Twenties is considered the period you can make all the mistakes you possibly can in your life and either learn from them or let them define who you are as a person.
Most people in my social circle that are in their early 30s remember their 20s with nostalgia. Twenties is considered the period you can make all the mistakes you possibly can in your life and either learn from them or let them define who you are as a person. In short, the 20s can make or break you. It’s the time to figure out your life; what compromises you can or can’t make. Of course, you’ve read on the worst mistakes people make in their twenties. How about finding ways to make the best out of your 20s? Here are a few tips on how you can make the best out of your 20s from those who’ve gone ahead of us:
1. Don’t be afraid to take up opportunities
Most of us get to our twenties without a solid career story. Maybe you did one or two internships and are just settling at your first job. Don’t be scared to take up new opportunities that come your way; whether entrepreneurship or a job that you desire. This is your time to learn. This is your time to discover what works for you. Whatever you desire to do this is the time to make it happen. Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
2. Stay at a job that makes you happy
With bills and the high cost of living, most of us end up settling for opportunities that given a chance we wouldn’t even consider twice. Still, we do. Your 20s isn’t the time to settle for a job that you are all grumpy about every morning. It’s about finding a job that makes you happy. Something you do without a wimp. Remember the adage, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
3. Finish what you start
Remind yourself every day that you are a winner. Look at the reflection of yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you can achieve what you set out to do. These daily reminders will help you achieve what you set; it’ll help you see the outcome of everything you venture out to do. Plan and follow it through to the end. If they are risky even the better. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller
4. Travel
Mary Anne Radmacher once said, “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Travel isn’t just for fun. Travel opens you up to a world full of possibilities and immense opportunities. Travel makes you see how cultures are different. How these cultures still find a way to co-exist. Travel opens in you a desire to always want to find out what is on the other side of the moon. You don’t need to be rich to travel.
5. Save money
We all can worry less when we are financially stable. Your 20s is the time to save some money. Work on a budget that takes care of your day to day expenses for a month then save what is left. If possible, put aside money for adventure and fun in your monthly expenses so that you still have enough left to save. You never know when your rainy day will come. “A simple fact that is hard to learn is that the time to save money is when you have some.” —Joe Moore. Start today, it’s never too late.
6. Learn new things by educating yourself
We can never stop learning. If we did, we wouldn’t be where we are today as humans. You don’t have to go back to get more degrees- but if you can, the better. There is so much content online. Make it a point to learn something new every day. Remember, “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
7. Network
In this day and time, networking opportunities are available in every corner we turn. Make good use of them. Don’t turn down networking opportunities from colleagues, friends or family. They just may be what you need to get yourself to develop a better elevator pitch or open an exciting door for an amazing career opportunity. As once said by Christine Comaford-Lynch, “Networking is marketing. Marketing yourself, marketing your uniqueness, marketing what you stand for.”
8. Be open to criticism
I’m sure 90% of you will agree with me, no one likes criticism. We all look at it as people giving opinions about us based on our flaws. This is entirely not true. As a professional, you will face lots of criticism – some constructive some not – how you handle them is what will make you count. Criticism from colleagues and friends always come from a good place. Learn from it and see how you can grow and improve. However, one thing you need to master very well is to ‘don’t let compliments get to your head and don’t let their criticism get to your heart.’ Take what is important and learn from it.
