Being in your twenties is a blessing. It’s the time where you learn how to set the tone for the rest of your life. We often assume that we have to wait till we get married, have kids, get the right job or the right opportunity before we start thinking and planning ahead.
However, the choices we make in our twenties can really determine how our lives will turn out, 5,10 or even 15 years from now. And yes, you can definitely obtain success at any age, however, why wait if you can give yourself a head start…today?
1. Seek to acquire more knowledge
In our day and age, acquiring knowledge on a daily basis is crucial. We live in a fast-paced society where due to technology our world is changing drastically. According to research done by the McKinsey Global Institute, robot automation will take about 800 million jobs by 2030. We can already see this happening. Organisations are even using automated systems and robots to replace human contact.
However, by acquiring knowledge, you become a valuable source and therefore irreplaceable to your generation. Knowledge is power. So make it your aim to acquire knowledge (truths, facts and information) by continuously learning through experience and research.
2. Get into reading books
Whether you decide to read one paragraph from the newspaper every day or one book every month, make sure you cultivate the habit of reading. Not only is reading one of the many ways to you acquire knowledge, but studies have also shown that reading will cause you to stay mentally stimulated, which can slow the progress (or even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Keeping your brain active and engaged will prevent it from losing power. Besides that, reading will also expand your vocabulary and improve your memory.
3. Start investing in yourself
There are many ways you can start investing in yourself. One of the most important and valuable ways is by investing in your personal self-development. For example by:
- building your self-confidence
- improving your creativity
- attending seminars & workshops
- taking care of your health
- getting yourself educated
4. Save as much as you can
When in your twenties, you might feel ‘more’ pressured to live your life according to societal standards. However, we really don’t need the latest car, latest phone, a complete designer wardrobe and so on. Of course, if you can afford it, why not? However, if you can’t, don’t break your bank account to buy things you don’t need, with the money you really don’t have, just to impress the people you don’t like.
Spending more money than you earn has never been a good idea anyway. Now that I’m in my mid-twenties, I realise that it’s so important to use every opportunity I have to save towards my future.
5. Cut off toxic relationships
Your twenties is the perfect time to discover your purpose and who you truly are. And while you’re on that path to self-discovery you might realise that there are some relationships that are not healthy and beneficial to where you want to go in the future. Let’s be honest, if you hang around people who are not ambitious, you won’t be ambitious or at least they will encourage you not to be. If you hang around people who always complain and make excuses, that same attitude will definitely rub off on you.
That doesn’t mean you completely need to reject these people (whether they are your family or friends). However, it is important to determine the influence they have and what role you allow them to play in your life.
6. Write down your goals
Because we twenty-somethings often feel on top of the world, we tend to underestimate the power of writing down our goals. I mean, as long as I know (in my head) what I want to do, why should I write it down?
Well, studies show that people who ‘write down’ their goals and dreams on a regular basis achieve those desires at a significantly higher level than those who do not. In fact, you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down.
So take the time to think about some of the things you would like to achieve at least 5 years from now. What activities do you need to carry out to get closer to achieving your goals? Start writing them down as ‘steps to follow’ and mini-goals for the year, month or week – and get ready to become a successful twenty-something.
