Goal setting | 30 things to do in your 30th year

Writing 30 things to do in your 30th year isn’t a usual blog post for me, but I wanted to mark the special occasion. I celebrated my fast-approaching 30th birthday with my friends this weekend. Rather than dreading the milestone, I’m surprised to feel ready to embark on a new decade – one that’s filled with deeper self-discovery and clarity in who I am and what I want in life.

Reflecting on my last decade, I felt called to channel the energy into making intentional goals for my 30th year. So, here’s my take on 30 things to do in your 30th year and how I’m implementing them into my life. I hope they resonate with you, sister.

1. Have a shorter to-do list

In the last couple of years, I’ve found myself falling into the trap of needing to tick items off my to-do list in specific timeframes. More often than not, the pressure only comes from myself. Don’t get me wrong – I love ticking things off my to-do list. But, in honour of intentional living, I crave to spend more of my 30th year just being. That means deferring, ditching and delegating rather than doing things, where I can.

2. Have more free time

I’ve been practising time blocking since 2021 when I purchased my first Deluxe Law of Attraction 12-Month Planner by Freedom Mastery. However, to my detriment, I start every year obsessed with time blocking everything – from my morning routine to what I’m eating for lunch. I’m the biggest advocate for using this planner and wholeheartedly recommend it. However, after four years of dedication, I’m considering transitioning to a smaller planner in a bid to be less rigid with my time in my 30th year.

3. Prioritise exercise

I’ve been on a journey with exercise for as long as I can remember. But, finally, I’m grasping that exercise is a lifestyle rather than a destination. Training goals for aesthetic purposes have only gotten me so far in the past – a short-lived and intense regime, followed by excessive eating and the early termination of a gym membership. For the first time in my life, I’ve been exercising to improve my cardiovascular fitness, challenge myself and spend quality time with myself. However, I haven’t been consistent, so I want to improve on this for my 30th year.

4. Read more books

I rekindled my love of reading last year and read 14 books which, when compared to the year prior, was a success. Despite this, I recall various occasions when I chose not to read in favour of losing myself in social media (cue the next point). So, I’m aiming to read an ambitious 30 books for my 30th year, taking the next point into account…

5. Spend less time on social media

Generally, I’m much better at pulling myself away from my phone these days. Plus, it helps that I’ve become occupied with my spiritual, self-development and blogging endeavours. Even so, I’d like to keep scrolling for extended periods to a minimum in support of my mental well-being.

6. Listen to my inner child

I’ve recently communicated with my inner child using exercises from Emma Mumford’s book, Hurt, Healing, Healed. It led me to feel nostalgic about my childhood passions and brought them to the surface. So, I want to allow myself to draw a picture or play a game on my Nintendo (upgraded from the DS to the Switch, though) when I feel called to.

7. Cook nutritious meals

I enjoy the intentional act of planning nutritious meals, having the cupboards stocked with fresh ingredients and cooking them from scratch in my kitchen that may as well be sponsored by Emma Bridgewater. Again, I would love to make room for more spontaneity in my culinary endeavours and, while I generally eat healthily, I’d like to improve the nutritional element to some of my meals. Plus, I want to make room for a visit to the farm shop on a Saturday afternoon now and then, just because.

8. Go on more intentional trips

Travelling with intention means just that – to be more intentional with travelling. This starts with my dream trip to Paris to celebrate my 30th year. The itinerary has been carefully planned out, containing a blend of cultural and recreational activities and, of course, space to do what the heart calls for.

9. Buy something I’ve always wanted

A MINI Cooper has proudly dominated my vision boards for years gone by. So, for my 30th year, I’m going to honour this goal and buy my dream car.

10. Grow my passion project

Believe it or not, launching this blog was my biggest fear in the world. Having been scarred by three failed blogging attempts in the past, I’d often punish myself for not having tried harder. Soon, the niggling feeling overcame the fear and before long, I created Intentional Lucie. It’s one of the best decisions I made for my personal development and confidence, and I have no desire to slow down.

11. Start a new job that aligns with my values

I’m starting my 30th year with a new job in a company that I truly believe in. Being offered this job was a full-circle moment for me and I’m blessed to have been given the opportunity.

12. Spend more time in nature

After nearly four years of living in London, my 30th year is the chapter that my boyfriend and I will move back to Lincolnshire to live in the countryside. It marks a new beginning of living closer to nature.

