A Guide to Living Well in Your Twenties

 

It’s been said that your Twenties is the defining decade of your life. It’s the decade of growth, independence, self-discovery, and really figuring things out.  The choices you make in our twenties can greatly shape your life, and it can sometimes be challenging navigating through this time of change. Things can be even more difficult when you find yourselves not measuring up to society’s roadmap or comparing your life with others

But how do you navigate such an uncertain time? How can you learn to enjoy this decade even if you don’t yet have all the answers? And how can you not only get through this decade but also learn to live well in your Twenties?

 

#1. Avoid Perfectionism

It’s always good to aim for high standards. You get more done, you achieve better results, and you have greater success. But when you refuse to accept anything short of perfection,  you are met with severe self-critique and often burn out.

Perfectionism can also be quite unproductive, you may start to delay decisions and actions because you worry that the result won’t be perfect (so you don’t even bother trying). Stop thinking that you have to be perfect and allow yourself to make mistakes. Mistakes allow you to grow, and if you are not growing, then you are not living your life to the fullest.

#2. Let Go of Childhood Expectations

This may seem a little heartbreaking but in order to live well in your Twenties, you need to cut the cord and let go of the childhood expectations.  Personally, when reflecting on my future, my younger self-had always imagined that by my age, I’d have it all figured out. By now I had imagined myself to be engaged (or at least in a steady relationship), have a secure job that I enjoy, have my finances in order, and be moved out of my parents’ house. Instead, I am single, looking for work, managing student debt, and still living at home (not exactly what my 10-year-old self-pictured is it?).

But as much as it pains me to have disappointed my childhood self, I realize that the younger me had been sheltered from the realities of adulthood.  People are now getting married older, I still have time to navigate the career world, student debt is unfortunately common (plus I’m grateful that it has allowed me to get my degree), and I’m not a complete burden to my parents (or at least I hope not!).

Therefore, it’s okay to no longer hold such high expectations of yourself. Your life will be so much less stressful if you remove your childhood expectations, and instead take the time to allow your life unfold how it’s supposed to.

#3. When Making Decisions, Just Take the First Step

Sometimes when we are trying to figure out the pieces of life’s puzzle, it can be daunting to figure out the right next steps. However, the truth is, we don’t have to. All we need to do is just take the first step…and the rest will follow.

As Oprah Winfrey so eloquently put it when delivering a speech to a Stanford graduating class, “the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, ‘What is the next right move?’ and then, from that space, make the next right move and the next right move”. Once you take the first step and make a move towards your desired direction, the following steps will slowly come to be.

#4. Remember What Really Matters

Are you in good health? Do you have a roof over your head? Are you surrounded by loved ones? Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? If so, then you already have a lot to be grateful for.  However, with life’s fast pace nature, it’s sometimes easy to get caught up in the rush and forget what matters most. Too many people are too focused on checking “life’s boxes”, and searching for external fulfillment that they forget to be grateful for what’s right in front of them. Therefore, it’s important to reflect on our life with a positive lens and really appreciate what you do have (instead of focusing on what you don’t).

#5. Implement Healthy Habits

The longer we wait to start living a healthier lifestyle, the harder it is to develop one. Therefore, start developing healthy habits now while it’s easier to do so.  Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating healthy food options? Do you exercise enough? Choose to develop habits that’ll make you happy rather than waiting until you start seeing the negative effects of bad habits.

#6. Have Fun and Enjoy Your Twenties

Once your twenties are over, you cannot get them back so enjoy them! Take the time to enjoy life and don’t stress over the little stuff.  Your Twenties will be over before you know it, and you don’t want to look back with resentment or regret.

 

What are some of your tips for living well in your Twenties?

 

Courtney is a 24-year-old Registered Nurse living in Calgary, Alberta.
She enjoys soaking up the sun (preferably at a beach!), pin-binging on
Pinterest and curling up on the couch with a good book. Courtney is also passionate about teaching women how to WELLTH up their life and
founded The Wellness Hive to do so. You can keep up with Courtney at
her website thewellnesshive.com