30 Things to Do Before 30
Turning 30 can feel like a finish line or a starting point—depending on how you look at it. Some see it as the age when you “should” have everything figured out. A career. A plan. Maybe even a mortgage. But let me be real with you—I hit 30 with more questions than answers.
And that’s okay.
You don’t need to have it all together by 30. But there are certain things to do before 30 that shape how you experience life, how you know yourself, and how you face the world in the next chapter.
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I made a list of the 30 best things to do before 30, based on experience, regrets, wins, and moments that genuinely changed me. Some are bold. Some are quiet. Some might seem silly. But every single one added something important to my life.
If you’re wondering what you should try to squeeze into your twenties, this is for you.
🌍 Explore the world outside your bubble
Get out of your comfort zone. Travel somewhere that forces you to learn new ways of living. Even if it’s just a road trip across your state.
🎤 Try something that absolutely terrifies you
Public speaking, stand-up comedy, skydiving—anything that makes your stomach flip. Fear teaches.
📚 Read at least 30 books that aren’t school-related
Fiction, memoirs, poetry, self-help. Let other people’s words shape your thinking.
🧘 Develop a mental health practice
Therapy, journaling, meditation, prayer—whatever helps you actually know your mind.
💪 Get your body strong
Not for looks. For endurance. For confidence. For you. Do something that makes you sweat and feel powerful.
🏡 Live alone
Even if just for six months. Know how to sit with yourself in silence. Know how to unclog your own sink.
💸 Figure out your finances
Budgeting, saving, investing. I waited too long. Don’t. Your future self will thank you.
💻 Quit a job that drains you
You don’t owe your life to a paycheck that kills your spirit. Take the leap once. You’ll learn you can survive it.
🍝 Learn how to cook at least five meals really well
You don’t need to be a chef. Just be good enough to feed yourself and impress someone occasionally.
❤️ Fall deeply in love
Even if it doesn’t last. Let yourself be transformed by closeness.
💔 Get your heart broken
It sucks. But it teaches you what you really value in others—and yourself.
👋 End a toxic friendship
Learn that not everyone deserves access to your life. Say goodbye with grace. Or without it. Just walk away.
✈️ Travel solo
Eat alone. Get lost. Rely on no one but yourself. I did it once and I’ve never felt freer.
💬 Learn how to say what you mean
Stop sugarcoating. Practice radical honesty—with kindness. It changes everything.
🧠 Discover what you believe in
Faith. Politics. Purpose. Question everything. Rebuild your worldview intentionally.
📸 Take way too many pictures
Not for social media. For you. For memories. For proof you really lived.
🎨 Make something you’re proud of
Paint. Write a poem. Build a shelf. Start a podcast. It doesn’t matter what—just create.
🥂 Celebrate your birthday like it matters
You’ve survived a lot. That deserves recognition. Throw yourself a party. Every year.
📱 Take a social media break
A week. A month. Long enough to remember what your brain feels like without a constant scroll.
🎭 Apologize to someone you hurt
Even if it’s been years. Especially if it’s been years. Be brave enough to make things right.
✍️ Write your future self a letter
Seal it. Date it. Open it at 40. You’ll be amazed at what changes—and what doesn’t.
🛠️ Learn to fix something
A tire. A button. A leaking faucet. Independence isn’t just emotional. It’s practical.
🧳 Move somewhere new—at least once
Feel the discomfort. Start fresh. Reinvent yourself a little.
💬 Have a deep conversation with a stranger
Sometimes the most important truths come from people who owe you nothing.
🧓 Ask your parents or grandparents about their life
Before they forget. Or before you run out of time.
🖤 Be single and happy
Learn that your worth doesn’t depend on someone else choosing you.
🌱 Volunteer for something that breaks your heart
Give back. Show up. Do good in a way that costs you time.
💼 Negotiate your salary at least once
Even if you’re scared. Especially if you’re scared. Learn to ask for your worth.
🧳 Take a spontaneous trip
No plan. No overthinking. Just go. See where the road leads.
☁️ Do something you can tell your kids (or grandkids) one day
Make a story. Make it funny. Make it yours.
So what’s the big deal about doing these 30 things before 30?
It’s not about checking off a list. It’s about becoming a person who’s lived. A person who knows what fear feels like—and does it anyway. A person who knows how to be alone and not feel empty. A person who’s made mistakes, apologized, laughed, failed, succeeded, and learned.
Your twenties are wild. Beautiful. Messy. And unrepeatable.
So make the most of them. Try things. Risk more. Regret less.
Because by the time you hit 30, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence. It’s knowing you didn’t play it safe the whole way.
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