Things to do in your 20s to be successful in your 30s. Part 2

1. Cultivate marketable skills.

You should be spending your 20s honing skills that will help you achieve your goals. Increasing your marketable skills will pay off for you now and into the future. These are the kinds of skills that all employers need. No matter what career path you choose, having these abilities is always desirable and helpful. However, note that these skills often require ongoing education and learning.

One area many people overlook is the importance of communication. No matter what field you’re in, being able to convey a message and communicate ideas to others, both in person and through written correspondence, is crucial. Other important job skills include problem solving and persistence, which include being able to come up with a variety of solutions, finding workarounds and having the stamina to see a project through.

2. Find your balance.

There is a tendency to burn the candle at both ends when you’re in your 20s. We’re driven to work hard and get ahead in our careers, but of course we want to enjoy life and have fun, too. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you grind hard at work and then socialize and party nonstop in the evenings and on weekends, you may quickly become burned out. You have to find ways to restore your mind and body if you’re going to produce at the highest level and achieve success both personally and professionally.

In the midst of whatever craziness you have going on, seek to create calm and harmony in your day-to-day living. Find ways to achieve balance in the different components of your life so that one area doesn’t consume and overwhelm you. Take note of your mental and physical health, and find an equilibrium that works for you.

3. Push outside your comfort zone.

Your 20s are a decade where you should be taking risks and leaping at opportunities. Yes, finding that reliable job with an established company seems like the responsible thing to do, and sticking close to home and living near family and friends feels safe and secure. But these options will keep you firmly rooted in your comfort zone.

Don’t allow yourself to become entrenched, but be willing to try things that scare you a little and push you beyond your limits. Being willing to take risks can pay off tremendously. Opportunities can bring financial rewards, but more importantly, embracing change can give you valuable experience and insight. Spend your 20s seeking new experiences and being open to doing things differently.

4. Set good habits now.

Many people think their 20s are a time to live free from restraints and worries because the consequences of poor behavior still seem so far away. But this is also the decade when it’s crucial to start setting good habits that will support you in creating a healthy, happy, successful life, long into the future.

Start setting good habits now, such as healthy eating (including adding something green to your diet on a regular basis) and exercising regularly (you may find breaking a sweat gives you a natural high). Avoid adopting bad habits like smoking or drinking in excess. And don’t underestimate the importance of getting enough sleep, because an eight-hour snooze every night will give you the energy to help you accomplish all your goals and feel amazing while you do it.

5. Be persistent.

Any great achievement in your life will come only with hard work and persistence. Working diligently and consistently toward your goals is one of the most important things you can to do in early adult life. This means pushing yourself, never giving up and finding ways to continue to move forward even after failures and mistakes. Persistence is one of the key skills that will lead to success.

It’s so much easier to give up, to do nothing, to relax and forgo responsibility. Persistence requires you to face uncertainty and put yourself in challenging and uncomfortable situations. It requires you to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. Ultimately, persistence will create the positive mental mindset necessary to achieve success.