Dr. Tiffany Ofili Porter

I just celebrated my 37th birthday, and as I’m sure most people do with each new year, I did some major reflecting. I stopped and thought about my wins and losses of the previous year, and lessons along the way.

I wrote a similar blog two years ago entitled Three Lessons to Take Into a New Year or Season and you can read it here:

Three Lessons to Take Into a New Year or Season

Although those lessons are still true today, I decided to put together a list of the five lessons people should understand by the age of 37.

Here they are:

1. Balance Truly is Key

Life isn’t a race (ironic coming from the former professional runner), but hear me out. Balancing work, relationships, health, and personal interests is essential to avoid burnout. Although I get that it may feel like things are never quite calibrated idealy, we must still make an effort to attempt to find balance. Life is demanding and things can get busy, but having a desire to keep balance and taking the steps to make it a reality can pay off in the long run. So what does this look like on a day to day?

If you’re a mom who works full time, and you have a mom friend who volunteered to keep the kid(s) after school while you meet a work deadline, accept the help and be grateful.

If you’re in a building stage at work where you’re being expected to work 60 hours per week, less mindless scrolling on social media at night can help you fall asleep faster to recharge and feel energized for the following day.

Trim the fat, prioritize your most important tasks each day, time block, get accountability partners, and be ok with accepting help when you can, and watch how you’ll win each day.

Many people discover that success isn’t just about work accomplishments but also about nurturing other parts of life.

2. Invest in Relationships

Meaningful relationships (both romantic, platonic, and everything in between) take time and effort. The investment into these relationships is beneficial for all parties involved, despite the work it may take to nurture them. From as long as I can remember, I’ve valuled the importance of having GOOD friends in your corner, and now at 37 it’s a lesson that is useful as I’ve had to build friend groups from scratch twice as we have relocated to Cincinnati and Kansas City.

We were never intended to do life alone, and being intentional about building community will be incredibly useful in the end.

Maintaining friendships, family connections, and romantic relationships brings lasting joy. As people grow older, they realize the importance of a support network, especially in challenging times.

3. Your Health is Your Foundation

Physical and mental health often need more conscious attention in our 30s. And as much as it can be hard to come to terms with knowing we can’t rely on youth in the way we once did for our health and well being, there is something incredibly gratifying about carving out the time for you to be the best version of yourself.

For example, my daily leisure walks that began 17 months ago to help me shed the postpartum baby weight, have transformed into 6am 4 mile runs/hill workouts/lifting sessions that have become an integral part of my daily routine. So much so that I feel off when I don’t complete the workouts.

Prioritizing your fitness won’t only have benefits in transforming your body, but it’s also helpful in the renewing of your mind. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again that working out and enjoying the sunshine is like free therapy.

Small changes like regular exercise, balanced eating, and mental wellness practices can make a huge difference in well-being, both now and in the future.

4. Learning Never Stops

Skills, interests, and life itself constantly evolve, and learning shouldn’t stop after formal education.

This year my love and appreciation of self help books (mainly audiobooks) have done wonders for expanding my mind and shifting my perspectives for the better. A few of my recent books are the Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, the 5am Club by Robin Sharma, and I’m currently in the middle of Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller, all of which have empowered me to pour into my personal brand greatly.

It’s wild to think that I used to say that I “hate self-help books” and now I get through one every few days. Being open to trying new things and always remaining a lifelong learner will make you an all-around better version of yourself. Whether it’s learning a new skill, picking up a hobby, or deepening personal growth, continued learning enriches life and keeps the mind sharp.

5. Time is More Valuable Than Money

I saved the best for last because the older I get, the more experiences, memories, and time with loved ones hold more value than material things. We all understand that time is the most valuable currency we have so I strive to always respect my time and the time of others. What does this look like practically?

Saying no to activities that take time away from important things like family, self-care, or rest.

Being where you say you’re going to be in a timely fashion. I like to set my calendar event reminder to an earlier start time to give me a built in buffer.

Being ok with taking things off of your to do list so you can dedicate your full attention to your top daily tasks.

Many people find themselves shifting focus from chasing wealth to maximizing quality time and experiences, which often have a more profound impact on happiness.

Each of these lessons often requires life experience to fully appreciate, but they help shape a fulfilling, balanced life. I hope you agree, and here’s to building to become the very best versions of ourselves!

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