13. Buy my dream home

My boyfriend and I have put our London property on the market and soon, will be searching for our dream home. I’ve put my trust in the universe to present it to us and will share more once it’s on the horizon!

14. Have a balanced social life

Without careful consideration, the scales can tip with an influx of social occasions in the calendar. Last year, I had a month of back-to-back social activities (it was great), but it was followed by a month of hunkering down at home, not doing anything. While balance doesn’t exist on a constant level, I’m aiming to have more harmony in the calendar for my 30th year.

15. Write a book

I’ve never publicly expressed my desire to write a book. But, for as long as I can remember, it’s been my ultimate goal. I don’t envision writing a book from start to finish in my 30th year, especially with starting a new job, relocating and growing Intentional Lucie! But, it feels intentional to at least make a small step towards this goal.

16. Start a regular class

There’s a holistic centre in the area we’re moving to and I have plans to attend a regular class. And, on that note…

17. Make friends in a new town

While I’m excited about my relocation, I’m sure my 30-something sisters will nod their heads when I write that making friends can feel difficult at this age. But, I will lovingly put myself out there and hopefully, make a friend for a coffee (or vino) or two.

18. Spend time with friends and family

Our move to the countryside puts us within easier reach of the friends and family we left behind to pursue our goal of moving to London. So, naturally, I want to spend my 30th year making memories with my nearest and dearest.

19. Learn tarot cards

I started to learn how to read tarot cards in 2022 and fell off the wagon. I’d love to pick up where I left off in my 30th year and share my development on my blog.

20. Get a cleaner

Having a cleaner on the list of 30 things to do in your 30th year might seem unusual. But, as a woman who’s practising being intentional with her time, a cleaner will allow me to focus on my passions and delegate the tasks that encroach on my time. I never liked cleaning, anyway!

21. Continue collecting magazines

I stumbled upon Daphnee’s Diary in my local Sainsbury’s last autumn and it’s the most beautiful and intentional magazine I’ve read in years. It brings me joy to read on a Sunday morning and so, I plan to continue collecting it in my 30th year.

22. Do local activities

The other weekend, I went to the local pub for lunch with my boyfriend and said, “We don’t do this enough”. The best part is that it doesn’t need to be planned weeks in advance, which leads me to my next point…

23. Be more spontaneous

Sadly, I’ve felt the repercussions of lacking spontaneity in life while I prioritised that rigid schedule of mine. So, if I feel called to do something in my 30th year, I want to act on it with less consideration about adhering to self-imposed boundaries.

24. Drink more water

The benefits of drinking water outweigh any reason not to do so. For everyone, it’s a sensible goal to add to the list of 30 things to do in your 30th year!

25. Continue to build my style identity

As I’ve harped on about previously, the book Style Therapy: 30 Days to Your Signature Style by Lauren Messiah was the catalyst for the evolution of my style. So far, I’ve been adding little and not often enough to my wardrobe. But, having read more fashion blogs recently, I want to expand my wardrobe and (finally) include the missing garments from my list.

26. Look after my appearance

Like many others, I’ve become accustomed to working from home since the pandemic. Unfortunately, this has resulted in me wearing bobbly leggings, an oversized sweater and no makeup for most days of the week. By investing in staple outfits dedicated to working from home that are comfortable, practical and fashionable, I’ll look and feel better in myself.

27. Buy local produce

I’m a loyal Sainsbury’s customer. But, with moving to Lincolnshire where potatoes are grown in abundance, it would feel odd not to be shopping from the source of the produce. Whether that’s a vegetable box that’s delivered from a local supplier or a weekly trip to the greengrocers, I haven’t decided yet.

28. Keep loving

As a Pisces, I wear my heart on my sleeve and basically, love to love! This won’t change in my 30th year.

29. Do things that scare me

I can’t recall where I read it, but one of my favourite sayings is, “You don’t grow in your comfort zone”. I’m going to do more things that scare me in my 30th year, including taking risks, ticking scary things off my bucket list and allowing myself to be vulnerable.

30. Manage my finances better

Finally, a nod to bettering my finances – and not in the way you think. I want to loosen the parameters around my finances to spend more on what makes me happy and less on what doesn’t support my goals.

I hope my list offers inspiration for 30 things to do in your 30th year, sister. I’d love to hear which goals you resonated with the most by leaving a comment. Or, you can contact me.

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