Considering I’ll be turning 31 in about a month, I’d say I’m qualified to write this article! I remember when the thought of turning 30 turned me off completely. Now that I’m approaching another year of my 30s, I don’t know what I was afraid of! There’s almost an enhanced sense of self at this age. In my 20s, I was still trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted. Now, the answers seem a little clearer, at least about who I am! I think there are a few positive habits women need to have by 30.
I feel that as we get older, it gets harder to put certain habits and routines into place. When we were younger, our situations were always changing. Childhood to becoming a teenager. Leaving the nest and going to college. Then, entering the real, working world. There was never any opportunity to establish a life-long routine, because things were always changing.
Not to say that things can’t always change up your lifestyle, but once you get into the workforce, there can be a lot less uncertainty. You always need to work, right? You always need a place to live, right? That means you can start establishing positive habits to ensure a happy life over time.
Positive Habits Women Need to Have by 30
An active lifestyle
I totally took for granted my genetics through college. I was a slim as could be up until college graduation. I attribute that to long walks around campus, occasional gym visits (to workout eyes more than body), and not a lot of money to eat!
Fast forward to now, and I finally put on my freshman 15! Don’t get me wrong, a little extra weight on me isn’t bad, but I know it’s because my activity level has dropped. I work from home and that means a lot of sitting. I do force myself to get up and walk throughout the day, and I make it a point to walk the dogs 1-2 miles each day.
I think an active lifestyle should be one of the top positive habits women need to have in place by 30. The good thing is that active lifestyle can mean whatever you want it to mean. That could mean walking outside each day. It could mean going to the gym regularly. It could mean sex every day. As long as you are getting exercise, getting your heart rate up and moving your body, you’re good!
A healthy diet, 80% of the time
I’ll be honest. I struggle with this one, and that is exactly why it’s on the list. If you are in your 20s, start eating healthy 80% of the time…immediately! Don’t wait until you’re 30, because it gets harder and harder to implement.
Notice how I said eat healthy 80% of the time? I truly believe in moderation, even with your diet. You have to enjoy the sweet treats, the sugary drinks, the chips and dip every now and then! However, they should not be the primary source of nutrition for you. Eating healthy, at least 80% of the time, will help your body stay fit!
Self-reflection on a regular basis
This is a big one. I also feel like this habit doesn’t happen as much as it needs to in women. Women are caring individuals, and often put other people’s feelings before our own. That results in suppressing what we really want or how we really feel. If you are not in touch with your feelings, emotions, or thoughts, you need to start working on that.
If you have never reflected on the past, you have some work to do. Take the time to think about everything that has led you to where you are now. Think about how you felt along the way. Think about your accomplishments, failures, and opportunities. Think about how you’re feeling right now.
Journaling can be a great form of reflecting. It’s also nice to review what you had written in the past and see how much you’ve grown!
Control of your own happiness
Controlling your own happiness can be a tough one to master, but it’s incredibly powerful. To take control of your own happiness, you need to master self-reflection. You need to understand what makes you happy and what doesn’t. Then, you need to get to a place where whatever isn’t making you happy is removed from your life, or your emotions are cut from it.
When you are in control of your happiness, no one can take that away from you. Anyone who is a part of your life is simply an addition. If that person is no longer in your life, they didn’t take away any of the happiness you originally had.
Obviously, it’s normal to feel emotions outside of happiness, but the purpose of this habit is to take control of your own emotions. You always want to be in control of how you feel, how you react and how you come across. This is a powerful skill to master, but once you do, you will be unbreakable! Read
5 Signs You Are Negative Without Knowing for some negativity red flags to be aware of.
Proper money management through budgeting
I want to say “here’s another big one”! The reality is that all of the positive habits women need to have by 30 are big! Proper money management will help ensure you can always take care of yourself. You’ll never have to rely on anyone to do anything for you.
Budgeting successfully is a great form of money management. When you create a realistic budget for yourself, stick to that budget, and make progress towards your goals, you are putting yourself in a position to succeed.
The only thing with successful budgeting is that it’s not something that was ever taught in school. You may have learned from your parents, or you may have learned poor money habits. One thing though, even if you never learned how to budget before, you can always learn now!
Schedule a free consultation with me and let’s talk about getting you on the right money management track.
A regular self-care routine
The last positive habit that all women should have in place by 30 is a regular self-care routine. Similar to an active lifestyle, a self-care routine will look different to everyone. Find the things you enjoy doing the most and indulge in them!
If you like getting your nails done, make sure to budget for a monthly nail salon visit. If you enjoy a nice cocktail, plan a bi-weekly happy hour. Whatever you enjoy doing, make sure you create a consistent routine around it. When you take care of yourself, you have better results across the board. Read
8 Simple Self Care Habits to Start Now for a few ideas to get you started.
Related: 30 Money Lessons I Learned by 30
Ladies! We need to make sure we are doing things in our lives that will help us grow, learn, thrive and succeed! The 6 positive habits above will help you do just that!
Do you already have any of the habits listed above? What positive habits have made a difference in your life? Post a comment below to share!
-Raya
The CGS Team
