'It took until my 30s to learn these life lessons (I wish I knew them from day one).'

Thanks to our brand partner, SAFE TRANSPORT VICTORIA

They say hindsight is 20/20 — and now, as a 30-something-year-old woman, I can confirm that saying absolutely rings true.

There sure as heck are a lot of things I see more clearly in the rear view mirror, thanks to a few hard lessons from my earlier years.

Whether you're not quite in your 30s yet, deep in the thick of them or already on the other side, these are the life lessons my 20s taught me — and honestly, I would've benefited from knowing them a whole lot earlier.

Trust your gut.

Let's start in the middle with your gut. Because one of the most valuable tools you can have is trusting it. 

Your intuition can be vital in so many instances. It can tap into a certain indescribable quality of a situation that you might not be able to put your finger on.  

This can be true for so many situations — like a job offer from a company that seems a bit iffy, a friend or loved one's behaviour that doesn't feel quite right or a car ride home from a night out that just feels off.

Whatever the situation, I've found my gut instinct has proven time and time again to be right. Particularly when it comes to personal safety.

If you're anything like me, you probably take a taxi or rideshare regularly, maybe even every week. And while most of the time there are no issues, this is a good reminder if something doesn't feel right during the trip — a comment, a question, a sudden change in tone — don't brush it off. Trust that instinct.

And if something makes you uncomfortable, report it. Safe Transport Victoria has an easy online form that takes just a few minutes to fill out.

Control your money or it'll control you.

Many people learn this lesson the hard way, and let's be honest, it's not fun. As much as you might brush off your finances or claim you're not a "numbers person", the joke won't stay funny for long.

Now, I don't mean you need to turn into a money-obsessed capitalist monster — far from it, in fact. I just mean it's important to learn how to create a budget, manage your cash flow and figure out where you want to prioritise your spending. That way, you'll feel empowered and have the freedom to direct your money towards the things that truly matter to you.

Don't consider yourself financially literate? It's not your fault. Many of us weren't lucky enough to inherit personal finance information from our families or learn about it elsewhere.

The good news is that there are loads of free resources available to help you, from podcasts and self-help books to free, online government resources with information on everything from superannuation to budget templates.

The sooner you understand your super, income tax, how to invest and beyond, the more in control of your life you'll feel.

Consistency is key.

It's not sexy, but it's true. So I am, unfortunately, here to remind you that consistency does, in fact, pay off. Boo!

Just like compound interest in a bank account, consistent effort and energy channelled into the areas of your life you care about will result in excellent returns. 

Whether it's amazing friendships, a thriving career, meaningful hobbies or an active lifestyle (or all of the above!) you're after, it doesn't all just happen overnight.

Sure, sometimes you might have a windfall that propels you forward. But it takes ongoing effort and focus to maintain that growth. 

The good news? A little bit of effort each day is much easier than hardcore bursts of unsustainable effort. So, get clear on your priorities and chip away at them day after day.

You have to make space for change.

Nothing changes if nothing changes. It sounds painfully obvious, but somehow, we often forget this.

If you want things to be different but keep doing the same thing day in, day out, nothing will shift.

At the risk of sounding a bit woo-woo, you actually have to make room in your life for new opportunities. And no, I don't mean physical space — you don't need a perfectly styled spare room to write your magnum opus.

I'm talking about time and energy. For example, if you want to start a business but your screen time is sitting at eight hours a day (and you don't work in social media), it's time to put the phone down.

If you want to change careers but are juggling four jobs without prioritising retraining or building new relationships in your desired field, changing course will be tough.

Sometimes, we need to make sacrifices to take the first few steps toward our future. It's scary, no doubt. But in my experience, you just have to take the leap and at some point, a net will catch you.

To find out more about rideshare safety or to report incidents, head to Safe Transport Victoria's website.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Everyone deserves a safe, respectful journey. Safe Transport Victoria - Victoria's safety regulator for the taxi and rideshare industry - investigates complaints so passengers and drivers can report issues and trust every ride is fair and secure.