For the most part, I actually enjoy being in my 30’s more than being in my 20’s. I feel more confident in myself and my place in life than I did in my 20’s. And there’s something to be said for growing older and not being called a kid any more. There are definitely differences between the 20’s and the 30’s and some of them are kinda weird.
When someone tells you that a new haircut makes you look younger, it’s a compliment. I can remember being told this in my early 20s and being so disappointed. Younger then meant I looked like a teenager when I wanted to look like a grown-up. Now, I’ll happily take something that makes me look even a year or two younger.
Getting carded only happens when a supervisor is watching or someone is aiming for a tip. Granted, the law around here states that anyone who appears under 40 will be carded so it’s not really that they think I’m 20 or younger, but they just don’t quite believe I’m 40. But still, I’m usually not carded unless the person asking is afraid their supervisor is watching or they think they’ll offend me.
Exercise is now a necessity, not just something to do to lose weight. It used to be that I’d exercise on a pretty regular basis, but I didn’t need an intense workout schedule unless I was trying to lose a few pounds. I could lose those pounds and then go back to my regular schedule. But now, I need to exercise all the time just to maintain. Losing is an entirely different level of intense.
Avoiding foods isn’t just about the calories. I did use to pay at least a little bit of attention to the calories in foods(though I would sometimes eat an entire pan of brownies because my metabolism allowed it, unlike now when half a brownie can mean my pants won’t fit the next morning). But now, it’s about how much pain I’ll be in if I eat something that won’t digest all that well or will give me heartburn.
10:00 PM is late. I might not be asleep by then, but I certainly don’t want to head out then. If we’re out at that hour, we’re tired(except for maybe the occasional planned special event, though we’re probably still tired). And if our phone rings after 10, we assume something is wrong.
Ha! these are good ones, I haven’t quite reached my 30’s yet but that last one was spot on for my and my hubs! We can’t go to movies anymore that end later than about 10 or we are exhausted on the way home! Uh yeah, and exercise is a must do for me too. 🙁 I took it for granted when I could eat what I wanted and workout when I wanted.
We joke about how we used to go to the late movies(starting at 10 or sometimes even 12) and how now, that just sounds like absolute torture. Movies are too expensive to pay to go fall asleep in the theater!
YES on the heartburn! I can’t eat anything spicy, onions or pasta sauce after 5 pm otherwise I am up all night with heartburn!
Certain drinks are just as bad. I never had heartburn before!
The time for sleep for me has really changed.i used to stay up till the early hours,Now once the kids are asleep early 9 times out of 10 i am too lol.
I like the quiet when they’re asleep so I end up staying up, but it’s different when I’m just at home. No way do I want to be out then!
You are spot on with ALL of these. I’m only 31, but calories, exercise, early bedtimes are all hitting home. But, let’s face it. I like sleep, so we’re cool.
Sleep is a glorious thing. I didn’t appreciate it enough before. 😉
you are so right! And 10pm? WAY too late!
It really is. Our phone rang the other night at 10:30 and all I could think was “no one I know calls at this hour.”
I’m 29 and I agree with all of this, ha! Exercise also gives me energy I need!
This list could also be before and after kids rather than age. 😉
I feel ya, I soooo feel ya. I find myself saying “I can’t eat that, it’ll make me sick” then groaning at how OLD I sound! I can’t believe you don’t get carded though, you look SO very young to me.
I’ll take that as a compliment. 😉 But at this point, I’m almost 37, so it’s been a long time since I actually was too young to drink!
The biggest thing, for me, is that I need to structure my day, right off the bat, or nothing gets done. The “let’s see what today brings?” always leads to disappointment.
And, dear god, a relatively short amount of time, if I miss getting to the gym — it’s like my body is TRYING to be slovenly & fluffy.
Oh yes- things work better with a schedule. Last week was our last week of school and I didn’t find the time to workout at all… it’s like one week off undid all the good I’ve done since the New Year.
Yep and 8 is now bedtime instead of time to go out. 🙂 I would also just rather stay home. 🙂 This made me laugh because I can relate!
Yes. 10 is a late night! lol! love your list!
The phone ringing past 10 is a sign that something is wrong. We got a call at midnight right when we moved from someone who didn’t know we were on the East Coast. I wanted to kill them for scaring me and it made me feel really old when I told them that 9pm was still too late to call.
I love this post! My own “in progress” post is about being an “older mom” (I am 47 and have little kids). Amen to the part about exercise. I need it to maintain and a binge shows INSTANT results on the scale. I also need it for sanity and relaxation. What is different for me than 10 years ago? I am much less likely to sweat the small stuff, especially where mothering is concerned, and I am way (way way way) less worried about what others think.
Whereas I used to eat food and later regret it, now I merely look at it and instantly regret it. LOL. Exercise is absolutely a necessity now.
