How do I feel about that? Hmm, I'm not sure really. I've joked with friends that I'll be drowning my sorrows on my thirtieth. But honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to the start of the fourth chapter in my life. I'm hoping it'll feel like a fresh start and finally set up some new goals for my thirties.
But let's get back to the here and now - 29.
I have achieved a few things in my twenties. I've travelled solo on numerous occasions, ploughed through CF and its obstacles, achieved a good grade when I left college, been in and out of some lovely jobs and just got myself to a point where I can be satisfied, but still want more.
It feels so strange to say that this time next year I won't be saying I'm in my twenties. The fact that I'm moving closer to ticking off a different age range box on forms is a little dispiriting. However, let's focus on what and how I plan to spend the last year of my twenties:
1) Travel more
I definitely went to venture a little further than South Wales in my twenties. Liverpool will obviously be one of my staycation targets this year, as well, you know, it's my happy place. I've already written about my UK travel bucket list here so I plan on travelling to some new places!
2) Learn how to love me more
As I've grown through my twenties, my confidence has been up and down like a rollercoaster (excuse the cliche) and I have always been my worst critic. I want to start embracing my flaws, both physically and emotionally and allow myself to love who I am, despite the flaws and imperfections. I want to start feeling secure as a person and who I am as a person. I'd love to have improved self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth as my edge towards my thirties.
3) Step out of my comfort zone more often
Since the pandemic, the need and want to step out of my comfort zone has somewhat declined. I think being wary of my health status in terms of being around others with this awful virus hasn't helped. But, as long as I'm careful, I need to be able to venture more and start stepping out of my comfort zone again. Stepping out of your comfort zone is good for the soul and I know it'll be worth it, it's just taking that big step...
4) Be able to speak out when I'm struggling
Oh, this is a big goal for the rest of my twenties - learning to speak out when I am struggling. Guys, I won't lie, I'm someone who keeps everything inside until I explode (not literally) but you know, to the point where I completely break down with the pressure of everything. I'll admit, I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I'm someone who shouts from the rooftops to talk to someone if you're struggling with your mental health, but then fail to do that myself. Rather than shouldering all of the burdens of my mental health, I need to learn to offload to those who I know will be empathetic and listen.
5) Learn to let go of the things that don't matter anymore
Another trait of mine which I know I can't fully embrace, I'm someone who, emotionally, can't let things go. I let them fester in my mind to the point where I'm over-analysing and overthinking certain situations to the point where I drive myself crazy! I want to allow myself to let the things go that don't matter and the things I have no control over.
6) Just enjoy my last year of being in my twenties
Do you know what? Rather than dwelling about edging closer to turning the big 3-0, I'm just going to allow myself to enjoy turning 29 and making the last year of my twenties the best one yet! I'm going to enjoy being 29 and prepare for the set-up for my 30's. I'm one year away from starting the third (or fourth) chapter of my life, let's end this second (or third) chapter in style!
I feel like I nodded along with all of these pointers (apart from the last one, because I'm in the 30 club & it's fabulous btw). I'm still terrible at asking for help. This is probably the one I need to work on most. You've got some fab goals here my love. Looking forward to seeing how you do 29! X
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible at asking for help or speaking out Claire, it's something that I definitely need to work on! x
DeleteHappy birthday lovely! I'm in my 30s now and you really don't have to worry, it's not half as bad as it sounds! You do learn to let go of more things as you get older and live more how you want to, you've got it all to look forward to :)
ReplyDeleteCorinnex
https://skinnedcartree.com
Thank you Corinne!
DeleteI've had quite a few people saying that being in your 30's isn't as bad as it sounds, so that makes me feel better! x
Hope you had a lovely birthday Lucy! These are all great things to prioritise for the final year of your 20’s. I’m 30 in September and had an idea of how I wanted to spend my final year of 20’s but it didn’t really pan out for me. I’m dreading turning 30!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI'm sorry that it hasn't panned out the way you would have liked it to, but there's still 4 months until your 30th so you go and do your thing! x
Hope you had a fab birthday and I love your UK Travel bucketlist, I have so many places I still want to see and visit x
ReplyDeleteThank you lovely! x
DeleteLovely post, Lucy! Hope you had a wonderful birthday, and yes, do enjoy being 29, although the next decade's club is just as much fun too x
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa, I'll do my best to enjoy 29! x
DeleteI absolutely love being in my thirties! I wish I made more of the last year of my 20s but we were in lockdown for most of it. Hope you manage to achieve what you want with this year and I can assure you that your thirties are much less scary than they seem!
ReplyDeleteAmy x
callmeamy.co.uk
It's a shame that we were all in lockdown so that you couldn't make the most of bring 29 Amy! x
DeleteThere is so much to look forward to and I wish you all the best as you enter your 30s; it's a great decade to continue growing and celebrating yourself. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteMolly | transatlanticnotes.com
Thank you Molly! I hope being and turning 30 will be just as enjoyable as being in my 20's!
