Life changes as you age (and, hopefully, even mature) and you’ve got to learn to adapt. Roll with the punches, try not to cling to your past lifestyle too hard, and instead focus on the things that really matter in life. You’ve got to do what makes you happy and not care about what everyone who isn’t a loved one thinks so much. Easier said than done, right?
Yours truly turned 30 recently, and all things considered, I’m okay with that. Sure, there were a few panic attacks, some sleepless nights thinking about deep and not-so-deep things, and a lot of looking at the number ‘30’ to get used to how weird it looks, but all things considered, life is good! From my current position, my feet firmly planted in my thirties, I can safely say that a lot has changed compared to my twenties. And I’m not the only one who thinks that way.
Internet users shared their thoughts about what they think isn’t ‘cool’ anymore when you turn 30, and the viral r/AskReddit thread is enlightening. We (arguably) can’t party as hard and should definitely take better care of ourselves now, but there are quite a few upsides to Leveling Up. Check out the best posts we’ve collected for you, Pandas, and upvote your fave ones.
Bored Panda wanted to learn about the main health-related things and habits that we should focus on as we go through our twenties and enter our thirties, so we reached out to fitness coach Anna Armagno Toussaint. She was kind enough to shed some light on this important topic.
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Being concerned with what is or is not "cool".
I super duper don't care if I'm cool or not. Being cool doesn't pay my mortgage.
According to fitness coach Anna, consistency is incredibly important when it comes to diet and fitness. "Losing and gaining the same weight is so bad for your body (and mental health)," she warned.
"Focus on what you can, even if it's just drinking enough water or eating one serving of vegetables! And move a little even if that starts as stepping in place or simple short walks."
We asked coach Anna about how important it is for us to be getting enough sleep and how a lack of it impacts us. She said that some people feel the effects more than others.
"I actually have an autoimmune disease and if I don't get enough sleep I feel physically terrible all day and into the next," she revealed to Bored Panda.
Finding 20 year olds attractive. I look at them and see children.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! Sorry, but wait till you're 50. It gets so much worse and the age bracket gets bigger.
Telling people with full time jobs and bills that their hobbies are childish.
I'm 31, married with no kids, and a USMC veteran. I have a degree in electrical engineering. I just got back into Pokémon cards after not touching them since 1999. I was teased into getting rid of them by my uncles back in the day. Now, I've almost got a complete Base/Jungle/Fossil set, and I'm working through the Sword and Shield series, made possible by the internet and having disposable income.
"F**k what anyone says, they make me happy. My wife was a little wary at first, but she saw how interested I was and how excited I got opening packs that now, whenever I buy a booster box, we open them together.
I'm 48 and have played video games since Pong. They will pry my controller from my cold dead hands.
"It is so important to improve your sleep hygiene: turn down the temperature in your room, turn off your phone and all screens an hour before bed, keep the room neat, and get at least 7 hours! Sleep impacts so much of our motivation and energy levels, even days after a rough night," Anna said.
Fitness coach Anna told Bored Panda that it's best to look work on habits one at a time. "Pick one thing to start, stop, or swap. Take a daily walk in the morning or evening (or whenever you want, but I prefer when it is cooler), drink more water (set a timer if you're not good about and add in a fun liquid or powder or flavored seltzer if you don't like water), or focus on eating more whole foods (especially vegetables and fruit)."
The expert was optimistic that everyone can do this, we just have to "find how to get motivated and little victories will get us there."
Last minute plans. I need at least 24 hrs notice (preferably 48 hrs) if said plans will require me to be in public.
Anything loud. I am finding that anything loud (voices, music, TV,etc.) is turning into Noise for me. I am surprised by how much my tolerance for ambient sound has drastically decreased.
Celebrities. I swear every year the less famous people I know.
Look, we’ll level with you: nobody really enjoys thinking about getting older. But we’ve confirmed that life definitely doesn’t end when you turn 30. All of that fear and stress surrounding the very idea of your thirties is worse for you than the actual milestone birthday. As you get older, some things are simply put into perspective: you have to take the time to take care of your body and mind.
