A lot of people have lists of goals they want to achieve before they reach a certain age. Maybe they want to run a marathon, or visit Paris, or learn a foreign language. And, with enough hard work and perseverance, all of those things are possible for pretty much anyone.
But what about the things we want to
stop
doing? Well, here's 14 bad habits you really ought to cut out by the time you're 30 - or long before that, if you can help it...
Having to borrow a bit of cash off your parents while you're still at college is usually excusable - so long as you're not just blowing it on fast food every time. But, by the time you're a fully-fledged adult, you really should have a proper savings account,
, and at least a basic understanding of how banks work.
You've seen old people, right? They're kinda like young people, but with white hair, wrinkly skin and liver spots. Now I'm not saying you can avoid the same fate, but - if you take care of yourself properly - you can keep yourself looking younger for longer. Just make sure to drink plenty of water, moisturise regularly, as Baz Luhrmann taught us all in the 90s, wear sunscreen.
There's nothing wrong with loving your job; in fact, that's something you should definitely aim for. However, if you neglect your social life for the sake of work, you'll soon find that you don't have one at all, and that can take its toll in the long run.
4. Maintaining bad relationships
At no age should anyone put up with a toxic relationship, be it platonic, romantic, or familial. Sometimes it's hard to separate yourself from an abusive partner or a manipulative "friend", but it has to be done for your own good.
According to various studies, you're supposed to get between seven and nine hours of
per night - but many of us don't. By the time you hit the big three zero, you shouldn't be scraping by on five hours of shut-eye, or snoozing for 11 hours every night. Find the right balance, and stick to it.
6. Glorifying celebrities
It's fine for people to have idols, and it's probably a good thing that everyone has somebody to look up to. But no 30-year-old should be worshipping some famous person they've never met. You can watch their films, listen to their music, read their books - whatever. But don't waste your time on someone you don't even know.
Sometimes, going to the doctor can be a pretty nerve-wracking ordeal, especially if you're concerned that the ailment you've got is a potentially serious/embarrassing one. However, it's always better to risk some bad news and come out with a cure, than leave the problem until it gets to an uncontrollable or even life-threatening place.
It wasn't a good idea in your teens or twenties, and it won't be a good idea in your thirties, either. Having the occasional tipple is no big deal, of course, but getting wrecked every night will spell out major health problems in your future.
Everyone has that one friend who's always late for something, and it's annoying as hell. If you consistently turn up 20 minutes late for an event or some kind of meet-up, you could just as easily consistently turn up on time. Seriously, if you want to avoid irritating your friends, be on time.
Falling out with people is, unfortunately, a fact of life. Everyone has different opinions, different life goals, and different methods of dealing with conflict. That being said, if you have an opportunity to patch up your relationship with someone: do it.
11. Saying 'maybe' when you mean 'no'
Being flaky is one thing, but not owning up to your flakiness is another. If you can't attend a Facebook event, let your friend know! Don't leave people hanging if you're only going to let them down eventually.
Often, it seems that the decisions of the powers that be are so beyond our influence that they're not even worth paying attention to. But that's not the case. When you've got the opportunity to vote, use it. If you have the chance to contact your senator, take it. After all, ignoring what's going on won't make it go away.
This is another rule that applies to pretty much anyone of any age, but it still needs saying.
, and your body will look after you.
14. Comparing yourself to others
Ultimately, the only person who's going to be there throughout your entire life is you. So stop worrying about what anyone else thinks, and be yourself.
If you're reading this and you're already over 30, don't worry - you can still make changes later on. But, if you've yet to enter your fourth decade of life, think carefully about these points. They might just end up making you a lot happier.