DeleteI hope you had an amazing birthday lovely as you truly deserve it! I hope the next year brings you nothing but happiness and you manage to do everything you hope/plan to do. I look forward to hearing all about the things you’ve achieved over the next 365 days and what your plans are for your thirty’s. Thank you for sharing this with us, it’s a great post! Xo
ReplyDeleteElle - ellegracedeveson.com
Thank you Elle! Your words mean so much lovely x
DeleteLove this post!! I think my 20's have so far been my favourite, I think I've learned the most, but at the same time I'm excited to go into my 30's too. These are fab goals and learning to love yourself more is definitely going to be a goal that you'll probably take through to the rest of your life xx
ReplyDeletewww.iridescentplaces.com
That's great to hear that you have learned so much in your twenties lovely! I'm hoping that goal in particular will take me through my life! xx
DeleteHappy Birthday love! I love your list of things you'd like to do for your last year. Good luck and have fun achieving them all!
ReplyDeleteThank you lovely! x
DeleteHappy Birthday! This was an amazing post, I can’t actually believe your 29 you don’t look a day over 23! These sound like great things to do before your 30, I hope your having a lovely birthday x
ReplyDeleteThank you Aaliyah! I'll take that as a big compliment! x
DeleteI hope you had a lovely birthday. These are some great things to do in your last year of your 20’s. I remember making a list of things I wanted to do before I turned 30. I turned 29 in February 2020 and then covid hit and I spent my 30th the following year in lockdown as well as not being able to do half the things on the list, so I want to make up for it this year! Good luck with achieving all that you want to do this year! Enjoy yourself doing it.
ReplyDeleteLauren - www.bournemouthgirl.com
Thank you Lauren, I did have a lovely birthday! That's so annoying that you turned 30 during lockdown, how frustrating! I hope you make up for it this year by working your way through that list!
DeleteHope you had the best birthday! I’m only 25 but definitely agree with some of these too! I really want to travel more before I turn 30! :-)
ReplyDeleteCourtney x
c0urtinthemagic.blogspot.co.uk/
Thank you Courtney! I hope you get to travel more before you turn 30 lovely x
DeleteHappy birthday Lucy! Definitely also want to travel more before I’m 30 (I have roughly 2.5 years left), and I definitely want to try to enjoy my 20s more.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Make sure you enjoy what you have left of your 20's! x
DeleteHappy Birthday Lucy! These are some great goals for the last year of your 20s. I can completely relate to loving yourself more, I'm really struggling to at the minute... I hope you achieve all these goals and more xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with being able to love yourself more Em, it's such a long (even life-long) process and it does take time, but I'm sure you'll get yourself to that point soon lovely xx
DeleteI will be turning 30 in the summer. I really want to enjoy these last few months, but I’ve been feeling anxious because of all the expectations that comes with age. What will the next chapter bring? Who knows 🤷♀️ Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love how positive your list is, it seems that most people approaching the big 30 are panicking 24/7 :D Definitely enjoy this year to the fullest, but don't expect the enjoyment to end when you move on to the next decade ;) For me thirties have been a lot more fun and much easier than the 20s. One doesn't stress about useless things at this point anymore x
ReplyDeleteTeresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
I'll definitely aim to enjoy these 12 months Teresa! x
DeleteThis is such a great idea of a post and you've included some great ideas. Learning to speak out when your struggling is such a good goal. I've got two years left of my twenties but I definitely want to create some similar goals.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelly! I hope you manage to create some goals before you turn 30 in a couple of years lovely x
DeleteThank you Mariann!
ReplyDeleteThese are some awesome things to do in your last year of your twenties. When I turned 29 and I wanted to do 30 things before 30, but then my birthday was Feb 11th then in March we went into lockdown. So this year and next year I want to do more things. Thank you for sharing. I hope you get to do all the things on your list.
ReplyDeleteLauren -www.bournemouthgirl.com
That's so annoying that you're 30th was before the lockdown started Lauren, I hope you manage to make up for it!
DeleteHope you had an amazing birthday Lucy! I totally felt all these points and mostly letting go of things and speaking up for myself. I am the same, I find it very hard to let things go and overthink a lot. Hope this year will bring you a lot x
ReplyDeleteI did thank you Cristina! x
DeleteHappy Beleated birthday, I felt the same way when I was in the last year of my twenties (which was way before Covid) that making the use of every opportunity I had as the last year had been rubbish so going on holiday and learning how to manage Diabetes which was a challenge for me. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures
Thank you Nic! I hope you are managing your diabetes at the moment lovely x
DeleteI quite enjoyed 29 - I also felt strangely at peace at turning 30, it was such a nice moment! xx
ReplyDeleteThat's so lovely to hear that you felt at peace at turning 30, how refreshing to hear that! xx
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