Make the most out of your 30s with these tips

Welcome to your 30s—you call the shots

If your 20s were about grappling with an identity crisis and accumulating experience, your 30s are about fulfilling your potential. In fact, it’s right around the time when you become fully ‘adult,’ according to brain scientists.

While everybody moves at their own pace, it’s perhaps no coincidence that your 30s are when you and the rest of your friends feel the urge to make life audits. As an adult, you likely have a clearer idea of what you want, or inversely, what you don’t want.

Case in point: According to Huffpost.com, your 30s are a decade of career highlights, but if you don’t like your job or your industry, you’re likely to feel unhappy about it. “Some research has shown that 30-somethings are less satisfied with their jobs and more emotionally burnt out than people in their 20s and 40s.”

Unfortunately, that’s not something that’s likely to change, especially if you already know that what you’re doing is not what you want. This doesn’t mean that you have to quit your job right away or even at all, but it might be a good idea to start exploring other opportunities. Start by dipping your toes here and there, accepting small assignments, and taking the time to develop other skill sets. You never know what doors will open for you.

Your work isn’t the only aspect of your life that could use a long, hard look. Your personal life might also benefit from a little pruning. Are there any toxic relationships that you need to say goodbye to? According to Dr. Lillian Glass, a psychology expert who coined the term ‘toxic relationships’ in her 1995 book, Toxic People, “if a relationship stops bringing joy, and instead consistently makes you feel sad, angry, anxious or ‘resigned, like you’ve sold out,’ it may be toxic.” It might take you a while to cut ties with those who were, on one level or another, detrimental to your wellbeing, but finally doing so will be liberating.

Undoubtedly, your 30s are when you spend more time putting yourself first, and that goes for your health as well—with good reason. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels can rise. Muscle mass can drop and weight gain can increase. And while these aren’t likely to cause you any health problems in the next few years, the same can’t be said for when you hit your 40s.

This is precisely why it’s advisable for you to make lifestyle changes and take a proactive approach to your health while you still can. Stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise more. Consider getting a health insurance plan, too. AXA’s Health Max gives you comprehensive lifetime health protection that covers 56 major and 18 minor conditions until age 100, a health fund that you can use for other needs when you’re 70 years old, and guaranteed life insurance coverage. You can also talk to an AXA financial partner about Health Start, an affordable health plan that protects you against top life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, heart attack and stroke for as low as P1,500 per month.

Your 30s is the best time to secure your future, and as such, the optimal time to focus on your health. After all, good health is key to making the most out of life—from your 30s and beyond.

Want to know more about your options? Visit AXA’s health page for more information.