There are many posts out there for the “things I would tell my 20-year-old self.” I’ve often contemplated what I’d say if I had the chance to time travel back. So I’ve come up with my very own list of advice for 20 somethings.
Being 50-years-old is going to be here soon than later. As well, I am starting to really understand why somebody of a certain age can say they may have a body of an X-year old but a mindset of a 25-year-old.
On the flip side, I realize that I’ve lived quite a bit in the past 40+ years. I’ve had great times, and not-so-great times. I’ve learned valuable lessons the easy way and occasionally the hard way.
So I’ve asked myself the question that many do – “What are the things I would tell my 20-year-old self?” And what kind of wisdom can I share with other 20-somethings?
20 Pieces Of Advice For 20 Somethings & 20-Year-Old Me
This list is a personal one, but you may find something of my advice to 20-something me that’s useful to you!
- Start working out regularly and don’t stop. It’s harder to lose the pounds as you get closer to your 40s.
- Create a special “Do Not Touch Until I’m 40” fund where you deposit $20 a month. That would make it $4,800 saved before interest in the span of 20 years, enough for a fabulous trip somewhere nice or to reinvest for retirement.
- Start a business and grow it. You’ll be surprised what you can do with a bit of hard work.
- The library is your friend. Bookstores can be a money-suck. Consider book sharing among friends. Just don’t stop reading!
- Take up a fun hobby. Dance lessons are a great option. I took salsa, merengue, cha-cha, and bachata lessons. You’ll be the queen of the dance floor and it’s super fun. Not to mention, it’s great exercise.
- Get outdoors more on summer weekends than hitting the clubs. You will find yourself in nature.
- Learn how to make a family recipe from your grandmother. For me, it was learning how to make pierogi from my Babcia. Remember, grandparents won’t be around forever. Spend time with them and learn about your heritage.
- Friendships are sometimes not always what they seem. Look out for yourself and keep your integrity.
- Always be yourself. Don’t let others dictate how you think, dress or behave. Individuality is OK.
- Your parents mean you well – have patience with them. They will mould you into a normal human being through all their worry and nagging.
- Purchase quality clothing: cheap chic is a money-waster.
- Get out of bed by 6 a.m., even on weekends. There’s so much to do and see.
- Don’t be afraid to take a solo trip.
- Job hop after two years. Don’t get complacent and expect miracles (i.e., promotions). The best way to get ahead is through new experiences.
- If they make you constantly cry, they aren’t worth the effort and tears. Your Mr. or Ms. Right is out there.
- Save, save and do some more saving. Smart people in their 20s invest, generate valuable assets and save for early retirement.
- Take a photography course – it’s something you enjoy doing later but need the technical know-how.
- Take public speaking courses. They will help you down the line, give you confidence and help with your career.
- Read and write. You have the talent for it.
- Find your person and tell him you’re the one for them… (I found mine and married him!).
| Related: Mistakes I Made In The First Year Of Motherhood
Regrets Are A Tough Thing
Do I have regrets? I think everybody has them. If you look at the list of advice for 20 somethings, you would think it is a bit of a regret list. But I’m not unhappy with the way my life turned out.
The trick is to plan your next 10, 20, or even 30 years with things you REALLY want to do and accomplish. It’s true what they say: time goes by faster when you get older.
There’s a belief that to slow down time, do something for the first time.
Bestselling novelist Harlan Coben writes in his book Don’t Let Go:
The key to making time slow down is to have new experiences. You may joke that the week you went on vacation flew by far too quickly, but if you stop and think about it, that week actually seemed to last much longer than one involving the drudgery of your day job. You are complaining about it going away so fast because you loved it, not because it felt as though time was passing faster.
If you want to slow down time, this theory holds: If you want to make the days last, do something different.
So one last piece of advice for my 20-something self… do something different every day!
Thinking Ahead To My 60s
Now is the time to think about what my 60-year-old self would say to my 40-year-old self. Forecasting ahead to what my life will be like realistically, I can put in place activities and attitudes now that could potentially make my life much easier then.
We often forget that time does not stand still because we are obsessed with living now. So many things that we are doing in the present are not as important as we think them to be.
I hope that when I’m 60, my list of things I would tell my 40-year-old self would be no more than five. It’s my plan for the 20-odd years.
QUESTION: What is your best advice for 20 somethings? What kind of advice would you give a 20 year old?
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7 Comments
Amen, sister!
Loved reading your thoughts about life. You are totally meant to be a writer. Thanks for this from an almost 40 year old. =)
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
Such good advice! 30s have been amazing to me this far!
That’s awesome! My 30s were great too.
This is a great list. Particularly the library one, parents one, and grandmother’s recipes! I’m 34, I’ve been married, divorced, remarried, had kids, moved 1200 miles away from my hometown, traveled, done a lot of soul-searching… life takes you plenty of interesting places!
It certainly does! YOu’ve had quite the adventure.