I used to stress so much about wasting my 20's. I worried that if I decided to travel, I'd never buy a house. Or if I stayed and saved and stockpiled, I'd later regret not exploring the world. I worried about 'finding the one' and when I'd have kids and just how much debt I was getting myself into... 

Turning 28 (and inching closer to 30), has given me somewhat of a refreshed ease and clarity around this whole 'things I need to do before I turn 30' fiasco. Yes, it is important to dream, to define what 'success' means to you and wholeheartedly go after it. But the thing is, there is no Ultimate Checklist Of Things You Must Do To Ensure You Don't Waste Your 20's.

It doesn't exist. And yet, I know so many people (and have been one of them - often) who are seriously stressed about it. This unwelcome nudge of 'not having done enough' can seem all encompassing. 

As we inch towards the big 3-0, I've got friends who are engaged, friends who are travelling the world, friends who are unsure about their careers and friends who are making a shit-tonne-of-cash doing work they love. I've got mates who have just moved onto their 3rd degree. Some are married with kids. Others are divorced. Some have never, ever fallen in love. Some are stoked to just keep partying their arses off. Some write books. Others make music. Some are building and buying and selling houses and renovating like it's going out of fashion (it's not).

Which is all wonderful and perfect and divine. 

I wonder; why do we feel the need to keep up with the Jones's? When the extent of opportunities and options we have at this stage in our lives is SO enormous, are we just spoilt for choice and (potentially fuelled by social media), stuck in a constant state of comparison?

Maybe. So, for a new perspective (and something fun), here is a list of...

30 things you DON'T need to do before you turn 30 - if you don't want to.

1. Buy a house.

2. Get engaged.

3. Get married.

4.  Go to uni.

5. Start a business.

6. Start a blog.

7. Take drugs.

8. Sleep with randoms.

9. Save $50,000. (Or even $5,000).

10. Learn a language.

11. Learn to meditate.

12. Do yoga.

13. Run a marathon.

14. Have a baby.

15. Find your soulmate.

16. Stop eating gluten.

17. Rack up heaps of debt.

18. Clear your credit card.

19. Get a tattoo.

20. Become vegan.

21. Get your boobs done.

22. Find your dream job.

23. Get a "real job".

24. Go backpacking.

25. Binge drink.

26. Lose "the last 5kgs"

27. Climb the corporate ladder.

28. Write a book.

29. Learn guitar.

30. Stop swearing.

What do you reckon - sound good?

YOU are wonderful and you're exactly where you're meant to be.

Define what success means to you. Write your own list of things you'd like to do before you turn 30 (or 40, or 50, or 60). Just make sure they're what you want. And if something isn't making you happy, change it.

Share with me in the comments - have you been stuck here before too? - and do forward this post onto your friends and followers (if you want to).

Big love!

Claire x