I am pusing 40 but all this will also apply to me then 🙂 I can manage to stay up until about 11pm – but that is because we don’t have to set alarms in the morning – we homeschool 🙂
Oh yes, these are all hitting home for me. I wish exercising wasn’t a necessity… ugh.
Crowds used to sort of bother me, now I don’t want to be anywhere that people can accidentally touch me.
And, honestly I still get questions about being old enough to do x, y or z. I’m like, lady, I’m in my mid-30s!
Ah yes, 10:00 is really late. And I measure everything by pre-baby and post-baby. 🙂
A friend of mine recently invited me to a Ladies’ Night at the bowling alley, which started at 11PM. Uh… what?!
…She doesn’t have kids.
I’m not 30 yet, but I can definitely relate to some of these. It’s not a bad thing though!
OMG – I won’t go out after 7:30 if I am home at that time, I ain’t movin’. Unless maybe it’s Friday and I just realized I don’t have any wine.
I think I definitely am more confident in myself than I was 10 years ago. And when tell me I look young, I smile the rest of the day.
I hate admitting I am in my 30s! These are sadly all so true!
I can’t wait for all the weird, exciting things in the next decade…They say it only gets better!
These are all soooo true! 10 years ago, I would have never thought about using wrinkle cream!
That last one is the biggie for me. There was a day when a 10pm phone call meant I was going to head out the door to something fun….but now it means an emergency that (if it isn’t actually waking me up) is causing me to have to get out of bed to reach for the phone.
Im still in my 20s but I am totally feeling like I am entering my 30s already. My tastebuds have definitely shifted like I enjoy healthier food and tasty food over a bunch of junk (I still like my sweets). And I like to have a great time but no longer are the days where I anticipate being out past 5am on the weekends…my body at the most can handle up to 1:30am and then I get tired…I am getting to be a party pooper lol!
I’m in my late twenties and I already feel like these things are happening to me! love this post, Shell!
Hangovers! I do not recover as quickly as I used to. Now, I am more careful with how much I drink and I make sure I have a glass of water with each alcoholic beverage.
YES! YES! YES! I totally agree, especially about the bedtime and being carded. Thanks for the laugh.
10:00? Try 7:30 for leaving the house! The few times my husband and I have been out past dark we always ask each other why there are so many people out and don’t they need to go home and get in their pjs! We’re both on the verge of 34, but then again I do think we’re “old souls.”
I never heard a new haircut makes you look younger. I heard the opposite, that a new haircut makes you look more mature,
That last one, 10pm being late? Um yes.
Exercise is DEFINITELY a necessity! When I don’t work out? Big mess!
10pm is late! I used to think my mom was crazy for saying that, but now if the phone rings at 10 or after, I’m the first one to say, “Who is calling this late?!?!’
I can already relate to some of these things and I’m not even in my late 20’s yet! Definitely the 10pm is late and I almost never get carded anymore!
I’m almost there – but I think that these are true for me! Great list!
So, I’m on the brink of my 40’s. Not sure I want to see this list for that decade… 😉
I’m starting to notice creaks and pops a lot more with movement. The parts are getting old! It makes me nuts.
For me a party, meant lots of friends, a few drinks and beer pong, now its a group of 2-5 yr olds with a theme everywhere and a mess for me to pick up afterwards!
I still have another year and a half to 30. These all already apply though!
I turn thirty this year! Time to hit the treadmill… I’m so scared! LOL
somedays 9pm is late. maybe because I’m approaching 40
I think we need to have a talk to our metabolism and tell it we’d like it to act like it is in our 20’s! Is that too much to ask? 🙂
Oh man! I turn 30 at the end of September…no fun!!
The trick with the exercise is to find a physical activity that you enjoy and can take on as a hobby. As an example, my husband who is in his 40’s loves to mountain bike. It keeps him fit and he has fun doing it.
I’m no longer a spring chicken! If I stay up after 11, I have a hard time recovering the next day, no matter what.
Being in my 40s, I can relate to all the things that happened in my 30s. lol
10:00 pm is definitely late. Pretty much anytime is late for me now as I sleep at weird hours because of my hubby and daughter’s different schedules and insomnia. I need to get on a regular schedule in the worst way! Oh, and I am always super flattered when I get the rare carding now. 😀
I’m 29 and my husband is 31 and he’s already entered some of these phases. He laughs at me cause he knows I’ll be hitting them soon I guess lol.
🙂 That made me smile. I am 48 and sure have gone through so many changes along this line. Now 4:30am is not so early to get up. 10:00 is still late.
The food thing for sure and 10 pm is so late. Also when I was in my 20’s if I didn’t have plans on a Saturday night I was sad and disappointed now if I have plans on a Saturday night I’m a bit confused and sometimes annoyed.
The aches and pains! It’s crazy how I can feel every muscle in my back some days!