Here’s a list of things to do before you turn 30 to help you open up to life & all that it has to offer. Most of us end up spending our childhood preparing ourselves to get suitable and well-paying jobs. But considering the fact that the world has become so open and welcoming towards freelancers, entrepreneurs, consultants and more, so should have our ideas about professions.
Sadly no education system teaches us to learn as we go. To go over and beyond and find things that suit us the best. I can say this from personal experience that professional lives are very unpredictable. So it’s important that you have explored a number of options before you decide to settle down on one. This way you’ll know how to figure your way through in case things start to go south.
Not saying that you always need to be looking over your shoulder and juggling between multiple jobs. Rather the fact that your 20s are meant for exploring since we don’t get to do that sooner in life.
Take a walk in the unknown territory
“Hey, I’ve never tried that. It sounds so much fun. I am gonna go do it now.”
Do what makes you curious. Explore and don’t be afraid to go on a new and less explored trail.
This is one of the most important things to do before you turn 30. Experimentation is a part of figuring out what makes you happy. There are so many stones that are left unturned and they no longer need to stay that way. Opportunities are everywhere, we are surrounded by them. We just need to keep an open mind to be able to spot them.
Just to give you a heads up, before you shortlist the things that do make you happy, you will have a bigger pile of things that you do not enjoy being a part of. Elimination is the first step of figuring things out. So just stay on track and keep trying new things. You’ll know where your interest lies.
Don’t be too early to settle down. That house, car, and job can wait.
Try at least three different kinds of work
It’s not exploring if you haven’t at least tried three different options.
How would you even know about anything other than what you are taught unless you give it a try? Nobody wants to be 50 and directionless with problems in marriage, problems at work and hating themselves for not knowing their potential.
Go ahead and pursue your childhood hobby with passion. Were you interested in music, a sport, writing, painting or something else? Keep at it, if nothing else, it will work as a stress reliever for you. Take multiple short term certification courses. You never know what might stick.
To continue doing what brings a smile to your face along with challenging yourself is one of the things to do before you turn 30. Find your true potential.
Be friends with yourself
Give yourself a break from the prevailing social and professional norms. Find some time to be face to face with yourself and accept yourself for who you are. Do what your heart desires. If you won’t accept yourself, why would someone else.
You don’t feel like dressing up for that party, then don’t. Stay in your PJs with uncombed hair watching looney toons if that’s what you really want to do. Being comfortable with yourself needs to be on the list of things to do before you turn 30. There are a lot of challenges that we face along the way. Some we can handle, most we can’t. One thing that helps us find our center and keeps us anchored is being comfortable in who we are.
Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, your limits and how far you are willing to go in life can prove to be an asset whether you choose to live a conventional life or otherwise.
So be friends with yourself by telling everyone else to fuck off and mind their own business.
Reprogram yourself
Everything that you have learned so far is limited. School, college, internships, jobs and family combined could not give you the kind of exposure that exploration can give you.
If you want to live life to the fullest, remember to always have room (and attitude) to learn more. Being open to everything that’s yet to come is also an important part of the things to do before you turn 30 list.
Once you have finished studies and are getting ready for the real world, give the real world a shot. Learn to go with the flow and try not to impose all your classroom knowledge outdoors. The world, the people and everything else rolls a little bit differently than what you are told.
Try to find your balance.
Two important skills to learn
It so happens that confidence and courage are not something that people are born with. These are acquired skills.
The only way to acquire these skills is by practicing them continuously. Hence another thing to do before you turn 30 and decide the course of your life, is to actually face the world and the opportunities that it has to offer with confidence and courage.
Believe it or not, but being kicked a few times and bouncing from one place (/situation) to another is life’s way of teaching you these much-needed skills. It even helps you to spot opportunities in “rock-bottom” situations where most people choose to sink than to swim.
Find something to keep yourself grounded
While you are on a journey, it is easy to lose yourself in an attempt to find yourself. Sounds confusing?
Life is full of ups and downs. And 20s are a good time to find that one place, one person, diary, letter, picture, a memory that reminds you of who you are. Why you are doing what you are doing. Find your anchor and never let it go.
To have that one thing (or more) that keeps you grounded and reminds you of everything that makes you you, will be the best gift you can ever give to yourself.
Go on a backpacking trip to the remotest of places
If you live in the city, you have had luxuries that you didn’t even consider as a luxury.
A true backpacking trip can take you places and show you how little you need to live a comfortable life. The art of eliminating everything useless and unnecessary can be mastered by going on backpacking trips. Things that you probably never noticed before will start showing up way too frequently.
One long term (about 6 months) backpacking trip can change your perspective about life and everything that you so far considered important.
Backpacking can teach you a lot. It has the power to change your life for good.
Discover yourself
Taking your 20s to explore opportunities, lifestyles, and tracks will ultimately help you to discover yourself.
But you need to set out on the journey first. Going from college straight to a corporate office that offers you jobs with 6 digit paychecks will never give you the kind of exposure that a couple years of floating around will.
Give yourself a chance to feel, to be unconventional and to refill your cup of knowledge. It will be worth it.
It’s not just me who says that. Tomislav Perko, Luis Vargas, and Lexie Alford agree too.
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