7 Essential Things to Do in Your 20s to Ensure a Bright Future

By Hannah Wilson:

I know we all want to be 30, flirty, and thriving one day, but to get there, we have to start doing some impactful things now. Success is defined differently by everyone; some people want money, others prefer happiness, and if you’re anything like me, you want both. It’s essential to define what success means to you and then meet the expectations you have for yourself. Success doesn’t just happen; you have to actively pursue it by enhancing your productivity, setting goals, and accomplishing them. Start doing these seven essential things in your 20s to ensure a bright and prosperous future.

Know the importance of your emotional and physical health

Physical and mental health are equally important. Take medicine and get a flu shot to prevent getting sick. Don’t be afraid to see a psychiatrist or therapist if you need one. Also, take time each day to do something for yourself. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that lighting a candle, doing a face mask, and practicing self-care can positively impact you.

Spend time with people who are older than you

We’re young and still trying to figure out sh**for ourselves. People who are older than us can teach us valuable life lessons. They have been in our shoes and have moved on. We can learn from them, and they have answers. Get coffee with your mom, grab lunch with your dad, and appreciate connections with your college professors and other mentors in your life.

Save money (well, as much as you can)

Bills suck. I would rather spend my money on shoes, clothes, and my favorite foods, but the sooner we start saving, the better. It’s crucial to start investing in our future selves now. Use the money you make to make more money; banks pay a certain amount of interest for only having a savings account and using it. Think of where you want to be in the future, what you want to do, and start saving now.

Get rid of toxic friends

You want to go anywhere or do anything in life if people are only bringing you down. Surround yourself with people who build you up, not break you down. After all, you become similar to the five most people you hang out with. Develop positive friendships with great people who cheer you on and strive for success as well, and you will see how it adds to your perspective on success.

Keep reading books

Reading is fun when it’s about something you like. There are a plethora of books out there for any topic. Since college, we were made to read so many books. Some books were uninteresting, but we read them anyway, we started to lose our interest in reading books in general. I think since college makes us read so many books, some of which are of no interest to us but we read them anyway, we lose our interest in reading books in general. Reading allows you to slow down, think deeply, and could even make you smarter. Some of my favorite books are Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, Explorations of a Cosmic Soul by Allie Michelle, and Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur.

Workout

You don’t have to work out just to get fit. Exercising can improve every aspect of your life. Working out keeps you productive, healthy, and gives you time to clear your head. You’ll feel refreshed after leaving a nice workout you didn’t even want to do in the first place, trust me. Mood-enhancing chemicals, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, flood your brain for a couple of hours post-exercise. This helps you stress less in all aspects of your life.

Find a hobby

Sometimes we get so caught up in life’s tasks that we forget to live. Take the time to enjoy being alive by finding a hobby or anything you love to do for fun. Enjoy hanging out with dogs? Visit the local shelter! Enjoy plants? Plant some flowers! When I say anything, I mean anything.

Some of these things will seriously increase your productivity, lead you to a successful life, or will keep you sane. You’re young, dumb, and broke, so you might as well embrace everything life throws at you while you’re in your 20s. Focus on the present and future, never past; it’s essential to live in the moment. Learn from failure. Manage your time well. Travel. Get involved in a meaningful cause. Do something to make yourself better every next day.

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