When you’re in your 20s, you might feel that infinity and beyond can be captured by the palm of your hand. But it’s a crucial period in your life as this can influence your future. The choices we make now may also lead you to success or set you up for ruin.
This is the thesis statement of Meg Jay’s book, Defining Your 20s.
In this article, we’ll talk about how our decisions in our 20s affect us!
Relationships
In her book and Ted Talk, Jay talked about various factors that impact the turnout of life after we hit our 20s. One crucial aspects is the relationships that we have in our 20s, which will also affect the turnout of our 30s.
A lot of women have a tendency in their relationships during the 20s, is “dating down.” This means dating people who do not make the effort for them/do not reciprocate their effort, or someone who is not compatible with them. Bad relationship decisions can break one’s relationship future; this can mean a dysfunctional relationship, or a potential failed relationship.
With friendships, it’s similar! You have to be careful about the people you spend time with in your 20s; are they people who show up for you the way you show up for them? Or are they just good for hanging out and nothing more serious?
If you have friendships you value (and these friendships are not onesided), then you have to put the time to invest in them.
For those who want to eventually get married and are in their 20s right now, be smart about the relationship you have right now with your partner. Are you two compatible? Do you see yourself living together and getting married in the future? Are there any issues you two need to smooth out?
You need to work on that!
Financials and Work
Let’s be real: finances are not a joke, especially in this economy. During your 20s, ensure you build an emergency fund which goes in handy in case you lose your job. You may also have to rethink your skills – if you need to upskill, reskill – and if you want to do your job and you want to pursue something that is related to your course.
If you’re doing barista work and you want to do something creative, you have to find work that is closer to it. Career woes may feel like choosing a random game of Jili because there are so many, and they almost seem endless, but if you pursue a career closer to the one you want, it will pay off and get you on track to a happier life.
Our Mentality
A lot of us want to be successful. However, in your 20s it is easy to feel disappointed our lives on FB do not seem fulfilling. Reality check is that we need to put in the skills and work to get our lives on track. Meg Jay compares success in adulthood to school; whereas in school you have to confront problems head-on, it is the skill of adaptation you need to adapt and find solutions especially in times of uncertainty.
In our 20s, we have to embrace the growth mentality. This allows us to be proactive and not reactive about problems we have.
Wrapping Up
Our 20s are a fun and foundational period in life. The present affects the future, but the present is also a gift – we need to treasure the short-term but also be mindful of the long-term.
