Why My Life Has Felt More Freeing Since I Turned 30

I have completed my first year of being in my 30s. Happy 31st birthday to me! 

Before my 30th birthday a while ago, the thought of turning the big 3-0 filled me with dread. Now that I am 30 and have been for a while, I'm here to tell you - it's not as bad as you think. In fact, I've really enjoyed and embraced being 30. In ways, my life has felt more free since I turned 30. 

The day I turned 30, it's like a switch flicked and I've been happier than I've been. I believe that there is pressure to achieve so much in your 20's. There's a pressure to reach certain milestones or be on a certain path in life. I'm one of those women who hasn't chosen to comply with those pressures. I would rather follow my own path, wherever it leads me than conform to one that doesn't make me happy. When I turned 30, all the pressures surrounding me in my 20s disappeared. It's like they vanished overnight. 

Some in society deem a life like mine unsuccessful because I'm unmarried with children or don't have a stellar mortgage to pay every month. 

Me in my 20s would have been disheartened by those sorts of remarks. 

Me in my 30s don't really care what others think. It's my life. 

Since turning 30, I've adopted a big f*ck it attitude. Things that used to worry the hell out of me don't worry so much nowadays. I'm not giving two thoughts about those trivial things that used to upset me or wind me up. I would rather let those petty things pass me by without causing me unnecessary grief. In terms of my mental health, adopting this kind of attitude has made me a lot happier and more carefree. As the title says, it's freeing. 

When I talk about how life in my 30s has become freeing, I mean I've taken all the societal pressures from my shoulders and just allowed my life to be more nonchalant (unlike Joey in Friends, I know what this word means). 

One thing I am doing a lot more of is saying no. Saying yes to everyone and everything can be draining. It's good to help out those who need it, but it's important to help yourself too. Saying no helps me to sometimes prioritise my needs over someone else's. Obviously, I'll say yes when I can, but since turning 30, I've learned to say no more often, which has been amazing for my well-being. 

Having this sense of freedom in my 30s has been such a game-changer in my life. I don't take life too seriously anymore, only when I need to. If you're reading this and you're about to turn thirty or are dreading when that day comes - don't. Turning thirty is not as big a deal as some make out. When I chatted to people before turning thirty, the majority told me that it's the best and that I'll enjoy my thirties. I'm so glad that those people were right, I can definitely say that my thirties, in terms of my happiness and well-being, have been delightful

I'd love to know your thoughts on this if you're in your thirties. Have you found your thirties to be freeing or filled with more happiness?

Let me know your thoughts!