30 Things I’m Attempting Before 30 (Wish Me Luck!)

Okay, so I’ll be turning 24 this year (cue the quarter-life crisis jokes), and it hit me – I have just SIX YEARS until I’m 30. SIX. YEARS. I mean, how the hell did that happen?!

Remember when we were kids and thought 30-year-olds had their lives completely figured out? Well, now I don’t think that’s true! 😅

So, instead of panic-scrolling through Instagram or looking at people who “seem” to have their lives together, I decided to channel that energy into something useful. I made this list.

Some of these things are practical, some are adventures, and some are just me trying to become less of a disaster human.

Will I actually do all 30? Maybe not. But hey, aim for the stars and you’ll hit the moon, or however that saying goes…

Anyway, I’m sharing this list with you because:

1. Accountability (call me out if I’m slacking!)
2. Maybe you’ll find something that makes you go “Ooh, I want to do that too!”

So, let’s begin with the list. I’ve included why each matters because, well, context is everything.

My Honest 30 Before 30 Bucket List

1. Become Somewhat Financially Stable

I could’ve aimed to “become a millionaire,” but honestly? I just want solid financial stability first. The fancy stuff can come later after I’m not checking my bank account with one eye closed before every purchase.

Why this Matters: IMO, money isn’t everything, but it can get you almost everything. The people who say “money doesn’t matter” are usually the ones who already have enough of it. Financial stability gives you options and reduces major life stress.

2. Become a Strong Pillar of My Family

Family is everything to me. Their happiness directly connects to mine. I want to be someone they can lean on, not just financially but emotionally and in every way that matters.

Why this Matters: Because your family has always sacrificed for you. You can never fully repay what they’ve done, but as you grow older, you can give them comfort and be their strength when they need it most.

3. Learn to Stay Hopeful in Life

Confession: I lose hope quickly. Yes, I do. While I eventually bounce back, it takes a frustratingly long time, and my stress levels skyrocket. Even minor setbacks can make me extremely low.

Why this Matters: Because you lose everything when you lose hope, especially your mental health. Hope isn’t just positive thinking; it’s the fuel that keeps you moving forward when logic says you should give up.

4. Go on a 3-4 Days Trek

I’ve only done those tourist-friendly 2-3 hour “treks” where civilization is always close by. I want to push harder – Multiple days in the wilderness, carrying everything on my back, pushing my limits.

Why this Matters: Because we spend our lives in comfort zones with Wi-Fi, hot showers, and food delivery. Going on a multi-day trek strips away all those conveniences and forces you to confront both nature and yourself in ways that are impossible in everyday life.

5. Reach & STAY Under 20% Body Fat

I’m at 25.5% body fat now. It’s not that I don’t love myself, but I just want to challenge myself to go below 20% and maintain it. I want to experience being both lean and strong.

Why this Matters: Breaking your limits and accomplishing challenges gives you confidence. And who doesn’t want confidence? Physical goals teach discipline and consistency that apply to everything else in life.

6. Learn to Control Stress

I’ve been battling an upset stomach just from stress. Every tiny problem adds up insanely until I go completely mental. I want to become more light-hearted and stop my body from physically reacting to every little worry.

Why this Matters: Taking so much stress doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it ruins everything. You waste precious time worrying about something that often doesn’t even move the needle forward. Your body pays the price for problems your mind creates.

7. Build at Least 3 Sources of Income

Honestly, I still don’t have a completely stable source of income, but I’m working hard. Multiple income streams will give me peace and the mental and financial security I crave right now.

Why this Matters: Relying on a single source of income is putting all your eggs in one basket. If that source stops generating revenue, you’re done! Diversification isn’t just for investments. It’s for income too.

8. Have Some Control Over My Overthinking

I have a serious overthinking problem. Every tiny thought keeps revolving in my head for hours like a broken record. I just can’t let stuff go, and it really sucks!

Why this Matters: Just like stress, overthinking doesn’t resolve anything. In fact, it drains the energy that you could’ve used for actually solving problems or simply enjoying life.

9. Face a Significant Fear

Earlier, my biggest fear was water, but I finally learned to swim in 2024 (yay!). However, I still panic in deep water. I want to conquer that fear completely and gain full confidence.