Developing healthy habits can help you avoid problems further down the line. Besides, you’ll enjoy a much higher quality of life if you’re fit, bright, and have an active social circle. In short, it’s never too late to start living healthier; but it’s way easier if you embrace that lifestyle sooner rather than later.
Age UK, Britain’s leading charity that’s dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life, explained to Bored Panda during an earlier interview that our hobbies can help us lead a higher-quality life while also keeping us engaged.
"Having a hobby or learning new skills, whatever form they take, is important. And while for many they provide a nice way to spend spare time and an opportunity to interact with friends over a shared pursuit, for those with less social contacts it can give life a real sense of purpose and routine,” Age UK told Bored Panda some time ago.
Wasting time on friendships that don’t impact you in a *positive* way.
I spent my 20’s taking care of everyone else instead of myself. I don’t have time for that s**t anymore. They can go to therapy. I am.
Caring what others think of me. You don’t like me? That’s fine. I live my life for me.
Teenager/early 20’s: yo we can save money by booking the 7am return flight and not paying for accommodation - lets just stay at the club until 5am or sleep on the airport floor!
30yo: I’d rather die
I had a 7am flight from a budget airline airport. So I had to be there ~5am. But there were not trains of busses that early. So I had to take the last bus the night before that arrived around midnight. Sleeping on the airport floor was the only option for a student (or airport hotel for €100/night, which was a few times more expensive than the flight).
"If we want our brain to stay in peak condition, we should use it. In fact, one of the theories about reducing or delaying cognitive aging is referred to as the 'use it or lose it' theory. Research shows that things like learning languages helps keep us brighter as we age. It is just as important to look after your brain by exercising your thinking skills, as you would do physical exercise to look after your body,” they said.
We all have the power to greatly improve our loved ones’ lives. Not just with our company (which, we have to say, is pretty great) but also by helping them pick up new hobbies and staying active together.
Anything that is called an "afterparty." I am barely going to make it to the party, son.
Driving like an a*****e.
A car is a 3,000 lb death machine.
I read a book a few years ago and the old man in it gave some little bits of advice to a younger man. One that stuck was, how relaxing it was if you just let impatient people go in front of you whilst driving. It's amazing how often I do this and then see the driver, in a rush, further down the road, with no real advantage gained.
Sleep deprivation
I loved pulling all-nighters as a teen and young adult. Now, they just give me migraines and make the entire subsequent day hell.
"Doing activities together such as the gardening can be a great incentive too, or maybe help them research locally to see if there is a neighborly Book Club dial-in they could join. Even encouraging older friends and relatives to settle in with a favorite book or audiobook, do some cooking, listen to the radio while doing a puzzle, or tuning in to an afternoon radio play can help emotional wellbeing and mental health,” Age UK noted.
Life doesn’t end at 30. Life doesn’t begin at 30 either. But turning 30 can help you take stock, filter out the noise, and hone in on the most important things in life. Family. Fun. And gardening. Maybe living like a Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings isn’t the worst idea. What do you think, Pandas?
This may be just me, but: dumbing down my sentences. I was always an avid reader in school, but I discovered that if you talked the way people did in books, or used big words, it pissed people off. So I had to dumb myself down considerably. Eventually I stopped talking to people at all. This carried on into adulthood and especially during my enlistment in the navy. People think you’re showing off if you use big words. I was well past 25 when I got over it, and decided to talk however I wanted. It felt soooo liberating.
To be fair, anyone who says “Bountiful felicitations!” Instead of “Hi!” Is a pretentious AH and is trying to show off their knowledge of words. I suspect that’s not what the OP is referring to though. 🙂
Maybe just me, but one night stands. I mean sex is great, but it’s not all I want. Give me that second date, good conversations, doing other s**t together, getting to know each other better. It’s about that point in life I started wanting s**t to be deeper. Idk man, having someone on the other pillow in bed stops mattering as much when I know that pillow will be empty the next night.
