Turning 30 causes a freak-out in many of us, myself included. Just type into Google search “why is turning 30 so hard” and you’ll see page after page on articles about the anxiety around turning 30.

The weeks leading up to my 30^th birthday, I was filled with anxiety, dread, disappointment in myself, and regret over decisions I made.

For some reason this new decade feels like a deadline for having our lives figured out. Which doesn’t end up happening for most of us. We’re still out here trying to figure ourselves out and what we want out of life. 

We start to feel like we must be behind. Even though who decides what “behind” is in life. 

I felt all of this when I was turning 30. A gray cloud floated in over me and stayed for a few months. 

But the one thing that helped me feel better about turning 30 was to hand write out a goal list for this new decade and chapter in my life.

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First, writing by hand instead of just thinking it or typing is one of the best ways to have what you’re writing really stick in your brain. It solidifies the ideas in your mind.

Second, having something positive to focus on and work towards can help you bust through the feelings of being down on yourself.

It’s a great way to self-motivate and gives you a sense of purpose. 

Instead of spiraling in your own disappointment over where you’re at in life, you focus more on reality and what you can do to improve our current situation.

You start taking action towards the life you want because you know what direction you want to head in. The steps to getting there also become clearer.

We might be older, but we’re not old. Setting goals in your 30’s is a great way to give yourself clarity over what you actually want in life instead of starry-eyed fantasies that you dream about in your 20’s.

And if you’re not quite sure what you want or what your potential “purpose” is, try this easy exercise. 

*If you want to gain more confidence in just one week, subscribe to my newsletter to receive your FREE copy of the 7-Day Confidence Building Workbook*

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As I approached 30, I felt stuck and directionless.

For weeks, I put on a smile but inside I was freaking out and melting down.

I was not even close to where I thought I’d be and I allowed that disappointment to consume me.

I lived in this negative space for awhile if I’m honest. But then finally, I decided this is not where I wanted to settle. There were still so many years ahead of me. I realized I didn’t have to settle or stay stuck.

I wasn’t turning 100. It wasn’t too late to set new goals for myself. It wasn’t too late to give myself something to look forward to and work towards in my 30’s.

I got out my favorite notebook from Papersource.

I love these notebooks because you can customize the font on them. I have a goal setting notebook that says: “Everything is figureoutable”. (This is a Marie Forleo quote and it always gives me a motivation boost every time I read it.)

I wrote down my top ten goals on a fresh new notebook sheet with one of my favorite pens.

Instantly I felt better about being 30.

I had goals now. I had a purpose. I had activities that would enrich my life and help me get to the life I want to live.

Read More: Nicole’s Inspiring Story on Chasing Her Passion and Changing Her Career to Pursue Art

1. Learn to paint landscapes and food with gouache paint.

2. Learn more watercolor marker techniques and improve my skills.

3. Find my style in digital illustration using Procreate and learn how to animate in Procreate.

4. Get back into ceramic painting.

5. Read more books.

6. Do longer workouts and yoga practices.

7. Meditate more consistently.

8. Strengthen my faith and relationship with God.

9. Grow Chasing Sunday Pancakes and be more consistent with it

10. Enjoy cooking more by finding fun and challenging recipes.

*If you want to gain more confidence in just one week, subscribe to my newsletter to receive your FREE copy of the 7-Day Confidence Building Workbook*

If you’re unsure on where to even begin and don’t really know what your goals are, here are some helpful tips:

Living a life aligned with your core values is crucial. But most of us don’t even know what our core values are. I didn’t know mine until I did this easy exercise.

Often times this can be a reason why we’re unhappy with our lives. We’re not living in alignment with what’s most important to us. But how are we supposed to do that if we don’t even know what’s important to us?

You felt carefree and content when doing these activities.

For me, the main one that stood out was drawing and creating.

I told myself for years that I wasn’t an artist, so I shouldn’t draw or paint. I said I was a “creative person” instead of claiming the title “artist”.

But I used to draw and create art all the time as a kid without bearing the load of not being “good enough”.

Turning 30 helped me to decide I’m already an artist, but I can always improve my skills which is why I signed up for Skillshare.

I’ve only been using Skillshare for a short time, but I love it. The variety of classes is amazing. I’m able to take classes on gouache painting, marker art, and digital illustration, all of which are on my top ten goal list.

You do have to sign up for a yearly membership which can be expensive. It breaks down to $13.99 a month. But I recommend trying the free-trial they offer to see if it’s the right learning platform for you.

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This could be learning how to be a stand-up comic or bake an amazing cheesecake or play guitar. Just write down everything you’ve ever wanted to do.

If this is a really long list, try to narrow it down to your top 5. Which ones would you most like to do? What’s the priority? 

We want our goals to be focused. If we have too many then often times we can get analysis paralysis and end up not moving forward on any of them. 

Now that you know your core values, all the things you loved doing as a kid, and what activities you’ve always dreamed of doing, think about what you can do in your 30’s to incorpate all this enrichment into your life. 

For me gouache painting was a number one priority. One of my core values is creativity, I loved drawing as a kid and making art, and I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint an amazing landscape piece. So it got written down on my Top Ten Goals List. 

I signed up for Skillshare a couple weeks after turning 30 and completed my first ever gouache painting! 

Nothing on your list has to be anything as difficult as moving to a new country or starting your own business, but it can be if you want it to be.

It could be as simple as starting a sticker collection or buying a betta fish.

You get decide what’s on your Top Ten Goals List. 

Now that you have all of this combined, grab your favorite notebook and pen and write down your top ten goals for your 30’s.

We’re capping it at ten because we don’t want the list to be overwhelming or distracting.

Having only ten goals to focus on will help keep you motivated and inspired and give you a better sense of direction.

If you want to add more to your list, you can always save it for your next decade.

We want the top ten goals for your 30’s to be your top priorities.

But don’t be afraid to periodically review your goal list and see if it still aligns with what you want. If it doesn’t you can always cross things off and add things to it. Just remember not to make it overwhelming.

You now have your top ten goal list for your 30’s!

You have a purpose, sense of direction, and things to work towards and look forward to.

If you want to a little more help with your goal setting check out this post on setting quarterly goals and doing one small thing a day to reach your goals.

Read More: Why I Started Drawing Again at 29 and How it’s Going

1. Learn to play the drums 

2. Take a trip to a foriegn country 

3. Adopt a pet 

4. Buy your dream pair of shoes 

5. Learn how to paint watercolor landscapes

6. Knit a sweater 

7. Hike a challenging for you trail 

8. Join a club for a hobby or interest you have 

9. Enroll in a college class/finish or start a degree 

10. Move to a new town 

11. Start a new collection 

12. Take cooking classes 

13. Start your own small businesses 

14. Have a consistent workout routine 

15. Attend a concert for your favorite artist 

16. Buy a piece of art you’ve always wanted 

17. Start your own podcast or YouTube channel 

18. Visit a state you’ve never been to if you’re in the United States 

19. Buy and restore an old item like a jukebox, car, or grandfather clock 

20. Learn how to decorate a cake like a professional 

21. Take photography classes 

22. Enter your art into a contest or competition 

23. Write a novel 

24. Enter your short stories into contests or competitions 

25. Try a different type of food once a month to expand your palette 

26. Learn all about wines and become an expert 

27. Create an app 

28. Get comfortable going to lunch, dinner, or an event by yourself 

29. Plan and go on an extended roadtrip 

30. Volunteer for a cause you believe in 

Let me know in the comments what’s on your 30’s Top Ten Goals List! I’d love to hear from you!