Your twenties are for two things: feeling like you should have your life together, and being sure that you actually don't. (The other decades of your life are probably for the same two things, now that I think about it.) A little bit of wisdom for navigating these tumultuous years is never amiss, so there were lots of illuminating responses when Redditor u/Few-Friend-451 asked the folks of AskReddit, "What’s your best life advice for someone in their 20s?" Here are 18 gems of wisdom to share with your group chat.
Responses may have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1. "Live below your means, if at all possible."
2. "Work on discipline, because whatever habits you form in your 20s might end up getting stuck with you for the rest of your life. So be careful what you do; your brain doesn't fully develop until you're like 25."
3. "Don't jump into marriage just because everybody else around you seems to be. If you found that love of your life, go for it. Just make sure you're getting married for the right reasons."
4. "Never stop learning. Keep up with your old hobbies and interests, and pick up new ones. Take classes, free ones, and pay for those you can afford. Join groups for people with your interests so you can learn from them and learn from teaching them."
5. "Start your skincare routine now. Wear sunscreen on your face and the backs of your hands every single day."
"It’s also never too early to start a retirement account."
6. "Try not to worry too much. If you find yourself worrying about something, it is good to ask why, but most things won't have immediate solutions. If something consistently makes you worry (like social media), it might be good to leave it behind."
7. "Be sincere. That's it. Be honest about who you are to others, but most importantly to yourself. This doesn't mean you can't change, but it does mean that change should be driven by a desire to change from yourself, not forced by others. People who can't, won't, or otherwise don't accept you for you are just not worth your time."
8. "Get a primary care doctor and start seeing them for regular check-ups (every six months). Hopefully you won’t have any major medical issues, but if you do, catching things early makes a huge difference."
9. "Live alone for at least two years. Travel to another continent at least once to see how other cultures live. Learn a foreign language."
10. "Go see your favorite bands before they get old, or dead. It can get ugly."
11. "Today, more than any time before, you aren't locked into a career in your 20s. If you don't like what you're doing, try other things."
12. "Take care of your teeth. They are as healthy as they will ever be. Teeth pain is no joke. On top of that, they are expensive to fix later in life."
13. "To seem charming, all you have to do a lot of the time is to be an engaged listener. You don't need an amazing sense of humor, to be able to lay on the compliments, or regale people with stories. Just listen to other people in a way that shows you are interested and not only waiting for your turn to talk. Make eye contact, don't interrupt them, don't turn the conversation to be about you, and ask good questions."
14. "It doesn’t matter how much time and effort you have invested in something (job, relationship, et cetera), you can always walk away if the situation is no longer healthy. You don’t need to stay longer for fear of the time already invested being 'wasted.'"
15. "A lot of people seem to think that they are getting old as they approach their mid-20s. There is no reason to be caught up in that. In our 20s, we are still very young. Our brain is still developing until we are 25. And we still have a lot of life left to live after we turn 30. I have also heard a lot of people say that [your] 20s are supposed to be the time of our life, and that it will be all downhill afterward. This does not have to be true, either. For many of us, the 30s are way better than the 20s. You never get too old to have a good time."
16. "Enjoy being with yourself and/or your friends. Romantic relationships aren’t the be-all and end-all. Enjoy your own hobbies and interests. You’re the one person you’ll be with for your whole life!"