Why this Matters: There’s nothing in this world that should have the power to hold you back in life. Literally nothing! Period. Fears limit your experiences and the person you can become.

10. Break the Negativity Bias

I have this terrible habit of focusing too much on the one bad thing happening in my life while ignoring everything that’s going right. I want to shift my perspective and inculcate gratitude in my daily life.

Why this Matters: Negativity bias keeps you perpetually unsatisfied. And the equation is simple: Dissatisfaction = stress + overthinking. Breaking this cycle opens the door to appreciating what you already have.

11. Start Working at a Coworking

I’ve been working from home for the past 4 years, and honestly, I’m completely tired of staring at the same four walls of my bedroom every day. My work chair literally has a permanent dent with my name on it. 😂

Why this Matters: Working from home is fun at first but it gradually cuts you off from the outside world. Your social muscles shrink when you’re not regularly interacting with people. Having a circle, casual conversations, and just being around others is crucial for both mental health and perspective.

12. Become Better at Swimming

I managed to learn swimming in 2024 despite being hydrophobic (huge win!), but my membership expired just as I was getting comfortable with treading and deep water. Then winter arrived, and my swimming progress froze with the temperatures.

Why this Matters: Swimming is a life-saving skill. Everyone should know it and be good at it.

13. Learn Martial Arts

I’ve loved martial arts since childhood, but life had other plans – first football, then gym, then swimming, then back to the gym. Something always took priority, and martial arts kept getting pushed to “someday.”

Why this Matters: You shouldn’t initiate fights with anyone. Never! Most situations can be resolved with calm words. But if someone does start something despite your efforts to keep things peaceful, show them who you are. Never back down when you’re right.

14. Learn to Meditate

I tried meditation for about two weeks last year, and it felt amazing. Then life happened, the habit broke, and I couldn’t get back to it.

Why this Matters: Meditation fixes mental clutter, stress, overthinking, and lack of focus – basically everything everyone struggles with! It takes your mental strength to another level. There are countless reasons to do it, and not a single good reason not to.

15. Become a Little Bit of a Street Smart

I’m too easy to convince, terrible at negotiations, and often get exploited or end up overpaying for stuff. My niceness sometimes translates to naivety, and I need some street smarts to balance it out. 😅

Why this Matters: Negotiation is an art that affects everything from your salary to your daily purchases. Being too trusting can be expensive. No one should have an unfair advantage over you just because you didn’t know any better.

16. Cultivate a Sense of Satisfaction While Always Striving For More

I’m highly overambitious, which means I’m never satisfied with what I have. I constantly overlook my achievements without appreciating them. This leads to negative self-talk, unnecessary pressure, and me being my own worst critic.

Why this Matters: Working toward better things is great, but never appreciating what you have leads to toxicity and emptiness. Finding peace with your current situation while still pursuing dreams is the perfect balance.

17. Learn to Stay Out of my Comfort Zone For Extended Periods

I can push beyond my comfort zone for short bursts, but I can’t sustain it. I want to build such mental strength that when I’m determined, I can keep grinding for as long as necessary without burning out.

Why this Matters: If you have the mindset and ability to stay outside your comfort zone consistently, you’re already ahead of 99% of people. There’s literally nothing that can stop you from achieving your dreams when discomfort becomes your new normal.

18. Learn Financial Management

This pointer is in the latter half of the list because I first need to earn decent money to invest, right? 😂 I love working with numbers, and being able to manage them efficiently would be even more satisfying.

Why this Matters: Earning wealth is one thing. But knowing how to make that wealth multiply itself? Can’t get any better!

19. Find a Mentor

I’ve been learning every new skill by myself. But honestly, it takes forever and involves too many painful trial-and-error cycles. Having a mentor would help me fast-track the process and avoid repeating others’ mistakes.

Why this Matters: Having someone by your side who’s already been through what you’re experiencing keeps you going, no matter how tough it gets.

20. Gain Better Control Over My Temperament

I’m extremely rigid and get angry wayyy too quickly. If there’s something I don’t want to do but have to, I just lose my mind. It’s a terrible habit I need to change forever.

Why this Matters: Anger makes everything worse. It ruins relationships and situations in ways nothing else can. Learning to respond rather than react might be the single most important social skill for both personal and professional success.

