Our twenties and thirties are intense but fun, exciting times. If we’re fortunate, we’ll have finished school or tertiary education; we have the freedom to explore the world and who we are, with some disposable income to do so.
For me, my twenties and thirties (well, 7 years so far) have been a massive learning curve. I’ve made some mistakes and learned from them; I’ve been given incredible opportunities and had a fair dose of luck. I’d like to think that I’m a bit wiser than I was in my twenties, but I’m also looking forward to what my forties and beyond have to hold!
The things on my list are what I’ve learned through my experiences and what I wish I’d known in my twenties. Sometimes you need to learn things the hard way though, so here’s what I wish I’d known earlier…20 Things Every Woman Should Know by the Time She’s 30. Number 20 is my favourite and one that I feel is the most important!
- There’s still time to figure out what you want out of life. I hate that we feel the pressure to know what career path we want to take, to have found our life partner and have picked out baby names. Take your time and don’t settle just because of your age.
- How to apply a classic, natural make up look that highlights your good features in under 5 minutes. If I apply my favourite red lipstick, I can bring this down to 2 minutes.
3.How to roast a damn good chicken and make a killer dessert. Make it your signature. - Your body type and what styles and colours flatter you. When you know, find a way to stick with styles that work for you, no matter the season or fashion.
- The value of travel. Nothing else will broaden your mind like travel does, so do it while you can or risk regretting it for the rest of your life.
- Know what bra size you are and which style works your assets. Never sacrifice fit for fashion.
- Sunscreen. You know why. Especially on your face.
- Confidence makes up for a multitude of sins, flaws and shortfalls. If you’re not a confident person, fake it until you see the power it gives you and the places it takes you.
- Appreciate your body as it is, right now. You might not like it all that much now, but in 10 years time you’ll wish for that body with all your heart. Love it now because it’s not getting any younger.
- Have good manners. Old school manners never go out of style. Always take the host or hostess a small gift, always offer to help with the cooking or the dishes and always say thank you. Pull your weight. People notice these small things and judge you accordingly.
- Everyone has insecurities, not only you. We all just want to be accepted, loved and included. Make a small effort to include someone in conversation, pay them a compliment and be approachable- people respond strongly to this in a massively positive way.
- Attitude makes a huge difference. It’s a cliché, but clichés exist for good reason: attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude.
- How and what you need to look after yourself. Self care is of utmost importance in your relationship with yourself and others. Your own needs can not be pushed aside indefinitely.
- How to be a good friend and be there for someone when they need you. We all struggle and have times when we need someone to be there for us, no conditions or questions asked. Be that person that your friends can rely on.
- Perfection does not exist, so stop chasing it. Whether it be the perfect body, the perfect relationship or job, there is always going to be something that isn’t exactly ideal. Don’t lose out on something that ticks 8 out of 10 boxes to chase a unicorn.
- Know how to ask for something that you feel you deserve. Timing and strategy is key here, but if you don’t ask, you probably won’t get. A salary increase, a night out with the girls, a discount…know how to maximise your chances of success.
- It’s never too late to change paths. Is your career, your relationship or your body not working for you anymore? Make the change that you want now and don’t use age as an excuse. The time will pass anyway, so do what you have to do to get what you want.
- The little things are what make life great. Being mindful of the moment is so incredibly important if we want to make the most of life and not let it pass us by. The Danish concept of Hygge is a great place to start.
- How to work smarter, not harder. This is still a work in progress for me, but I know that it is critical if I want to improve and up my game at work and at home. In such demanding times, we still only have 24 hours in a day, so we need to know how to get the most out of them!
- You are responsible for your own life. No one else is going to live it for you so stop the excuses, stop blaming your situation or your parents and be an adult that takes charge.
Thanks for reading. Please drop me a comment with your advice or tips- I’d love to hear them!