The path to adulthood is a paved road of smudged eyeliner and hilarious stories. Here are some of the things we wish a smart, sassier older sister had typed up for us before we fumbled our way thru our twenties.
Build a network, off-line.
Snapchat and Twitter are fun and great, but you need real-life conversations to compliment those @ messages. We know that it’s pretty easy to get sucked into social network addiction, so set a goal to meet someone once a week for drinks. On-line is fun and great, but nothing is more important than old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.
Have a hobby that isn’t Pinterest.
Hey, we love Pinterest too and we have proof. But the thing about Pinterest is that you can quickly lose 5-6 hours scrolling through pins. You need to have a hobby that involves off-line activity; something to engage and challenge you. Why is it important? Hobbies often lead to new friendships and job-marketable skills that aren’t taught in a classroom.
Read words that aren’t on a screen.
Books are sexy, and we aren’t just talking 50 Shades of Grey. Why bother? Reading print books has been linked to improved sleeping habits, helping to lower depression, and increased mental stamina. Steal 30-45 minutes a day to read something that’s not on your phone, you’ll thank us.
Write great e-mails.
Seems like weird advice, huh? Email is a learned skill, not just an app. In our e-mail flooded world, you need to write emails that stand out and demand to be opened. When you’re applying for a job, odds are your email message will be the determining factor that leads an HR rep to open and read your resume. Don’t take email lightly.
Don’t be afraid to be afraid.
That’s not an oxymoron. If you truly want to live an adventurous life, you’ll need to challenge your skills and push your comfort zones frequently. Being afraid isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign that you’re doing something worthwhile. Start small to build your fear tolerance – think about committing to one activity a month that pushes you outside of your comfort zones to try something new.
You’ve got a lot of people telling you how to live your life when you’re navigating through your twenties. You’ll make lots of mistakes and you’ll find lots of things about yourself that are surprising. We think that these 5 simple lessons will help you become a more complete version of yourself, however you define that.
What advice would you add to this list? Share your lessons in our comments below!