People kept saying I was a prude in my 20s for not wanting one night stands, after a while I felt like there was something wrong with me for not wanting to be promiscuous... the moment I slept with someone I didn't truly care for I felt like a r**e victim. I mean I wasn't, there was consent, but in my mind I felt dirty. I don't think people realise that trying to get your more conservative friend to be more sexually open and liberal can damage them. Be careful.
Thinking 30 is old
Every last week before my decades are terrible: 19/20: end of being a child, 29/30: getting old, 39/40: getting old (again), 49/50: I will die tomorrow (or sooner). Then the next morning the sun rises again and everything goes on.
When I was a kid (like 11-12) we were basically watching my paternal grandmother die slowly and horribly of dementia/Alzheimer's. I remember telling my dad I was going to end my life when I was 45 because I considered that "old". My dad was like :| Now I'm 40 and I don't think I'm old at all! XD (Also, my dad was around 52 years old when I made that little comment when I was a kid, so I'm sure he was thinking "just wait, kid. Just you wait." XD ) My dad only made it to 58 years old before he had a catastrophic brain injury in an accident and was near-vegetative for the next 21 years (he died last year). I plan on living life to the fullest; it's what he would have done :)
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When I turned 30, just celebrated. I didn't think I was going to live through my twenties. Hard life.
We're glad you made it and that you're here with us today! :)
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I'm turning 40 this year and y'know what? I'm super okay with it. I've always been one of those 4 going on 40 "kids". Officially being "old" and hopefully everyone else finally catching up to me seems kind of nice.
LOL Right?? I'm 53 and feel the same as I did in my 20's!! Some of the hottest people on the planet are in their 50's now!!
Thinking 50 is still young.... Here's the thing. Being older doesn't mean you think older. I really believe everyone stops at about 25. That's the golden age!
Right? My son just turned 42. Which I can't believe, because I'm basically 26 (in a 59 y/o body).
I grew up usually being the youngest in any group. Hung out with my older siblings friends or community organizers, maybe other people's dad's because the son was too cool for me (lol).
I don't think 30 is old. I don't think I'm old and I'm 71. Just remember Mick Jagger is pushing 80.
Hey, 30 hit me harder than 40 or 50...... Turning 30 was the end of youth...(for me anyway)
Age is just a number . It’s how you live your life that matters. If you want to go skydiving at 70 then by all means go skydiving at 70!! As long as you keep s**t legal , live your life. Age is just a number.
What is bad is when you look in the mirror and don't recognize the old person staring back at you, because in your mind you are still 16
I thought I was an adult at 20. I realized I wasn't actually an adult at 30 and was just starting to finally actually mature.
Old? I just barely started feeling like an adult when I was 30. My dad is over 70 and still works out at the gym twice a week, so now at almost 40 I feel like I've got more than a lifetime still ahead of me before I get "old".
Now that I'm in the second half of my 50s I feel like I'm in the middle of another kind of teen experience. Instead of learning who and how I want to be as an adult I'm learning who and how I want to be as an elder :)
Once you're in your 30s you begin to realize that the 20s are late childhood, not early adulthood.
My older sister always told me, "You were born 50 years old."; I have always taken that as a compliment. Don't get me wrong, I loved my 20s thru 50s (teen years seemed like a cruel punishment, I don't know how any kid makes it through those), my grandparents and their friends were the happiest people that I knew. Now that I'm in my 60's, even with the aches and pains, I'm livin' my best life!
Nah. Aging is like making wine or a slow cooked brisket. Some are just that much better after a little time.
When a teen getting old seems horrific and embarrassing. When you actually get older you realize that it comes with plenty of perks, and have no desire to spend your life living like your 17.
We’d love to hear what’s changed for you in how you approach life when you reached a milestone birthday—whether that’s 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or any of the more impressive ones that come a bit later, like 75, 100, and 111. What advice would you give someone who’s currently in their twenties? Was reaching 30 a huge deal for you? Let us know in the comments!
Thinking things aren't cool anymore because you turned 30.
Life doesn't end at 30, and if you're lucky, you've still got around 45 to 50+ more years to go. So why spend that remaining time denying yourself of what life has to offer?
