So, you’re finally in your 20’s. You’ve made it through puberty, escaped high school and are no quickly cruising into the adult world. Yikes. The idea of being a real life grown up can be terrifying and confusing, but I’ve devised a list of things you should do and learn how to do in your 20’s that will hopefully aid in the transition from adolescent to adult.
1. Start establishing credit- Establishing credit and building up a good credit score is essential. If you ever need a loan, banks will look at your credit score to determine whether you’re a good and responsible candidate. Possible employers look at applicants credit scores to determine whether or not the applicant is suitable for the position. Your credit score can say a lot about you, and can either help or hinder you in the process of becoming an adult. Let your credit history be another example of how responsible and mature you are.
2. Travel as much as possible- Your life is only going to get more hectic from here, don’t end up old and regretful, lamenting the places you never got to visit. If you’re still in school, study abroad. If you’ve already graduated, take some time off and travel. Traveling doesn’t always have to mean backpacking through Europe or sailing around the world. Take a weekend and discover places you’ve never been that are near you. Seeing new things will give you different perspectives and make you a better-rounded person.
3. Find a mentor- Whether it is a professor, a boss or someone whose work you admire, create connections with them. Don’t be afraid to ask them for advice or help. Chances are if you ask someone for their advice and assistance because you admire them greatly and want to strive to be like them, they will be flattered and more than happy to help you. If not, find someone else. There are tons of brilliant, admirable people in the world who would be more than willing to help guide you.
4. Develop some sort of exercise regime- It’s important to stay active and develop healthy habits at a young age. Whether it is running marathons or wogging (water jogging) it doesn’t matter. If you aren’t sure what type of exercise is best for you, use a trial and error process. Try an aerobics class, go for a run or accompany a friend to zumba. You will eventually find something you like and that you can commit to. Side note: Personally, my method is the University boot camp class where I’m being constantly yelled at 6:30 in the morning while trying not to vomit all over the track. This method might be extreme for some people, but to each their own.
5. Get in the habit of writing thank you notes- A thank you note can go a long way. You should write thank you notes after any and all of the following happen:
- When you receive any sort of gift
- When someone takes the time to interview you for a potential job
- When someone allows you to stay in their home
- When someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you
6. Clean up your social media- One of the first thing employers look at is applicant’s social media and what they find can be a deal breaker. Pictures where you’re clearly intoxicated? Delete. Posts about partying, drinking or other unlawful behavior? Delete. Posts that contain any slang or swear words? Delete. Basically, delete anything that could be considered offensive or unprofessional.
7. Establish a good relationship with your parents– Stop seeing your parents as authoritative figures that reign over your life and start seeing them as people. Realize that they are going to love and support you unconditionally no matter what. Be honest with them, if you start looking at them with an open mind and realize that they are human, just like you, and then they will do the same. Of course, everyone will have their own version of this, but in my personal experience, I can honestly say, my parents have become two of my very best friends and knowing that I can go to them with anything and everything is an amazing feeling.
8. Read more- Reading is a great form of stress relief that also informs you and betters you. There are books about anything and everything, find a book on something that interests you and read it. Instead of watching Netflix every night before bed, pick up a book and read a few nights every week.
9. Don’t waste your time dating someone you don’t really like- You can usually tell pretty quickly whether or not you really like someone or not. If you don’t really like them, stop dating them. It’s not worth your time and energy dating someone you don’t really enjoy just because you don’t want to be single. Odds are, you aren’t going to magically fall in love with them one day, so do yourselves both a favor and end things.
10. Learn how to do things and go places by yourself- Being by yourself is great. If you’re worried that people are thinking, “ Wow, that person is by herself, she must be alone in every possible realm of her life, what a loser.” No one is thinking that. People are too concerned with themselves to notice you. Go shopping by yourself, go to a coffee house alone, do whatever you want by yourself, it’ll empower you.
11. Learn how to do your taxes– If you aren’t up for doing them yourself, find a good, trusted company or online source to do them for you. It’s something you’re going to have to deal with for the rest of your life, so you might as well accept it and try to make it as painless as possible.
12. Put money aside for emergencies- You never know when you’re going to need extra cash for a freak accident or car repair. Put ten dollars of each paycheck aside for this reason. It’s better to be prepared and you’ll be thankful when and if the time comes.
13. Learn how to change a tire- Being stranded on the side of the road clueless and scared is not cute or safe. Have someone teach you what to do in case you’re in a situation where you need to change a tire. Also, keep a spare tire in your car.
14. Communicate with your grandparents- They just want to know how you’re doing and what’s going on in your life. Update them every once in awhile, it will make them happy and reassure them that you think of them.
15. ‘Adultify’ your wardrobe- You don’t have to throw out all of your V-necks and sweatpants, but add a few mature and professional pieces for interviews and meetings. The way you present yourself is important; you don’t want to come off as a “silly, sweet college girl, looking for a job.” You want to be seen as a “ professional young woman, prepared and willing to get the job done”. Use your wardrobe as a tool to help you give off the vibe that you want to be received.
16. Make a grocery list– It sounds elementary, but it’s important. Assess what you need to buy, write it down and only get those things. Do not go to the store hungry; do not buy the large cookie cake (unless it’s on your list.) Also, take note of how much food you actually eat. If you find yourself throwing out, uneaten, perishable foods, stop buying them. It will save space and save you money.
17. Realize that you cannot fix people- You might think that the cute, damaged guy with the commitment issues and bad boy tendencies would be a fun new project, but it won’t be. It’s not nice to think of people as projects. If people aren’t willing to change, odds are, they aren’t going to. People change on their own time and will seek out your help if they need it. Trying to fix people will only damage your relationship with them and close them off. Make it clear to them that you are there for them when and if they want your help, but let them come to you on their own terms.
18. Learn how to properly tip and who to tip- This is a skill that can go a long way. The following are people you should tip and what the baseline percent should be:
- Waiter- 15%
- Barber/Hairstylist-15%
- Manicurist- 15% or $3 minimum
- Bartenders- $1 per drink or 15-20% of total bill
- Cab Driver- 10-15% of total fare
- Delivery Service- 10% or $2 minimum
- Coffee Shops/Ice Cream Shops/ Places with tip jars at counter- Put some money in there. Even if it’s just your change, it’s appreciated.
19. Accept the fact that you’re probably not going to get closure- Closure is something that we all yearn for after a break up or falling out, but you’re probably not going to get it. The only person you’re guaranteed to get closure from is yourself. Allow yourself to take time to grief and accept your situation so that you can move on. Waiting around for closure will make you bitter and resentful. Learn from your mistakes and use them as learning tools to better yourself.
20. Be fearless- Do things that absolutely terrify you. These are supposed to be the best years of your life so make them count. Growing up doesn’t have to be boring. You have to be adventurous and take risks to find out whom you truly are. This is the perfect time to discover who you are, stop wasting time making excuses and go do it.