I have always wanted to live longer and happier. It's hard to do so when you're trying to establish your career and make sure you have enough money to live a comfortable life, but over time I believe that you can achieve these goals. But what is the best way to achieve longevity? Why is it important? How can we live longer? How can we be happier?
Hi everyone! I know that you are living your life out there. In our twenties, we get to leave behind the naivete of adolescence, but we've still got so much to learn. We're still figuring out our passions, our careers, and the kind of people we want to be. And sometimes we make mistakes that set us back.
But the good news is that those mistakes are often avoidable. We just have to do a little planning and foresight! Here are 20 mistakes you should try your hardest to avoid in your twenties:
1. Waiting for things to come to you. It's easy to just wait around for life's opportunities to come to you. But that's not how the world works. You have to make things happen for yourself—and one way to do that is by taking chances, even if it means risking a little discomfort.
2. Thinking you have all the time in the world. When you're young, it's easy to think you have forever ahead of you but that isn't always true. If you think you'll have all the time in the world later to get serious about your future, think again. Everything takes longer than you would expect—so if there are certain things you want to accomplish, start making headway on them now.
3. Not saving money. Not saving money can be tempting in your twenties, when there are so many fun things to do and buy! But don't fall into the trap of thinking that saving money is something you can do "later." The sooner you start saving, the more in control of your financial future you'll be.
4. Not asking for help. Don't let pride stop you from asking for help when you need it. You can't learn everything on your own, and asking for help shows strength, not weakness. Don't be afraid of being vulnerable sometimes—it's important!
5. Not being kind to your body. Healthy body = healthy mind! Don't take your body for granted in your twenties—you might not feel like anything could ever go wrong with it, but that's not true!
6. Pursuing short-term happiness over long-term success. Sure, we all want to be happy, but sometimes we're too focused on doing whatever will make us feel good in the moment—and that can mean ignoring our futures. Instead of focusing on short-term happiness, think about ways your day to day decisions will affect you 10 years down the road—and make choices accordingly.
7. Not knowing how to cook at least one meal. It's important to be able to prepare at least one healthy meal that you enjoy eating and costs less than a restaurant bill would have been. This will help keep your health up while saving a lot of money.
8. Making career decisions based on what other people want you to do. Don't choose a career path just because your family wants you to—or because it's expected of you. Take time to figure out what YOU really want and go for it.
9. Holding grudges. It's okay to forgive people, even if they were mean or did something terrible to you. Letting go of the past will set you free.
10. Losing touch with your interests. Keeping up with your hobbies will keep you sane throughout all the changes. When you're busy trying to be an adult, it can be easy to get caught up in your responsibilities and let go of the things that make life fun.
11. Slacking off on personal hygiene and grooming. There's no shame in investing in yourself. Make sure you stay up-to-date with personal hygiene and grooming practices so that you always feel your best!
12. Being afraid of trying new things just because others might think it's silly. I know it can be scary to try something new and bold with no guarantee of success. But if everyone had that attitude, nothing would ever change!
13. Drinking alcohols excessively. We get it—it's so tempting to just unwind with a beer or some edibles after a long day at work or school. But don't let those nights turn into weeks, or even months!
14. Staying in toxic or unhealthy relationships. You deserve love, happiness, and respect—but sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side. If you find yourself in a relationship that isn't working for you anymore, it might be time to cut those people off for good.
15. Losing focus, especially when it comes to your career goals and life goals. You might be overwhelmed by all the options available to you or unsure about what you want to do with your life, but this is the time for figuring it out! Be sure to keep track of your goals so that you can stay focused on them.
16. Being 'busy' instead of productive. There is a difference between being busy and being productive. To figure out if you're doing one more than the other, ask yourself this question: "Are these things I am doing moving me closer to my goals?" If they aren't, then you should probably step back and reevaluate how you're spending your time.
17. Not getting enough sleep. This can have a huge impact on both your physical health and mental health, so make sure you're getting at least eight hours every night!
18. Saying "yes" to everything and everyone. In your twenties, it's important to start building your identity, and part of doing that is saying "yes" to certain things that speak to who you are—and saying "no" to others so you can focus on those things.
19. Not prioritizing your mental and physical health. Again, you're young, but that doesn't mean you'll always be invincible. A lot of people think that if they just eat enough kale and avoid refined sugar, they'll be good—but it's not that simple. Don't wait until you're sick to start paying attention to how you feel.
20. Relying on your parents too much. They've helped you out a lot over the years, but don't take advantage of them now. Don't forget that now is the time when you're supposed to be developing into an independent adult. Remember: They raised an amazing person who can make their own way in the world now—and that person is YOU!
While we're all trying to figure out this whole life thing, it's important to be kind to yourself. That said, these are the things you should avoid doing in your 20s—but that doesn't mean you have to beat yourself up if you've already made some of these mistakes. You'll probably make some mistakes along the way! Mistakes are a part of life, and there is no crime in making them so long as you learn from them and move on. What matters is how you handle the consequences of your actions, and how you grow from them. In fact, making mistakes is an important part of growing up.
Always remember that you're still young and there's always time to learn from them! Don’t go hard on yourself! So, go out, have fun, be safe, and realize that there is a difference between what you can do now, and what you ought to do at this tumultuous time in life.
This blog post is here to serve as your blueprint to a good life. Because believe it or not—life doesn't just sort itself out, and mistakes are easy to make. None of us are perfect. But the more attention you pay to your personal growth, and the more intentional you are about setting positive goals for yourself, the better off you will be for it.
I'm still in my early 20s and this article hits home. I was obsessed with productivity to the point that I might have lost my future, compensating for what I don't have in the past. While this advice of mine doesn't work for anyone, but I'd say invest in something that makes you more money, such as health app subscriptions or your own business. I'd call that a long term financial strategy.