you, but I feel like many of my earlier decisions in life were quite reckless and naive.
But now as a 30-something-year-old, I think carefully about what I want out of life, and especially what I want for my future!
You see, making good decisions isn’t just about choosing the right career or the perfect partner…
It’s about knowing what’s good for you and designing a life around that!
Not following the crowd. Not following what your parents think you should do.
It’s all about you.
That’s why if you’re able to carve your own life path, forget what everyone else tells you you should be doing, and focus on living an authentic life, my friend, you’re thriving!
10) You’ve stopped caring about what others think
But to live authentically and make good decisions, you need to have a thick skin and not give two hoots about what others think!
That’s why I mentioned personal development earlier; once you become secure within yourself, the opinions of the rest of the world seem to matter less.
Instead of worrying about how you’re going to look to others, you should be making decisions and living life according to what makes you happy.
If you’ve managed to do this, you’re certainly thriving at 30!
And if you haven’t got there quite yet?
Don’t worry, this is another thing that takes time. Continue investing in yourself and before you know it, caring about what other people think will be a thing of the past!
11) You’re looking after your health
Next up on signs that you’re thriving in your 30s, even if you don’t feel like you are, is good health.
Or at least being more conscious of living healthily (let’s face it, none of us get 100% right all of the time).
Here’s the thing – you can get away with eating crap, never exercising, and drinking like a fish in your 20s.
But the body works slightly differently when you hit 30…hangovers no longer last just a few hours, your body aches when you sit for too long and adult acne is a real thing!
So, we must start looking after our well-being, physical and mental, now.
Because the truth is folks, it’s not going to get easier when we hit 40!
12) You still know how to have a good time
And finally, you know you’re thriving in your 30s if you still have it in you to have fun!
Many people mistakenly hit 30 and think it’s time to retire to the armchair with a cup of tea. But we’re only as old as we feel!
So, if you still have a spring in your step, enjoy going out on wild adventures, and make the most of each day, you’re winning at life!
Our 30s are a weird time…we’re getting to the stage where we should be settling, but we’re still young enough to be spontaneous and wild.
Ultimately, it’s all about finding a balance and living life how YOU want to live it.
If you’ve achieved that, you’re most certainly thriving in your 30s!
