Many 30-somethings are busy rising through their work hierarchy, developing a serious romantic relationship, and possibly raising a family.
Those who have already been through that decade say that as their responsibilities accumulated, it became easier to neglect relationships and ignore opportunities that they would never get again.
We've sorted through a variety of advice from writers on Quora and author Mark Manson's blogand found recurring themes.
Here are eight things successful people don't do in their 30s.
They don't lack purpose.
It's common for undergraduate college students lacking specific career goals to pick a relatively safe, well-tread path with the hope that things work out. At some point in their 30s, some of these same people may have multiple degrees and wealth, but realize that they are deriving no meaning from their careers.
This happened to designer Jack Sheu when he was 35. "I learned that if you don't have your purpose, then make it your obsession in life to find it," he writes on Quora. "It took me over a year, and I was completely disconnected from the rat race during that time. Don't stop until you've got it. You'll know when you have."
They don't neglect a financial foundation for the future.
If you developed a spending habit in your 20s at the expense of saving for your future, it's not too late.
An anonymous poster writes on Quora that when his salary increased dramatically, he started spending excessively on things like expensive cars, a motorcycle, and a boat. Only in retrospect did he realize the danger of burning through money.
"Had I invested the money instead, I could have comfortably retired now (I am 44)," he writes.
They don't obsess about the future.
Manson recounts that one of the biggest lessons of his 20s was that there's not a magical moment where you start feeling like an adult who has it all figured out. He was happy to learn that his older readers said the same thing about their 30s.
"Unless you are already dead — mentally, emotionally, and socially — you cannot anticipate your life five years into the future. It will not develop as you expect. So just stop it. Stop assuming you can plan far ahead, stop obsessing about what is happening right now because it will change anyway, and get over the control issue about your life's direction,"Thomas, a reader of Manson's blog, writes.
It's healthy to have goals for you and your family, but don't stress out over specifics. Acknowledge that you still have plenty left to learn and that you're going to continue to grow as a person in unexpected ways.
They don't set aside their personal relationships.
You'll likely spend your 30s in a senior position at work that requires significantly more time and energy than your job did in your 20s. For the sake of your well-being,you should be vigilant about scheduling time specifically for your family and friends. The fulfillment you can gain from keeping loved ones close will keep you happier and more productive.
"Don't just work," writes Microsoft product designer Michael Dorian Bach, now in his late 30s. "Make memories. The older you get, the harder it is to make meaningful relationships. Foster those while you're young."
They don't ignore their aging parents.
Entrepreneur and blogger James Altucher, now 46, writes on Quora about a particularly difficult memory for him: "When I was 34 I hung up the phone on my dad in an argument and never returned his calls. Six months later he had a stroke and died. A week before that he had emailed me to say hello but I didn't return the email. I'm sorry, Dad."
It can be easy to forget that your parents grow older as you do. Don't take them for granted.
They don't neglect their health.
Bach writes that the pursuit of a career can also be a drain on one's health. "Be healthy. That is priority No. 1. Don't get into your 30s being slow and tired all the time. It sucks," he says.
Do what you can to stay healthy: Exercise, eat right, limit your vices, and take care of your mental health.
They don't think they have to be "ready" to start a family.
Having children is, of course, not right for everyone. But one of the most recurrent regrets among these writers was waiting too long to start a family. Regardless of family structure, they agreed that your 30s are a good time to make a decision if you want to raise kids or not.
CEO coach Alison Whitmire, now 44, writes that only after she became a mother did she realize that her fear of not being ready to have a child was unfounded, since no one is ever adequately prepared to have one for the first time.
They don't stop setting aside time to have fun.
Just because you're not in your 20s anymore doesn't mean you need to give up enjoying life. Bach says he spent the early half of his adult life chasing money, and it only made him unhappy and more cynical about life.
Go on dates with your significant other. Take your kids on trips. Go to concerts with your best friends. Just don't forget that the money you work to make is useless if you're miserable.
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