I turned 32 this year and honestly, birthdays don’t excite me anymore. But this birthday brought a wave of self-reflection and a chance to jot down life lessons in my 30s.
When I was in my teen years, I would feel this rush of excitement, the moment July month would start. I would plan everything in advance – the list of chocolates for school distribution (not sure if this ritual still exists, but it was a big deal in the 90s), birthday dress, and friends whom I’d invite for the evening celebration.
I’d ask mom to make my favorite food — chowmein — and anything else my friends liked. The day would end with cake cutting and dancing to Bollywood songs. That went on for years right before I moved cities to pursue higher studies.
College was more about dinner outings and cake cutting. Not much more, but still exciting because I had so many friends around to celebrate with.
Then came life after college, birthdays became flatmate hangouts. The excitement slowly started fading. The last birthday I remember clearly was when I turned 27: my friends surprised me with decorations, we got drunk, hit the nightclub, and danced like mad.
Two birthdays went by during covid… and then turned 30 and moved to the UK.
Now? I just look forward to a nice brunch or dinner with my husband. That’s it and I absolutely love it. This is what I want in my 30s. I feel at peace, and with that peace came a lot of clarity about personal growth.
Anyway, back to the topic. If you’re someone who’s recently turned 30 or reflecting on life like me, here are 10 life lessons at 32 that helped me grow and stay grounded.
Bonus tip at the end, so stick around 🙂
1. Health should always be your priority
Growing up, I saw my mom struggle with her health. She was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, never exercised, and didn’t watch what she ate. She looked fit, but her body would give in often.
Watching her, I realized, when you’re unwell, you end up depending on others, which affects you and them, and hits your mental health, too. That’s when I decided: I’d rather take care of someone than be the one constantly needing care.
I eat junk food sometimes, but I balance it. And, I stay active — gym, yoga, walks, or even dancing at home.
Prioritizing health is one of the most underrated life lessons in your 30s, because this is when your body starts showing signs of neglect.
I read this somewhere and it stuck: “Take care of your body — it’s the only place you have to live.“
2. Set boundaries
Know when to say NO — to friends, family, anyone.
Stop being a people pleaser. Say no to that extra drink, that late-night plan, that gossip, or junk binge you didn’t really want.
I learned this the hard way, it’s better to say no upfront than to spend hours figuring out how to back out later. Once you say yes (when you didn’t want to), it becomes harder to pull back.
Listen to yourself. Say no when it matters.
3. Your friends will grow apart
That best friend you once shared everything with might feel like a different person today.
We all evolve, grow and begin to see the world through our unique lens. Sometimes I feel like we are no longer on the same wavelength and I guess that’s okay. We are simply in different phases of life.
But what all matters is that we care for each other and show up when needed.. From sharing stories every day to catching up once in a few months – it’s not a loss, just a shift. Maybe its one of those quiet realities of growing up and the sad reality of life.
4. Be calm and surrender
I read the Bhagavad Gita when I was at the lowest phase of my life, desperate to find meaning behind everything.
My mind was filled with endless questions and I was holding on to things I should’ve let go of long ago. I was naive then, and I don’t blame myself for it.
The simplest lessons are often the hardest to follow. Now I believe in performing my duties and let the universe decide what’s best for me.
One of the most powerful teachings from the Gita is – “Do your duty, but do not concern yourself with the results.” Sometimes, the greatest strength lies in surrendering. Let go of what you can’t control — and watch peace take its place. {Source}
5. Don’t compare yourself
Everyone’s journey and destination is different. Yet, I still sometimes compare myself. But I try to shut this thought and remind myself – I grew up in a small town, in a different environment, facing different challenges. That shaped who I am.
It would be unfair to compare myself with someone whose struggles I know nothing about.
Sure, I want to be better at certain things – but I’ll work on them, instead of comparing. Right?
6. The right partner sets the tone for your life
I grew up in a joint family surrounded by arranged marriages. People barely knew each other before tying the knot. I saw them unhappy, complaining and I internalized the belief that arranged marriages don’t work.
I won’t go into detail, but I’m 1000% glad that I married my husband after dating and truly knowing him and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
He keeps me sane, pushes me to grow, cheers me on, and is genuinely my best friend. After a long day, I just want him. Moving to the UK was tough and I wouldn’t have survived a single day without him. <3
So yes, choose your partner wisely.
7. No impulse buying. Go sustainable.
In the name of “self-care,” we’re overconsuming. No one needs a new pair of shoes every month. No one needs fancy containers when food already comes in packaging and the list ges on…
Knowingly or unknowingly, we’re destroying this beautiful planet — generating waste that’ll outlive us.
It takes more than 100 years for a sanitary pad to decompose. That one fact changed me. I switched to a menstrual cup 5 years ago and haven’t looked back since.
Not preaching here, just saying:
8. Forgive and forget
Life’s too short to hold onto people who made you miserable.
Let go. Forgive, forget, and move on. It’s the only way to live peacefully.
9. Breakups hurt but they teach you to be practical
Moving on is hard but necessary. And no, that doesn’t mean losing faith in love.
Don’t jump into dating someone new just to “move on.” That’s the worst advice anyone can give you.
Take time. Process your emotions. Reconnect with yourself. Find things you love. Heal, and only then take the next step.
Adding my favourite quote here which I used for my wedding photo caption –
“People linked by destiny will always find each other” {Source}
10. Learning basic life skills is underrated
I used to think skills like sewing or ironing meant you were a “housewife” — and I (wrongly) saw that as regressive or weak.
But credit to my mom, she made sure I knew the basics: ironing properly (especially those linen/cotton pants – I’m an expert now), sewing buttons, gardening, and other simple household stuff.
Now, these are my weekend therapy rituals: cleaning, organizing, ironing, etc…
So yes, learn small life skills. You don’t have to ace them, just learn enough to survive and stay independent.
BONUS: Always follow your gut
Not going into too much detail for this one. But If I hadn’t followed my gut, I’d probably be married to someone else, depressed, and possibly… not even here.
So no explanation needed, just trust your gut and stand up for yourself when it matters.
So what’s next?
Well, I still don’t know how to drive, swim, bake a cake, or speak confidently on stage. Maybe I’ll learn these over the next few years. And until then, I’ll keep sharing more self-reflection blogs as I grow through my 30s.
So, what’s one thing you relate to the most? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.