Are Your 30s Really The Best Years Of Your Life?
If you could be one age for the rest of your life — what would you choose?
The other day, my dad called me and asked me a simple yet powerful question:
If you could be one age for the rest of your life — what would you choose?
Well, I’m 34 years old. How could I know?
He repeated his question and added.
Do you think it’s your 30s?
I’m not sure, I said. But yes, being 30-something feels great.
Then he told me about a new survey that had discovered the ‘sweet spot’ in life.
The ‘sweet spot’ in life
Often the 30s are portrayed by the media as life’s best years.
Free from the personal as well as financial insecurity of the 20s.
The 30s are said to be the best of freedom and responsibility.
Here’s what science has to say about it:
This American survey revealed that most Americans believe the best time is in the mid-30s.
- Four in 10 would not go back to their 20s.
- The perfect age to be frozen in time is 36 years old.
Are the 30s really the ‘sweet spot’ of our lives?
I have mixed feelings about the 30s being the best decade of our lives.
Still, like those Americans in the survey, I know I wouldn't want to go back to my 20s.
Although I looked young, sexy and all the men wanted me, I didn't feel young and sexy most of the time.
Although I finished my studies with an MBA and moved up the career ladder quickly, it was a hustle. I worked long hours. I sacrificed sleep and quality time with family and friends.
I don’t know what it feels like to be 40, 50, or 60 years old and dealing with all the midlife challenges I’ve heard people talk about but being a 30-something is a challenging time as well.
Increased stability but also a lot of questioning
Of course, there is increased stability in my life but also a lot of change.
It's a time of questioning.
I experienced several career highlights. I enjoyed career success as well as financial success.
At 31, I got married.
At 33, I had our baby boy. I felt the huge responsibility that comes along with the most amazing thing life has to offer.
It sounds a bit counterintuitive, but since giving birth to my baby, I feel more in tune with my body.
Still, hitting my mid-30s led to a life audit. This summer, I assessed the meaningfulness and satisfaction of my overall life — with my family as well as my corporate career.
And having been infected with Coronoavirus this spring, I realized that I will die one day (and leave my boy behind).
This realization hit me hard. It was painful.
After the nightmare of Covid, I started to see things differently, asked myself what lies ahead of me which inspired an even bigger search for meaning.
At 34, I’ve opened a new chapter in my life
A few weeks ago, we’ve left our big apartment behind — the apartment which almost destroyed my marriage.
In doing so, we made one of my biggest dreams come true. We moved to a famous German island to start a digital nomad life.
I closed the door to my past 30-something and opened the door to my future 30-something.
(…) have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Steve Jobs
Final Takeaways
To return to the initial question:
Are your thirties really the best years of your life?
I can’t say that my 30s are really the best of freedom and responsibility.
What I can say is that being 30-something can be an opportunity to evaluate your life path.
To challenge yourself and change your life for the better.
Living in our small but cozy apartment, going to the beach each day, surfing the crest, and enjoying the good life feels amazing.
It feels like entering a new epic epoch.
I’m giving you my perspective here.
The way I see it is: No matter how old you are right now, it’s up to you to make it the best time in your life. You can’t get time back. Your time is limited.
I wouldn't want to look back five or ten years from now and say being in my 30s was my best time.
I wouldn't want to be in my mid-30s for the rest of my life.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.
