Introduction

This past July, I turned 30 and so far, I’m loving this new decade! I wanted to summarize my learnings leading up to the “monumental” birthday and share why it’s not as scary as it seems to turn 30 / get older 🤍

Age is Just a Number

Let’s be real — turning 30 can feel daunting. Many of us dread it, thinking life is going downhill from here. But guess what? Most people in their 30s say it’s the best decade yet, with more stability in your career, finances, and friendships. And I have to say, so far I 100% agree with this sentiment!

Looking Forward to the Future

Once you get past the initial freak-out, turning 30 can be exciting. You’re in a place where you know who you are, have amazing people around you, and feel like the best is yet to come. There’s so much to look forward to and you absolutely do not need to feel like “your life is ending” and be melodramatic like I was… 😂 

Ditching Society’s Norms

Society loves to tell us we need to hit certain milestones by a certain age —marriage, kids, a house, whatever. But honestly, everyone’s on their own path, and there’s no rush. I’ve learned it’s more about enjoying the journey than ticking off boxes.

It’s important to focus on what will make you feel fulfilled, rather than trying to seek external validation. I could’ve checked all the boxes before turning 30 but my partner Richard and I decided that we had limited time before settling down to do whatever we wanted. So we chose to live abroad in London and travel Europe. And spoiler alert: it’s one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

I know it’s easier said than done, but try to get quiet as much as possible (you can meditate, journal, etc.) to figure out what you want — not just what society prescribes.

Focus on Personal Growth

Instead of focusing on hitting external milestones / seeking external validation, get comfortable with being with yourself and be proud of who you are.

I started going to therapy 6+ years ago and it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’ve grown so much (and there’s so much more to grow!!) and it’s an amazing feeling to feel confident in your skin, have an amazing support circle, and know exactly what you’re working towards.

So in summary, try to embody a growth mindset and continue learning. That’s the best thing you can do — vs. prescribing whatever society says is “successful”.

Reflect on Your 20’s

One thing that made me feel at peace at entering this new decade was writing a list of everything I had done, gone through, and learned from my 20’s. This list took me a few hours to journal, but after completing it, I realized that I had grown so much and was proud of everything I had accomplished!

A lot of the items on the list weren’t society’s typical beacons of success (e.g. Forbes 30U30, buying a property, etc.) but things I was equally damn proud of accomplishing — such as starting a business and doing it full-time, building and fostering a beautiful relationship with my partner, cultivating deep meaningful connections with my friends, taking the leap to live abroad and travel, etc.

You’ve likely done, accomplished, and grown a lot too. So take the time to reflect and celebrate how far you’ve come!

My 30th Birthday

Anddd that brings us to my birthday. This year, I wanted to do something low-key and nourishing. Soooo I planned a reflective weekend getaway in the Cotswolds (the English countryside) with my partner Richard and some close friends in London.

The theme for the weekend was “Coming Home to Ourselves” and I created this workbook for us to reflect, journal, and regroup. It was such a lovely weekend and if you want to get more of my insights and see what I got up to in vlog format, check out my YouTube video… ⤵️