30 habits to master by 30

Stepping into 30 can feel like a milestone. Celebrate this landmark birthday by mastering some invaluable habits to help you transition smoothly into the fourth decade of your life. Ranging from life hacks to sound financial moves, this far from exhaustive list is everything you need to kick your thirties off right.

1. Maintain a growth mindset. Complacency and comfort zones are an illusion. Break out of them.
2. Write down your goals and update them annually. It does not matter if you are unable to fulfil each one. The key is to cross a few off the list every year.
3. Have at least three months' worth of salary in your bank account at all times. This helps you tackle medical emergencies and even an unexpected job layoff with some security.
4. Insurance premiums are your friend. Even if they seem like an unnecessary expense, there is nothing better than financial security in times of need.
5. Don't go into debt to buy depreciating assets such as cars. They cost a lot to maintain and their resale value goes down by the day.
6. Learn about stocks and investment options as much as possible. Savings are great, but being able to build wealth by maintaining a healthy portfolio is a different competency altogether.
7. Read 20 pages a day. Choose books or articles that interest you and take them to bed with you.
8. Limit screen time to two hours of less. Much of work is on the screen anyway, the best gift you can give to your eyes and your brain, is to switch the blue light off.
9. Get a good 10 minutes of natural sunlight every day. The Vitamin D will help your bones and the warmth will help your mental health.
10. Get in 30 minutes of exercise every day. Not only will the habit keep you active and fit, it will also keep your heart and your skin healthy.
11. Make your bedroom sacred for rest or downtime. Eating, working or watching TV series in bed will ultimately make it much harder for you to fall asleep. Condition your brain into linking the bed with rest time automatically.
12. Be kind to everyone. You never know when you need people, even if that should never be the only motivation to treat others well.
13. Listen at least twice as much as you speak. Train your brain to notice people's tones and moods. There's a lot you can learn through listening and observing only.
14. Learning to laugh at yourself is a fun habit to have. Take responsibilities seriously, not yourself.
15. Be a gracious winner and a gracious loser. Accepting one's defeat fairly and squarely is a priceless display of sportsmanship.
16. Get off social media. Nobody posts ugly-crying pictures on Instagram.
17. Simplicity is elegant. The lesser the clutter you hoard, the better the things you attract.
18. Maintain a mindset of gratitude. It is guaranteed to keep your happiness quotient up.
19. Minimise regrets in life. This means being courageous enough to spring for the dream job offer that seems to be outside your comfort zone or getting out of a bad relationship at the right time.
20. Don't gossip. It's an unattractive quality and will keep good people away from you.
21. Guard people's secrets like a lion, however insignificant they seem. They may have trusted you with some knowledge, but it is never yours to give away.
22. Don't burn bridges with anyone. The global world runs on networking. Jump on the bandwagon of diplomacy.
23. Eat healthy. The food you choose in your thirties will either save you from diseases like diabetes and cancer, or it won't. Load up on veggies, go low on the sugar, gulp down 9 glasses of the ultimate adult drink — water — and keep away from life-reducing habits such as smoking or drugs.
24. Keep time aside for hobbies. Your mind needs creative stimulation too.
25. Give time to people you care about. It is the friends you make in your thirties that will become the support system you need in the forties.
26.  Never turn down an opportunity to travel. Experiences are a better investment than the newest iPhone.
27. Invest in timeless, long-lasting items rather than cheap, low-quality things. They stay in vogue longer and will ensure that you spend less in the long run due to damages.
28. Invest in self-care and grooming. A well-groomed person attracts the right kind of attention, regardless of gender.
29. Be silent about your plans until they materialise. Not everyone is your well-wisher.
30. Make friends with people of all ages. Each age can teach you a different lesson.