Being 30 and Single

Editor’s Note: This post is written by Jo Turnbull, a fellow 30-Life-Crisis-Screw-It-I’m-Traveling-Travel-Blogger. She’s rad.

Turning 30 is normally the age when you buy your house, settle down, have a couple of children and go to work every day for the next 30 years. I have done the complete opposite. I moved out of my apartment that I owned, I rented it out, moved into a shared house with friends, quit my job and went traveling. For those dreading turning 30 this year, I have a few tips for those who are not following the traditional route.

Don’t worry about the age

Yes I know it is easier said than done, but if you keep thinking that you are old, then you will always ensure age plays a factor in what you do. For example, you may want to quit your job, but as you are 30 you might think you have to be sensible and stick at it, that it will just get better.

It won’t.

If you want to leave and try something else, just do it. Don’t sit around waiting for a change. Make the change yourself — you will feel so much better as a result.

Don’t be concerned with what others are doing

You cannot deny it, we are at the age when people are getting married, or moving in together and having children. Don’t obsess about what your friends are doing, make sure you do what is right for you.  If you are single and have no ties, you are in the fortunate position to go wherever you want and do what ever you want. Think of it from a different angle: you are single so are not tied down to anything and can go anywhere at the drop of a hat while your friends with children struggle to get childcare for a rare night out.

Appreciate being 30

Do you really wish you were younger?  In your 20s you were more insecure, probably doing work for university or college, trying to get ahead in your job, working all those extra hours and for what? Oh, experience!  Now that you are 30, you do not need to worry about this as much. You probably have more experience and are able to advance in your career without working long hours and putting up with the demands from that annoying boss. In your 20s you may have been studying extra qualifications outside of work to get ahead in your job.  Now being 30, you have probably got that Masters or second qualification after university, so you don’t need to study at the weekend and have more time for yourself.

Live your dream

If you have always wanted to go traveling round the world or go and teach English in Japan, now is the time to do it.  Do not put it off any longer.  You are still young, you have the work experience, so getting back into work will not be as difficult as when you were a graduate. It will be much easier to save now as you have had a lot more practice, so you can go off travelling and exploring without worrying about having to find a job straight away.

Push yourself

Don’t think you have now done everything at 30 years old.  Continue to seek out new challenges. I was never good at running, but did my personal best at Race for Life when I turned 30. It has always been important for me to keep fit and recently I have joined British Military Fitness, which is the cheapest way to work out.  Gyms can get boring and if you are just working out by yourself, you may lack motivation. Find something you enjoy or a goal you have always wanted to achieve, perhaps you may want to run the London Marathon or take part in an Ironman or Triathlon.

Turning 30 is great.  For women being single and approaching the big 3-0 can seem daunting, but stop looking at it that way. Go out! Have fun! When you turn 30, itis the start of the time of your life.  You have more confidence, more money and you take less flak from people. Being 30 is old enough to known better and still young enough to do it!