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12 things you should do in your 20s

The 20s can be a magical time. The world is your oyster, right?! But trying to adult can also be chock-full of anxiety, chaos and well-intentioned mistakes. For example, I didn’t mean to not pay that parking ticket, but I hate opening mail soooooo. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yes, at this point “having it all together” seems like a pipe dream for most people. But the good news is, you don’t have to. Times have changed. Your 20s are no longer about finding the “perfect” career and the “perfect” spouse. Instead they’re about self-discovery, figuring out the life you want to live and yes, making a lot of mistakes along the way.

Here are 11 things you should absolutely do in your 20s that you will never regret.

Travel As Often As Possible

Things to do in your 20s _travel as often as possible

Nothing will teach you more about yourself than plopping down in the middle of a foreign city where you don’t speak the language. Listen, there’s always an excuse not to go: money, time, commitments, money. Did we mention money? But all of those excuses compund exponentially the older you get. Any opportuniy you have to get away, TAKE IT and don’t look back.

Love Yourself

This sounds cheesy but the 20s are often riddled with self-doubt. You don’t feel pretty enough, skinny enough or successful enough and compared to the seven-plus BILLION people in the world you never will be. No one is perfect and the sooner you discover that the better. Your body does so many wonderful things for you (it keeps you alive for one!), which is why you need to cherish every aspect of it. Remind yourself daily that you are beautiful, you are worthy and you deserve love — especially from yourself.

Stay Out Until Dawn

Things to do in your 20s _party all night

There’s something really magical about hanging with friends at 5 am after a night of dancing, just as the sun is about to rise. It’s a feeling you can’t recreate when you’re 35 and just want to go to bed. Cherish the energy you have now and use it to go nuts once in awhile. You can sleep when you’re old. Or at least like 28.

Look For Silver Linings

The 20s can be a time of tumultuous change. Fired from your job, the loss of a parent, too many breakups to count. If feels like every week there’s something new to worry about. Which is why should start looking for silving linings NOW. It can be so easy to fall into a pit of despair and only focus on the negative — but that doesn’t help anything. The more you can see the bright side now, the more it will manifest in your future.

Spend a Day With An Actual Stylist

Things to do in your 20s_stylist

As awesome as it is that you got 8 years out of your favorite sweater (high school and college!) it’s nice to upgrade the wardrobe once in awhile. But spending a lot of money on clothes doesn’t always feel like an option. Which is why it’s important to carefully choose 3 to 4 nice pieces in your 20s that say “Yes, I am adulting now!” — and that’s where a stylist comes in. Having a person tell you what you look good in is the greatest thing you will ever experience.

With online options like Trunk Club and more stores turning to experiential shopping, like Nordstrom Local, you can actually get a stylist for as little as $25 or FREE.

Quit Your Crappy Job

So many people are unhappy in their jobs. If your job isn’t a stepping stone and it’s not fulfilling you, QUIT. I know it’s scary and most people will stay in a job they hate because they feel trapped. But that’s no way to live your life. Sometimes jumping into the deep end without a life vest is the only way you learn how to swim. You can find another job and the more experience you get the more you can figure out what you actually want to do with your life. Don’t let fear hold you back.

Find A Mentor

Believe it or not there’s an entire generation of people who went through exactly what you’re going through now. While it seems like their lives are together (Kids! House! Career!) I guarantee you they struggled too. Seeking out a mentor you can trust and depend on can be a valuable asset. Not only can they help with career advice but they’re usually chock-full of wisdom about what to do, based on what they did in your exact situation. #CircleOfLife

Stay In Your PJs All Weekend (And Don’t Feel Guilty)

Before our careers are settled we often feel like we have to GO! GO! GO! And every minute not working is a minute wasted on your ladder to success. While it’s important to keep your eye on the prize it’s also important to take time to decompress, be lazy and practice self-love. But thanks to 24/7 email it often feels impossible to disconnect. Which is why a weekend — as in ALL Saturday and Sunday — spent in your favorite pair of fuzzy Ugg slippers watching bad reality TV and noshing on popcorn can be the break your anxious mind needs. No guilt required.

Do Things You’ve Never Done Before

Jump out of plane. Travel alone. Accept a blind date. Walk a red carpet. Stepping out of your comfort zone sucks, which is why they call it a “comfort zone”, it’s comfortable. The 20s are the time to get UNCOMFORTABLE because sometimes that’s the zone where the best stuff happens. Try snowboarding down a mountain or train for a marathon. See a band you’ve never heard of at a bar that looks more than seedy. Take a chance on a weird job. This is the time to experiment and soak up life like a sponge.

Go To A Party Alone

things to do in your 20s_enter a party alone

Sounds scary right? Heading out without a wing-woman can feel daunting. But learning how to go to a party alone is the best skill you will ever give yourself. It’s really easy to talk to your friends, it’s much harder to go up to people and jump into their friend group. But no matter how embarassed you feel now you’ll thank yourself later when you’re in your 30s and your boss sends you to network with people you’ve never met before. Not to mention, going alone makes it easier for people to talk to you (no hive to deal with) and you’re more likely to meet new people.

Be Thankful

It’s easy to get caught up in the anxiety that comes along with your 20s but don’t forget to be thankful for all the small stuff you forget about like health, family, friends. The older you get the more tragedy seeps into your life. Start practicing gratitude now and you’ll carry it with you the rest of your days.

After all, despite all the uncertainty of your 20s they truly are a magical time, full of opportunity. You’ll never be this young again. Cherish it.

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