"If octogenarian Ethel with pink hair and Chuck Taylors wants to free throw her empty bottle of Ensure into the trash while yelling, 'THIS B**CH IS EMPTY!' Well, goddammit, she can. In fact, that would make me feel less bummed about aging
Getting blackout drunk. turns out I'm not fun, I'm just an alcoholic.
Since this has gotten quite high, I'm gonna edit to add, r/stopdrinking has been a great resource in my own sobriety journey, highly recommend if you're sober curious.
Ignoring injuries, sickness, sleep, or general aches and pains.
Pay attention to that s**t, your body is trying to tell you important stuff for later.
When you're in chronic pain, life goes on. You can only take so many meds before it triggers another problem.
Thinking I’m special. The older I get, the more I realize I’m just a dopey bug that knows nothing about anything
Not being able to cook and clean for yourself, male or female, what a turn off, and definitely not cool
Taught my kids how to use a washing machine, iron and cooker. Before they left home they could cook at least 7 meals from scratch including a roast dinner. They understand budgeting, finance and saving. Life skills
Giving a f**k. I’m almost 50 and my f***s are the lowest they have ever been. I’ll work and do what I can but damn. I know you would replace me in a heartbeat.
Bailing on plans last minute. If you don’t want to do something, just say so.
Not cooking your own meals.
Once I hit 32 I finally took the time to learn how to cook my own meals with more complexity than chicken and rice.
It's been one of those things I wish I would have learned how to do younger because its been amazing.
I started a garden this year and my roma tomatoes just started to produce. I'm so proud.
It’s been the opposite for me. I cooked all my meals because I was poor and had more energy. Now I’m paid more and tired more often and am like “screw it, I’m not working all day and then making dinner”.
Bragging about overworking yourself, or otherwise overdoing anything, and not practicing self-care.
I’ve got a mate who does this. All that “First in, last out, weekend working, etc.” is 1980s BS. If you are having to work those hours, you either have too much work or you can’t organise your time properly. The worst bit is that no one is impressed - least of all your boss who will likely wind up promoting someone else over you because they play golf with that person or they have friends in common. Hard work is rarely rewarded, meritocracy doesn’t exist and he’s an idiot for thinking it does.
Snide, condescending remarks. You really aught to have learned how to be a better person by now.
Gate keeping someone's preferences. Like music or movies. You like what you like
Honestly, about 72 degrees. It used to be comfortable, even cool… but now I’m old as s**t and need a solid 67 or I can’t sleep.
I'm a hundred percent with you on this. I like it cool, especially at night. I always say that I can add layers but I can only take so much off.
Dressing fun for some reason :( if dyeing your hair blue and wearing skeleton hoodies in your 30s is wrong then I don't wanna be right.
Nope, you've been listening to the wrong people. If you want blue hair, then have blue hair. If you want a skeleton hoodie, then wear a skeleton hoodie.
Dance clubs.
To be fair I hated them in my 20's too but by the time I hit 30 I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Loud music, strobe lights, waiting forever to get a drink and having to scream to speak, I just don't get it.
My knees.
I learned this the hard way, after a meniscus surgery and a long recovery process. Now I'm done with martial arts, mountain hiking and stuff like aerobic, jogging and jumping. Instead, losing some weight and personalized fitness training for strong legs worked miracles for my knees.
Ignoring politics.
S**t starts having a larger impact.
World politics maybe, but over here tip of Africa, no one gives a f**k about local politics anymore. No point in paying attention when you know exactly where it's going... most people's only focus is to leave.
Expecting your friends to help you move. The good news is if you've ever moved that half-assed, chaotic way before, the first time you hire professionals is going to feel amazing and worth it.
Hangovers
My hangovers really took a turn for the worst somewhere between ages 25–27. In my early 20s, I could drink like a fish, stay up until 3 a.m., wake up at 9 a.m., and go to class perfectly fine.
Now, the sleep quality sucks. Even when I get eight hours of sleep, the next day is basically ruined. I'm just so tired after, and the alcohol makes me wake up sooner. It ruins my sleep. I'll wake up after six hours, feel like s**t, and be unable to go back to bed.
