Our 20s fly by before we know
it, and we want to make sure we did the decade justice. Did we worry about the
right things? Are
we where we should be now? The best way to prepare for those
questions and answer them to the best of our abilities, is to make sure spend
time on what really matters and what may help us in the future. We took a look
at a Quora thread that
had great advice
for people in
their 20s who may be wondering what some of the important things to invest time
in may be, and here is what we found.
1. Network.
If you form a solid mainstay
of people, you are exposed to more opportunities and potential for success in
both your career and in your personal life. Build bridges, because you never
know when you might be looking to cross them. As Karan
Jaiswani put it, “the 20s are all about utilizing your today and
structuring your future.”
2. Read. A lot.
There is nothing more
productive than taking the time to read. Read whatever you can get your hands
on—current news, nonfiction, fiction, career advice, self-help books—anything!
The more you know and understand about people around you, yourself and the
world, the more easily and successfully you can navigate those very things.
“This will keep your mind
stimulated and open to ideas. You will get a number of ideas for each author
that you can implement in your life. You will also get opinions from across the
globe,” Rizwan Aseem says.
3. Take care of your body.
Making time at night to wash
your face, exercise, and remembering to apply (and reapply) sunscreen may not
be on the top of your priority list, but it should be. General health care is
something that, later in life, you will be glad you considered in your 20s.
As Aseem points out, “No matter what you do
in your life, you will do it in your body. You can’t replace it, get a new one,
or trade it in. This is your body and you will live in it.”
4. Use your time and money on
education.
Education is an invaluable
resource that you’re unlikely to ever regret having. Money is well spent when
it is used to broaden your mind and pool of knowledge, especially when honing
skills to be applied to your career path. Anuj Kumar advises you to “try different
things and find out where your passion lies… and then find ways to make a
career doing that, adding that “if you need further education, get it.”
5. Pay attention to your
mental health and well-being.
While your physical health is
extremely important, investing time into taking care of your mind should not be
forgotten. Stimulate it, challenge it, be conscious of what you’re exposing it
to daily, and take care of yourself. Aseem makes the point that, “The mind,
like anything else, has the characteristics of a muscle. You use it, or lose
it. And as long as you are using it, it will remain fit and healthy. The
minutes you stop using it, it will decay and rust.” So use it!
6. Learn new skills (and
master them).
While the advice to “follow
your passion” can be good in the general sense, Joh
n.
J. Bowman urges those in their 20s to master and control a set of
skills that can be used to benefit you within the field you are passionate
about.
7. Create and maintain good
habits.
The hardest part of creating
good habits is getting started, but once you’re able to master them, they’ll
have an undeniably positive impact on your day-to-day as well as your future,
because, as Rizwan notes, “once a habit is
established it lasts for a life time.”
8. Build meaningful
relationships.
Now is the time to drop the
fair-weather friends and make time only for those who are really going to stick
around and be positive forces in your life. As you mature, so should your
relationships, so you don’t have time to waste on people who will be harmful
rather than helpful in your pursuit of your future goals.
9. Eat well.
Spend time planning meals,
learning healthy recipes, and overall taking what you’re eating into
consideration regularly. Gone are the days when donuts, chips, and sodas can
pass as a full day’s meal. Even it if takes a little more time and effort, your
future self will thank you when you find yourself maintaining your energy and
healthy body as you age.
10. Establish a system for
handling finances.
Sit down and figure out how
you are spending money, what you are spending it on, and what your ongoing
expenses are. “If you take care of your finances starting today they will take
care of you when you most need them. When you are old, or sick, or sending your
kids to school, or helping a parent through sickness. Your finances will help
you,” Aseem says. Big pitfalls to avoid: bad
business opportunities (if it seems to good to be true—it is), overuse of
credit cards, and choosing not to save or put money aside for a rainy day.
11. Travel.
In your 20s, you’re full of
enthusiasm and energy and usually have the mobility to indulge a bit of
wanderlust. So indulge it. Experience new cultures, countries, and challenges.
You will learn things that you can take with you and apply to your life back at
home.
12. Communicate with loved
ones.
Make an effort to remember
birthdays, holidays, and important events. Your family and close friends can
act as your support system when you need it, but you should put the time in and
return the favor. Small gestures that show you’re thinking about the people who
love you go a long way, so take the extra five minutes to write a nice card and
stick it in the mail, or schedule that quick Skype call—you won’t regret it.
13. Examine what you really
want in life.
It’s easy to get caught up in
the everything going on throughout your 20s, and people often forget to
actually sit down and contemplate what it is they really want. Tonya
Turpin advised that you “actively, and with intent, become aware
of the world and everything it holds. Not just about the outside world, but
also the one in your head. Spend time alone because it is the only true way to
get to know yourself. Be curious and question everything.” Make the time to
figure out what you love, and map out a plan of how to get it.
