If you’re bummed about being (or almost being) in your thirties, it’s time to cheer up. Just because you’re no longer a twenty-something doesn’t mean your life is about to get worse. In fact, this decade is one of the best ones you’ll experience, and this is why:
- Your confidence hits second gear. You’ve stumbled through your shy, awkward years, but now you’re a flower that’s blooming. You know who you are, what you’re about, and what you want out of life. You’re raring to go, and no one can hold you back thanks to the confidence you’ve got up your sleeve.
- Your stress becomes smarter. You might still have stuff to stress about, like how much money you’re (not) putting away into a retirement fund, but you’re no longer stressing about the small, stupid stuff. For example, toxic men who don’t return your messages. It used to make you go crazy, but now you’re just like, “whatevs.” You’ve got better things to do.
- You know what you want from love. You might have dated lots of different guys in your 20s, from the artists to the jerks, but now you’re focused more on the type of guy you know is right for you. This helps you avoid guys who just don’t do you justice. Your relationships are going to get so much more satisfying from here on out.
- You don’t let your body hold you back. Okay, so maybe your body has changed from when you were in your 20s, but you’re not going to let it hold you back from a fabulous life. Who cares if you have a bit of cellulite and your boobs aren’t as perky as they used to be? You’re still sexy AF and deserve love.
- You love yourself more. You’ve taken the time to get to know who you are, and you appreciate how much crap you’ve survived in life. You’ve fallen in love with yourself, and that means you won’t put yourself in situations that bring you down. This revelation will lead to so many amazing things, including automatic higher standards when it comes to finding a partner.
- You finally get that your mother was right. You used to think your mom was so old-fashioned or so wrong about your ex or your life choices. But, um, turns out the amazing woman was spot on. By realizing this, you’ve come full circle because you can see what you didn’t want to when you were younger.
- You don’t have to be on an adventure all the time. Yeah, lots of fun adventures are a must in life, but unlike when you’re in your 20s you don’t feel like you’ve got to hit all the parties, road trips, and events that you’re invited to. You can be more selective, and you’re just as happy to chill out at home sometimes without feeling like a social slacker. You know how to entertain yourself, and you appreciate alone time a lot more than you used to.
- You find it easier to say “no.” How cool is it that as you get older, you manage to say “no” more often without feeling horribly guilty or allowing yourself to get roped into doing stuff you actually don’t want to? That means you can do better things with your time. To the friend who only calls when she needs a favor: sorry, not sorry.
- You’re zinging with creativity. According to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, your 30s are when you are your most creative. This is probably because you’re not as bound by what you think society expects from you, and you can think much more freely. Go out there and make your dreams happen.
- You’ve got a strong jerk radar. Thanks to all the douches and bad boys you dated in your 20s, you’ve learned the signs to spot toxic guys from miles away. This jerk radar saves you time and prevents you from bringing dating drama into your life. From the first date, you can tell if someone is showing red flags so you can GTFO.
- You’re the most beautiful you’ve ever been. Go on and fish out some old photos of yourself from your 20s. Like a fine wine, you’ve grown even more beautiful over the years. Celebrate that, and don’t forget to appreciate the fact that you’ll never make those cringe-worthy style faux pas you used to when you were younger.
- You don’t feel the need to impress guys. During dates in your 20s, you might have sometimes felt that you had to impress guys so that they liked you. But screw that. Now that you’re older and wiser, you know you’re worth so much more. You don’t have to jump through hoops to get the guy — and if he expects you to, you won’t waste another second on him.
- Your sex life hits a new level. In your 20s, you might’ve felt more self-conscious and shy during sex because you were still finding your way around the bedroom, so to speak. But now that you’re older and more confident, you’re less inhibited in the sack. You’re probably also pickier about who you bring home, which definitely means that you increase your chances of having mind-blowing sex.
