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Today, we give you 21 things a 33-year-old man should be.
We all want to know that we are doing well in life and as you approach 33 (like me) or perhaps have already turned 33, you may wonder what a 33-year-old man ought to be.
Keep in mind that this is certainly subjective and every man will have his own path. The things included are my experience, not yours, so feel free to add your own in the comment section that follows the list.
The purpose of this list is not to make you feel bad, left behind, or alienated but to serve as inspiration to make your own list of things to be by 33.
So without further ado, let’s get into the 21 things I believe a 33 old man should be!
01 Confident
Confidence is the first thing that a man should have. It is important to maintain your confidence. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, why would others?
By thirty-three, a man should be comfortable in himself. He should feel comfortable and confident in his own skin in almost any situation.
Of course, this is not always easy but it is certainly something to aim for by the time you turn 33.
02 Financially Independent
At 33, you should be as financially independent as you can. You should know what your goals are and be able to support your family if you have one.
Not all goals are the same but it is important to know what your values are in monetary terms.
If you are not yet financially independent, it is important to assess the situation honestly. Keep track of your expenses and find a way to live within your means.
Make a plan to get a higher-paid job that allows you to live the life you desire in financial terms.
Pick up additional hours to tide you over.
Whatever you need to do, get on it.
03 Putting money aside for retirement
At 33, you should have started making plans for your future. You should really have started saving for retirement.
Saving for retirement is not always easy but it will be worth it in the long run. As a man, you need to start putting money every month into a savings account and if possible, set up an auto-deposit.
Even if it is just a little money every month, you would be surprised by how much it can add up over an extended period especially if you earning a decent interest rate on it.
04 Exercising regularly
33 is still young and you should be taking care of yourself.
Yes, exercise is likely more physically difficult than it was when you were in your twenties. You probably also don’t have a lot of free time.
I get it but you don’t want to be unhealthy in your later years. It will only get more difficult as time passes.
Exercise is good for both your body and your mind. It will help keep you healthy as well as make you feel great.
It can also help with stress, depression, and other issues that may arise in life.
If you are not already, find the time and energy for regular exercise.
05 Working in a stable job or career that you enjoy
A job is the first major step in adult life and it will define how much disposable income you have.
At 33, you should have, or at least be working toward, a stable job that you enjoy and that gives you enough money to meet your needs.
If you don’t have a job, don’t fault yourself. It may be time to venture out or work part-time in your field or look for another full-time job.
06 Relatively sure of your career goals
Related to this, at 33, you should have some idea of where you want to be in your career.
You should know what your goals are and if possible, have a clear plan of how to get there.
Of course, things change and plans need to be altered but having some idea of what you want is important.
07 Aware of who your real friends are
At 33, you should be very aware of who your true friends are. You should know that you have real friends and not just acquaintances.
While you probably have fewer friends than you did earlier in your life, real friends are what will keep you going when times get tough.
Know who they are and make sure to keep them that way.
08 Sure of your relationship goals
At 33, you should have a clear picture of what your relationship goals are. You should know if you want to be married, live with a special someone, or stay single.
It’s never too early to start planning and working towards your goals in relationships. The earlier you can get here, the better for everyone involved.
09 Aware of where you stand on having kids
At 33, you should know if you want kids or not. You should be aware if you want children in your life and if so, how many?
This may involve having to make changes in your life but knowing where you stand on the issue is important.
It’s also vital that you know this if you are in a relationship. Having children is a fundamental issue that is difficult, if not impossible, to get by if you don’t agree with your special someone.
Have this conversation as early as possible and save everyone some time and heartbreak.
10 Well-read
Reading is important for everyone, whether it be reading the news or actual books.
At 33, you should be reading more than you did at 25 and start to read for enjoyment again.
11 Prepared for a rainy day
At 33, you should have a substantial amount of money saved for the future.
A rainy day will come when it comes and no amount of planning can prevent that from happening. So it is important to be ready for this to happen or in worse situations, accept it as a life lesson.
12 A good communicator
At 33, you should be a good listener and communicator. You should know not just what to say but when to say it.
Unlike when you were younger, at 33 you are expected to have an opinion and be able to share it clearly.
You should have a good analytical mind and know when and how to speak your mind. It will help you in whichever career you pursue and in almost every social situation.
13 Knowledgeable of current events
You should know what is going on in the world around you. You should understand how things work and how they affect your life.
Kids can be excused for ignorance, men cannot.
If you don’t know about something, find out about it and learn as much as possible about it.
14 Able to accept constructive criticism
At 33, you should be able to accept criticism from others and learn from it. You cannot listen only if the person is saying something positive or something that you want to hear.
You should be able to listen even if it is to a going-to-hell-with-you tone so that you can grow and improve.
You will not always impress everyone. Usually, constructive criticism is more valuable than compliments. See it as such.
15 Well-dressed
33 is the age when you should really start paying attention to how you dress.
You should not have to put on ten different shirts, five different pants, and two sweaters before leaving. You should know your style.
You should have a well-designed or impressive wardrobe that reflects your age. You should have a collection of suits, shirts, pants and other options.
We’ve talked about this in a previous article on how to dress manly
However, as a reminder flip-flops are for the pool. Backpacks are for students and trends are for kids.
Whether you like it or not, people judge you on how you appear. Make your clothes count.
16 Tolerant
At 33, you should be tolerant of others. You should be aware that it is ok to disagree with someone and still get along.
You should realize that there are more viewpoints than just your own and try to understand them.
This tolerance will help you in your career as well as your social life.
17 Patient
At 33, you should be able to patiently wait for things to happen. You should understand that you don’t have control of the world and that things will happen at their own pace.
It’s important to be patient. There are certain things that you can do but sometimes, it is better just to sit back and let life take its course.
18 Positive
At 33, you should have a positive attitude about life. You should not allow anything else to ruin your mood and make you feel down.
When things are going bad, you should be the person that is able to look past it and focus on the positive aspects of life. This will help you in your career as well as your social life.
19 Humble
At 33, you should be humble about what you do. You should not brag about all the work you do but rather let others notice it.
You should know that all the success of your life does not come from your own doing. It comes from a combination of many things in your life.
20 Respectful or your elders
At 33, you should have a high amount of respect for your elders. This may be your parents or other family members but it is important to show them the respect they deserve.
They have been around longer than you and seen many things you haven’t. It’s important to take their advice and views on board.
21 Working hard to achieve your goals
At 33, you should be working hard to achieve your goals. You should not be a slacker and procrastinate because of laziness.
You shouldn’t let things go by without working on them even if it takes time and effort.
Your future is at stake at this point in your life so it is important that you take this seriously.
That’s it for today guys. I hope you found this post useful and inspirational.
As mentioned, if you have any things to add, we’d love to hear them in the comments.
Related post: What should men know by age 26? 26 essential things