20 Things I Learned in My 20’s
One of my best friends reached out not too long ago and recommended that I take this week, the week that I am entering into my thirties, to really reflect. To think back on the years that I’ve lived through and be intentional about how I want to start this new decade. So in honor of that, here’s twenty things I learned in my twenties.
The best way to get what you want is to hustle for it. If you need money, work harder. If you want a better body, put in the time and discipline to make it happen. You’re in control of how your life goes (for the most part). Once I realized I was in the driver’s seat, things changed for me.
Be the person that knows how to do something. Find a skill or two and get really good at it. Whether it be at your job and you become the subject matter expert on this random software your team uses or in your friend group and you’re the only one who knows how to make a balloon arch. It feels good to be needed. It feels good to help.
Don’t wait to take care of yourself. Stop using a makeup wipe and not washing your face. Stop cancelling your workout class. Stop drinking a thimble of water a day. Do the things you know will make you feel and look your best. You only get one body.
Stop putting so many exclamation points, disclaimers, “just’s” in your emails. It makes you look unprofessional and people don’t take you seriously (especially if you’re a woman).
Figure out how to do your taxes and don’t mess around with the IRS. Hire someone to help if you need to.
You will lose friends. And it won’t always be because of some big dramatic event that happened. Sometimes it will just be because you faded apart, your interests changed and your lives got messy. Some people are in your life forever and some people are just for a season.
Dogs can change your life. They make you happier, more responsible, help you understand how to take care of something and make you more selfless. More dogs, always.
Every mother in your life deserves a hug and a glass of wine, at all times. This shit is HARD. It’s beautiful and magical, but oh my gosh is it a grind. I didn’t get it until I was in it (and maybe you won’t either). But trust me when I say all moms are badasses.
Losing family members is painful. Call your people and tell them you love them, even if you’re busy.
You don’t have to do cardio every day to lose weight. Lift some heavy weights (no it won’t make you bulky), do body-weight workouts and you’ll be shocked how different you can look and feel.
You’ll probably rarely have all your shit together, but neither will anyone else. I think half the shock of “adulthood” for me has been that I’m now a fully-fledged adult but I still feel like a 16 year old. Who let me buy a house? How am I interviewing nanny’s? I think we are all just faking it.
Literally no one is thinking about you as much as you think about you.
Alcohol can be incredibly fun but it isn’t the only way to have fun. Hangovers get worse as the years pass and alcohol makes you gain weight and feel puffy. Moderation is hot.
Stop putting off your doctor’s appointments. Book them all for the whole year (physical, dentist, OB, dermatologist) and then GO to them. They can save your life.
Relationships only work if you work on them. Love is a two way street and you have to be willing to put in the effort for long lasting partnership. Don’t put it on the back burner. Prioritize date nights and laughing together.
Not everyone has to love traveling. You can love being a homebody.
Constantly waiting “until things slow down” to do all of the things you want to do is futile. Life is constantly changing and throwing curveballs and chances are your someday will keep getting pushed down the line. Just start today.
It’s okay to pursue your passions, even if people don’t understand them.
Save money early and often. I’m not going to say put half of every paycheck away or some other unattainable goal, but you know what you can save. You know where you can cut corners. Having an emergency fund at minimum will help you sleep better at night.
You can tackle 3 big to-do items on your list daily. Anything more than that will probably not get done and you’ll feel like a failure. Choose to handle the important stuff and the rest can wait until tomorrow. Or the next day.
Cheers to the next decade and more life to be lived! XOXO