Successful Adults Reveal How They Finally Got Their Act Together

Success isn't easy, and today's world can be overwhelmingly demanding. Following the advice of people who have mastered their lives is a powerful tool for individuals struggling to find their rhythm.

Dingus_Son_Of_Dongus asked, Older redditors who got your life together at a later age, what advice would you give someone in their early 30's?

Submissions have been edited for clarity, context, and profanity.

It's never too late to try something new.

I started getting my life together about a year ago at 35. I spent 10 years at a job that I hated, and quit to go back to school. I'm broker than I've ever been, but I'm also happier than I've ever been. My advice would be, don't let fear get in your way. I was so afraid of leaving my job, but now that I have, I wish I had done it years ago.

We see this all the time; only the bottom line matters.

Don't be loyal to companies, they're not loyal to you.

Don't let your life fall out of balance, and remember to focus on what's truly important.

Don't drink excessively and do drugs in an excessive amount, don't ruin friendships for stupid reasons and don't live beyond your means. Also if you're in a toxic relationship get out of it now, you'll be better off without all the stupid sh_t. And don't drink yourself stupid for goodness sake.

Solid advice. Take control of your reputation. Bankruptcy is there for a reason; give yourself a clean slate.

If you're carrying around a bad reputation or have something that you can't seem to shake, ditch social media and move away. Also, file bankruptcy if you owe a lot of money out. Just start over and stop trying to grow sprouts in salted earth.

The only person who matters is you.

Celebrate each small step forward, and try not to judge yourself against the progress of others.

Don't take constructive criticism personally. It can only help you improve.

When your boss is criticizing your work try taking what they are saying and implementing those things from then on. More often than not your boss is actually trying to help you improve and not trying to hurt your feelings.

First hand experience here - this is great advice. You have to let go to make changes.

Make a clean break. I can remember the day that I realized that everything will have to change. I cut toxic friends from my life on that day. There are places that I use to hang out that I never returned to.

Acknowledge your problems and fix them. You and you alone have this power.

I'm in my thirties now, but I was sort of stuck for a while. I was a college dropout, who had left with a bad GPA, and no plan to return. I realized not having a degree was holding me back, and my girlfriend suggested I just go look into it. I went to my old school to figure out what it would take to graduate, and I only had 3 semesters. Luckily, I had someone in my life to tell me I should go for it. I was broke, but I quit an ok paying job. I got two jobs with more flexible hours and worked 50-60 hours a week while going to school. I took on a moderate amount of loans, but used that money for education only, and supported my life with money from working. Some schools have very flexible class schedules, and as a real adult, I felt like I was taken more seriously. Professors and advisers see your effort and want you to succeed. My jobs were the same way, and when I finally graduated, I was offered a better position and convinced to stay on. Next, I focused on paying off my loans. Now, things are more or less together in my life. This scenario doesn't describe everyone's situation, but I think the thing that started it all for me is good advice. "Just look into it." Fix the things that are holding you back. For me, it just took a small step to get things rolling in the right direction.

If you're miserable, quit. You'll figure it out.

If you don't like what you're doing now, you won't magically like it 10 years from now.

Quit. Go to school if you need to. Work and do classes at the same time if that's what you need to do.

You have a rare opportunity now to reshape the rest of your life. Don't be that person in their 50's-60's who says "I finally got the courage to go back to school and learn (x)." Do it now while you have time to enjoy it and time to gain experience in your field. Nothing sucks more than being older and trying to gain a foothold in an industry when you're competing with people in their late 20's/30's.

"Buy now, pay later" will come back to bite you.

If you can't pay for it outright, DON'T BUY IT! Debt is no fun, folks. No fun at all...

Keep your dreams alive by never giving up on them.

Your dreams do not stop in the 20's. If you want to go back to school and to go into the career you always wanted. Do It! Be patient with yourself and love yourself.

Helping others develop skills in a particular field can be very rewarding.

The most valuable skill you can acquire is the ability to form judgments and offer advice. This is the central job of consultants, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and others. If you have experience and/or expertise in some area (it might be marketing of a product, or it might be the use of some website, such as eBay), you can sell yourself and profit. Focusing on that will improve your ability to keep a steady income. People who focus only on the performance of a particular task become expendable when technology changes or younger and cheaper workers come along.

Maintaining good physical health can greatly improve self-image and increase productivity.

If you aren't already, get in shape. 40 year old you will thank you.

Getting enough sleep is vastly underrated advice.

Keep moving forward, let those that are a toxic influence go. Get enough sleep.

Change is healthy. Embrace it.

Change is key. For whatever issue you might have with your life, change is the only way to get rid of it. Look at whatever issue you have and see: What did I change to remove it? What can I change to remove it?

You are your own best investment. Working for yourself is incredibly rewarding. It's freedom.

Work for yourself. Start a business, pour yourself into it and reap the benefits.

Travel the world by yourself. It's amazing what you'll discover.

I strongly suggest doing the rough backpacky couch surfy kind of traveling when you're young. Loses it's appeal when you've got higher standards.

Find a field that interests you and pursue it fully, one step at a time.

I didn't finish school/start my career until I was 31. 14 years later I make great money and thanks to that my husband was able to retire early. Advice- research your field of interest, intern, volunteer, and make sure you have a future in it. Take a class at a time until you finish school. Don't look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Take it a semester at a time. Don't give up!!

Simple, but profound. Things seldom go the way they are supposed to. Brace for it.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Credit scores hold enormous influence over our lives, and they are very fragile.

Started at 29. Build your credit, no matter how bad it is. Do whatever it takes.