OT: I'm turning 30 soon - what do you wish you knew at 30?

Hairs are turning grey, hairline is retreating a little. I'm in great shape but it takes longer to recover, and I ache. I feel older, I feel somewhat wiser, but I feel incomplete. I'm a proper adult now, right? I should know what I'm doing!

I gather there a few.. ahem.. older souls on this board. Older than 30 at least. There's a ton that I wish I knew at 20 now that I'm turning 30.

I wonder if you could tell me what you wish you knew, or what you wish you would have done, at this age.

I love the collective wisdom that these boards offer (football tactics aside, of course) so I am very interested in your thoughts BBS.

 

Approaching 42 and not as healthy as I should be.

What I’d tell you is that 30 isn’t as old and wise as you think.

You still have your youth and everything that goes with it.

Stay healthy, stay active. If recovery takes longer, recover and go again.

Once you stop it’s harder to get going again.

And as for wisdom, it comes with age to a certain extent. But only minimally.

It is very conceited to assume you don’t still need to learn about any given subject at any age.

There’s plenty in life, on this forum maybe, who have got to a certain age and are inflexible in certain things as they ‘know best’. I’m as guilty of that as the next man.

The last thing I’ll mention is, for me at least, my thirties and going into my forties I found myself overthinking and sometimes getting trapped in my woe. Mental health maintenance is absolutely vital and thankfully this is getting less taboo - but there’s still a long way to go on that.

So stay moving, keep your mind open, enjoy yourself, don’t take yourself too seriously. I believe you are in the legal profession - make sure you have proper downtime. I’m in finance and probably not quite as stressful - but you need to make time for not doing work.

Oh and you didn’t mention if you are single or attached. If you are single - make hay whilst you are still young and (presumably at least) attractive…

 

Success isn’t having things, it’s being happy. Spend time with family and friends and your health really matters.

 

Stretch.

 

I can’t wait for Stephen Dawson’s contribution …

Don’t let me down mate!

 

30? That's young!!

Stay as fit as you can - if you can find an activity that you enjoy and keeps you fit youre onto a winner.

Eat more than 5 portions of fruit and veg per day.

Sleep - try to get at least 7 hours

Work isn't worth stressing about - get another job if it's that bad.

Do things you enjoy.

Don't be a d1.ck.

Support a more professionally run football club.

 

This ^^

And eating cleaner/healthier, drinking plenty of water, getting a good night’s kip.

I used to ignore such advice. Wish I hadn’t because the simple, obvious stuff is key.

 

Wealth is not about how much money you have; it's about what you do with the money you do have.

The great Bob Seger taught us in a classic single line
"Wish I didn't know now, what I didn't know then"

Make the most

 

I wish I'd started exercising regularly at 30 rather than 45. Prevention is definitely better, and presumably much easier, than cure!

 

Regular binge drinking, chemsex parties and the recreational use of heroin and hookers is difficult to mantain at 50 years old. Make sure you get your hours while you are 30.

 

I lived by one rule.

“Have a good time all of the time”

get out there, don’t deny yourself an opportunity to have fun, let guilt be an emotion that passes you by.

 

Not so much myself/ourselves

But others I spoke to at work. Regretted chasing the money and not spending more time with family.
Status a priority rather than a decent life, not buying within means, creating massive debt. Working all hrs God sent. (For those on low income I get, not much option, hence we have to create a more than just living wage and not rely on benefits)

I'm glad we chose to live within our means on normal working hrs. And the odd bit of overtime (Standby) we had/have holidays/Cars/houses that were/are affordable.
I've/we've absolutely everything to be thankful for. And look back at a stress free (financially) life. Other than A year on strike. Which we didn't accrue massive debt like some. I Set my stall out from day one. And my wife didn't work either throughout that period. When she did work our funds helped our kids, only real debt if you can call it that, were mortgages. Now mortgage free.

I was fortunate to get decent pensions throughout my life. As company pensions payments were not an issue as you didn't have to worry so much as if in private business. as you took your own contributions for granted. In my case between 6%-8% (less 20% tax relief) my entire working life.

Lads i spoke at YW. Think that you can leave pensions to a later date contributions wise. Some in their 40s. They will be crying poverty later in life or work till they drop. Opting for the 3% minimum contribution.
What they dont get. Is if they invested more the company match it to a max for 10%
So if they contribute 10% (8% in real terms) on a salary of 35k. £7k goes into the pot. Only paying in £2.8k themselves. Better than any savings plan which some of em do.

 

Remember feeling a bit depressed turning 30 cos I thought it was old. It most definitely isn’t. I doubled that mark last summer lol. Even 40 isn’t old these days. Obviously keeping relatively fit and not putting on too much weight helps but a lot of the age thing can be in the mind.

 

I’m fast approaching 70 my mantra through life has been try to be as kind as possible to everyone you meet and money is nice but by far is not the be all and end all

 

You’re just entering the very beginning of ‘use it or lose it’. Keep flexible and active and you’ll stay that way, let it slide and it’ll disappear quickly.

If you don’t have a proper pension, sort it now.

 

Tbh D. Other than health reasons. I have never felt that old. Even though I am lol. 70 I think next year will.

 

Jim Trott from the Vicar of Dibley made a valid point. Wish I could find the clip .......

Jim: Well I've been married 43 years and the secret of a successful marriage Hugo, is sex and plenty of it.
Hugo: Well, hooray.
Jim: With as many different women as possible.

 

70 is old though P

 

Off topic Andy. But one of the greatest british comedies of all time. Every character a genius. I bought the boxed set afore all these channels popped up.