Peer pressuring your friends.
Like I just ran a 5k, I want to meal prep for the week, clean my house and I have work tomorrow so no I don't want to get hammered and stay at the bar til 2am
Having accidental (or on purpose), unprotected sex.
Have at it! All the partners you want - no judgement there. But use protection.
I’ve turned 30 a few months ago and I’ve noticed how turned off I am of large music festivals. Used to love them in my early 20’s. Now I couldn’t bear to be stuck in a crowd of 100k+ people
I've only been to a few bigger music things in my life. We've made a rule that if it isn't the size of a bar, with max like 200 people, where you can actually see the things and not feel like your farts are going to come out of a stranger's b******e because they are that close, then it's not worth it.
As a single person entering the dating scene again in their thirties, hot person s**t. You could get away with being a flake and playing games in your twenties, but in your thirties you're just waving red flags in people's faces.
Acting stupid and doing dumb s**t. Your risk of getting hurt increases
Hitting on 21 year olds
I have a 40 something colleague who creeps on 20 somethings' Insta's. Never been in a relationship and I kind of see why.... apart from his creepy stalkery vibes, he isn't exactly an oil painting but expects a 20 something bombshell from a rich family like his own. Dude...never is a long time...but never.
Flipping off the camera when you get your picture taken.
Then you hit your 30's or over and you realise there doesn't exist a single normal photo of you so you don't really have a reference to how you looked back then. I absolutely refused to be in pictures when I was in highschool because I had no self esteem, and I regret it now because, contrary to back then, I'm now able to see what I actually looked like instead of what I thought I looked like. It could've helped me heal a little faster.
Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.
Some things I agree but honestly, I started really living after 30. I started taking risks in my career (which are paying off), I started finding ways to act sillier, I found ways to be healthier it still have fun. I spent my 20’s trying to set my life up and be responsible - we all have our path.
Agree. This list seemed to contradict itself a few times and had a pretty judgmental tone. All of these things are entirely subjective and I don’t think doing(or not doing) any of them at any age is going to make you more or less mature or a better person I’m going to have to double up on my happy meds after reading this depressing / confusing article.
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I am 75 years old and I think should be a age limit for Congress supreme Court.
I’m 65. Reading this made me laugh about the discoveries made in your 30’s. Takes me waaaay back in time to when I experienced all of this too. I figure I’m doing well. I don’t eat at 5pm and don’t need to be in bed by 8pm.
I love to be in bed by 8pm, but that's a lifelong thing. Even as a toddler my mum says I had zero problems going to bed and staying asleep for hours on end
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my biggest over 30 and then all the more over 35 was to stop doing things I didn't want to do. I don't hang out with people I don't like, even if the location would be somewhere I liked. I don't read books just because they're literary recommendations. I don't go eat places just because they're cool. My now-husband and I moved to a new town 4 years ago and it took months for me to relax and not worry about running into people I didn't want to see. I'm antisocial af, and it's wonderfully liberating to be in a new place, both physically and mentally.
It's been a while since I've sounded off on so many posts... I participated pretty much in every one! Thanks BP!
Once you hit your mid 30s you start to realize that the 20s is basically late childhood. That's why they say life begins at 30.
After my 40s, friends and some family passing away, got rid of ALL skeletons in my life. Shirts, jewelry, album covers, bric-a-brac -- don't need a constant reminder that people I know and love are leaving this life in larger numbers every year.
Why should i not go in clubs, dress freaky, or have one night stands (i am happily married and not the type for that one, but as an example...), Just because i am 30? I am trying to maintain a solid look at work, but on my private time, if i want to hang around in my toothless jumpsuit all day i f....ing do (and iam getting 39 this year). It was not until i was 35 i started to like clubs ... i had not to be responsible for roomemates or friends who might get drunk and rely on me to bring them back home or that we go home together, i was not peer pressured into flirting or hitting on someone and had finally enough "f.... you" mentality to dance the way i want to without the fear of being judged. So yes turning about 30 (in my case) was absolutely liberating, even enough to come.out of the closet as well
Yeah, thirty is practically dead! Seriously, you couldn't pay me to go back to my 20s.
