4 things you said you'd never do in your 20s (but are now considering).

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It took me until I was much older to realise that in my younger days, I had no idea who I was. I had no idea that what I wanted would change.

I was so sure of so many things and I thought I knew exactly who I would be when I was older, what my life would look like, what kind of mother I’d be, how I’d look and what I’d want.

Now I kind of want to slap my younger self, because she was so, so wrong.

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But thank goodness I get to change my mind, on everything. Funny that.

Here are four things I said I’d never do – but now that I’m 35 … well … I might just do them all.

1. Anti-wrinkle injections

I had always planned to age gracefully, like Susan Sarandon, but what does ‘age gracefully’ even mean? I thought it meant being okay with looking older but I’ve quickly learned that ageing gracefully is very different to ageing badly.

When I thought of my older self, I thought I’d age really well, with lines in all the right places and freakishly clear skin devoid of discolouration and age spots.

Well, I have wrinkles, discolouration and age spots.

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So now, my new definition of ‘age gracefully’ is to do as much as I can to help myself age well. So yes, I’m looking into anti-wrinkle injections. Yes, I’m looking into chemical peels. Yes, I’m looking at spot removal.

In fact, I’m looking into anything I can do to ‘age well’ – and these days, I’m taking a more proactive approach.

If you’re going down the same road as I am, here are a few things to consider about anti-wrinkle treatments:

• Which brand does your doctor use and why?
• Has the anti-wrinkle treatment been extensively tested and researched?
• How quickly will you see the effects of the injection and how long will these results last?
• Do the side effects of anti-wrinkle injections differ between brands?
• How satisfied were your doctor's other patients with the results?

Do your research and talk to a trained professional who really understands cosmetic treatments before you even consider starting the anti-wrinkle process.

2. Dermal fillers

I was ready for wrinkles. I really was. What I wasn’t ready for was to lose volume in my face and I definitely wasn’t ready for the effect this would have on my skin.

My face has become smaller in all the wrong places and every product I buy is aimed at plumping it all up, without having to put on any real weight – because that would be too large a price to pay for a younger looking face.

So I think I need to do something to make my lips plump again. They are getting thinner. Why? And my cheeks are getting really sunken. Having plump cheeks has always been one of the main features of my face, ever since I was a little girl and my relatives would pinch them a little too hard.

I’m considering dermal fillers as ‘corrective’ procedures, to simply restore my face to what it used to be.

But before you commit, look into:

• Patient feedback. Does the clinic have a ‘look book’ of ‘after’ results they are happy to share? Do the results look natural?
• How long do dermal fillers last and when do you need to have re-treatment?
• What sort of dermal fillers are used and why?

Make sure you do your research before you walk through that door..

3. Teeth whitening

I had my teeth whitened for the first time last year, after putting it off and off and off.

I explained to my dentist that I just wanted to go a couple of shades lighter. I didn’t want a blinding ‘Hollywood’ smile. I wanted my teeth to look really healthy and naturally white.

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He shared my dislike of overly whitened teeth and I lay back and had my first procedure. I couldn’t have been happier with the results.

Getting your teeth whitened is so easy these days. It no longer costs thousands of dollars and it’s really quick. So when you get your check up, there's also the option of getting your teeth whitened as well. It will take years off your face. You may not have even have noticed that your teeth have become darker as you’ve gotten older, but mine had.

Before you book in for whiter, brighter teeth, find out:

• Does your regular dentist do cosmetic dental procedures? They know your teeth best so, if they can do it, all the better.
• How long have they been doing cosmetic dentistry?
• What are the risks? What will they do to minimise the risks?
• What are the follow-up care guidelines? You don’t want to have to get it done too often.

I was so happy with my new teeth that I didn’t drink coffee or red wine for a month.

4. Diet and exercise overhaul

I’ve always prided myself on my ability to maintain a healthy weight naturally. As long as I stuck to my meals...breakfast-lunch-snack-dinner, I never put on weight.

Related: The Best Diet of 2015 is one you’ve probably never heard of.

But here’s the thing. No matter what you do as you get older, maintaining your weight becomes harder. I’m not into food elimination or juice cleanses or anything like that. The second I cut something out I want to eat it, badly.

So now I’m a little older, I’m all about making healthy food choices most of the time, and getting more active. I make sure I eat a diet high in fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.

And I have finally committed to a regular exercise routine (seriously, how great is Crossfit?).

When I was younger I thought eating reasonably well and exercising every now and then would be enough. Wrong, wrong again. As you age, diet and exercise become more important than ever before.

What are you considering now that you are in your thirties?