21. Visit a New Country

I absolutely love traveling. Nothing relaxes me more than waking up in a new place, like I’ve left all my worries locked up at home. I’ve explored quite a bit of my own country but haven’t taken that international leap yet. I’m dying to see how the world operates outside my bubble.

Why this Matters: Meeting new people, experiencing different traditions and cultures opens you to entirely new perspectives. You’ve got one life. Why experience just one tiny slice of it? Travel changes how you see everything, even after you return home.

22. Stay in the Mountains For 1 Month

I visited a mountain resort in 2023 for just 2-3 days, and it was incredibly peaceful. Something about that mountain air cleared my mind completely. I’m definitely going back (hopefully this year) for a full month this time.

Why this Matters: Peace is all we want. Peace is all we need. Sometimes, removing yourself from the chaos of everyday life is the only way to recall what actually matters.

23. Learn to Sit Comfortably in Silence

Before graduating, I could spend hours alone, enjoying my own company and really knowing myself. Now, that same me-time fills with unnecessary thoughts, and stress clouds my mind. I’ve started avoiding solitude altogether, but I want to relearn how to enjoy my own company.

Why this Matters: Sitting with yourself in silence reveals things about yourself you’d never know otherwise. It lets you question and break rigid beliefs and biases you’ve held for years.

24. Get My First Self-Bought Car

I’m a complete car freak. My parents bought a second-hand car 6 years ago, and I’ve been driving and maintaining it since. It’s not that I have any issue with it, but I want to experience the feeling of getting a new car that I saved for and chose myself.

Why this Matters: Getting your first self-purchased car is apparently an iconic feeling (or so I’ve heard).

25. Develop a Habit of Reading Books

I write blogs but don’t read books. Ironical, right? So, where do I get knowledge? Internet. I watch podcasts. I read scientific articles, case studies, and other blogs. But I want to add proper books to my reading list too.

Why this Matters: Books teach you things nothing else can. They offer depth, nuance, and sustained thinking that’s becoming rare in our digital world.

26. Become Better at Socializing

I’ve been awful at socializing since the COVID lockdown. We were cut off from the world, and I’ve stayed that way. My friends still include me in plans, but I’ve lost that muscle of talking to someone new. My conversations now are painfully predictable:

Why this Matters: Humans are meant to socialize. Conversation builds connections that enrich life in ways nothing else can.

27. Pat Myself on the Back

Tbh, I still feel like I haven’t done anything meaningful enough to be truly proud of. Everything just seems hollow. I want to accomplish something significant and tell myself: “No matter how hard things got, you did it. When nobody else believed in you, you still did. And that’s how you got here. I’m proud of you!”

Why this Matters: The biggest achievement isn’t when others recognize your success. It’s when your inner voice acknowledges it. External validation fades, but the relationship with yourself is permanent.

28. Develop Comfort With Uncertainty

I fear uncertainty way too much. I’m so controlling that I try to have everything planned with zero room for error or surprises. This takes a huge toll on my mental health because when something unplanned happens (which it always does), I completely panic!

Why this Matters: Learning to go with the flow and embracing whatever comes helps you live freely and enjoy literally everything.

29. Try Rafting

I’ve done several water sports, like parasailing, jet skiing, and bumper rides, but rafting is still on my bucket list. I’d love to experience the rush of all those wild rapids with a team.

Why this Matters: Because why not?

30. Try Skydiving

I’ve watched videos of people skydiving in Dubai, and the thrill looks absolutely incredible. The free fall, the views, the adrenaline rush, I want to experience it all!

Why this Matters: Life is about collecting experiences, and sometimes, you don’t need a deeper reason than pure fun and adventure.

End of the Line

So, yes, that was my somewhat ambitious, slightly chaotic plan for the next six years. Looking back at this list, I realize it’s less about checking boxes and more about becoming someone I actually like being.

If you’ve read this far (seriously, thank you!), I hope you found something that resonated or inspired you to create your own list.

And if you’re working on similar goals, drop me a comment. We can be accountability buddies or just vent to each other about how adulting is somehow both easier and harder than we expected.

Here’s to the next six years🥂. To failing spectacularly at some things, surprising ourselves with others, and hopefully looking back at 30 with a mix of pride, amusement, and far fewer stress-induced stomach aches!