Here's one I didn't see on the list. I actually considered going to my high school reunion years ago. That is until I got in a Facebook chat and learned a lot of my former classmates are STILL idiotic jerks who never grew up. Skipping it and all of them. I don't need this
I turn 31 next week. 30 has been a journey I cannot thank God enough for. I am freer with my thinking, more deliberate with my actions, more settled and at peace with myself, more confident in who I am and surer than ever that I am capable of living the life I want. I no longer feel pressured to be someone I'm not or do something I don't like, and I care a lot less about one person's venomous opinion towards me. And a lot of my peers are walking the same road so I feel like we're maturing together. My friendships are stronger, my connections more meaningful and my plans much clearer and more feasible. It's beautiful 😁
Some things I agree but honestly, I started really living after 30. I started taking risks in my career (which are paying off), I started finding ways to act sillier, I found ways to be healthier it still have fun. I spent my 20’s trying to set my life up and be responsible - we all have our path.
Agree. This list seemed to contradict itself a few times and had a pretty judgmental tone. All of these things are entirely subjective and I don’t think doing(or not doing) any of them at any age is going to make you more or less mature or a better person I’m going to have to double up on my happy meds after reading this depressing / confusing article.
Load More Replies... I am 75 years old and I think should be a age limit for Congress supreme Court.
I’m 65. Reading this made me laugh about the discoveries made in your 30’s. Takes me waaaay back in time to when I experienced all of this too. I figure I’m doing well. I don’t eat at 5pm and don’t need to be in bed by 8pm.
I love to be in bed by 8pm, but that's a lifelong thing. Even as a toddler my mum says I had zero problems going to bed and staying asleep for hours on end
Load More Replies... my biggest over 30 and then all the more over 35 was to stop doing things I didn't want to do. I don't hang out with people I don't like, even if the location would be somewhere I liked. I don't read books just because they're literary recommendations. I don't go eat places just because they're cool. My now-husband and I moved to a new town 4 years ago and it took months for me to relax and not worry about running into people I didn't want to see. I'm antisocial af, and it's wonderfully liberating to be in a new place, both physically and mentally.
It's been a while since I've sounded off on so many posts... I participated pretty much in every one! Thanks BP!
Once you hit your mid 30s you start to realize that the 20s is basically late childhood. That's why they say life begins at 30.
After my 40s, friends and some family passing away, got rid of ALL skeletons in my life. Shirts, jewelry, album covers, bric-a-brac -- don't need a constant reminder that people I know and love are leaving this life in larger numbers every year.
Why should i not go in clubs, dress freaky, or have one night stands (i am happily married and not the type for that one, but as an example...), Just because i am 30? I am trying to maintain a solid look at work, but on my private time, if i want to hang around in my toothless jumpsuit all day i f....ing do (and iam getting 39 this year). It was not until i was 35 i started to like clubs ... i had not to be responsible for roomemates or friends who might get drunk and rely on me to bring them back home or that we go home together, i was not peer pressured into flirting or hitting on someone and had finally enough "f.... you" mentality to dance the way i want to without the fear of being judged. So yes turning about 30 (in my case) was absolutely liberating, even enough to come.out of the closet as well
Yeah, thirty is practically dead! Seriously, you couldn't pay me to go back to my 20s.
Here's one I didn't see on the list. I actually considered going to my high school reunion years ago. That is until I got in a Facebook chat and learned a lot of my former classmates are STILL idiotic jerks who never grew up. Skipping it and all of them. I don't need this
I turn 31 next week. 30 has been a journey I cannot thank God enough for. I am freer with my thinking, more deliberate with my actions, more settled and at peace with myself, more confident in who I am and surer than ever that I am capable of living the life I want. I no longer feel pressured to be someone I'm not or do something I don't like, and I care a lot less about one person's venomous opinion towards me. And a lot of my peers are walking the same road so I feel like we're maturing together. My friendships are stronger, my connections more meaningful and my plans much clearer and more feasible. It's beautiful 😁
