When you're in your 20s, you pretty much have a "get out of jail free" card. It's somewhat implied that those years are there for making mistakes, learning from them, and bridging the gap between pre-adulthood and adulthood. So, when you "forget" to wash your sheets for five months or spend your whole paycheck on a pair of shoes, no one can really give you a hard time. But at some point, we all must brush the dust off our 401k packets and embrace that we are, after all, real adults [1]. Here are some things to quit doing when 30 rolls around:
- Facebook stalking, particularly your ex.
- Seeking approval from other people.
- Beer pong. It's time to toss the red solo cups.
- Sleeping away your entire weekend instead of doing something fun or productive.
- Weeknight binge drinking (or binge drinking in general). Those hangovers get worse with each passing year.
- Building up debt on your credit card. Now is the time to pay it back, not make it worse!
- Hitting up Mom or Dad for money.
- Keeping bad friends around out of convenience or because you're too lazy to cut them out. Send them packing!
- Buying anything and everything you want when you're shopping.
- Sneaking a smoke.
- Buying new underwear instead of doing laundry.
- Advertising drunk nights on social media.
- Skipping beauty routines. Start moisturizing ASAP!
- Pulling all-nighters.
- Making excuses not to do your workout.
- Eating fast food.
- Hanging unframed pictures or posters on your walls. We think "Starry Night" is great too, but it's time to take it down.
- Ignoring 401k packets when you get them.
- Spending most of your money on alcohol or eating out.
- Waiting for someone to do something for you so that you don't have to.
- Only cleaning the toilet or tub when it literally can't wait another minute.
- Giving up when things get hard.
- Waiting to take out the trash and recycling until guests are coming over.
- Holding on to old grudges.
- Washing your bath towel and sheets once every few months or just when you have company coming.
- Neglecting family time.
- Not taking responsibility for things.
- Flossing only once a year before your trip to the dentist, and then right after, when the dentist guilt-trips you into it.
- Unhealthy dieting or buying in to quick-fix weight-loss plans.
- Texting while driving.
- Not saving money.
- Participating in drama.
- Not staying up-to-date on current events.
Speaking of your 30s, remember to be aware of these things people regret in their 30s [3].