Your 20’s can be a rough period of transition. It’s hard to leave adolescence behind in order to focus on the future. Declaring majors, finding jobs, moving into your own place, and navigating relationships are just a few of the life changing events you will likely experience. While it will undoubtedly be a challenging time in your life, here are some of the essential lessons you will learn along the way.
Your Ducks can be Scattered
It’s okay if you don’t have your ducks in a row. In reality, nobody ever has it all together. It’s okay to be a little bit lost. It’s okay to have no idea what you want to do with your life. It’s also okay to change your mind a million times until you figure out what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to troubleshoot! One of the worst things you can do is rush your decisions only to find out you regret most of them.
Debt is Always a Bad Idea
You might feel the urge to come out swinging when you move away from home. Come to terms with the fact that the life your parents were able to give you is not going to be your reality when leave the nest. It’s okay! Nobody expects you to be as wealthy in your 20s as your parents are in their 40s/50s. Resist the urge to go into debt acquiring the latest and greatest things. When it comes to schooling, work two jobs if need be in order to limit the amount of student loans you take out. Be creative in all aspects of your life to continuously keep costs down. Your future self will thank you for being as frugal as possible.
Don’t Fear Failure
There will likely be many failures throughout your twenties (both personal and professional). Don’t be afraid of these occurrences! Learning to treat every road block as a learning experience is a valuable tool. You’re going to learn a lot of painful lessons in your twenties. Life does not get easier as you get older. Try to keep a bigger perspective when it feels like you’re failing. It’s okay to adjust your path until you get it right.
Become Self Aware
Getting to know yourself is a crucial part of growing up. In an article written for popsugar.com, Emily Co states, “Knowing why you do the things you do or that you’re actually doing these things without realizing is an important skill to have. Being self-aware will help you in every aspect of your life, because you’re aware of your flaws and strengths. The better you know yourself, the less likely you are to sabotage yourself through unconscious actions.”
Your 20’s will be some of the best and hardest years of your life. Have fun, make good choices and learn as much as you can. These are the things that will help lay a strong foundation for your future.
