You thought your teens were difficult, but now you've hit your 20s. Between bills, rent, groceries, college and finding true love, life has hit you. But don't worry, here are 10 ways to keep happy and sane during the best years of your life so far.
1. Everyone worries, but 20-somethings seem to worry more than the average human. Why? Because between college, graduation, finding love and finding an internship or job after college, things get stressful. But with worry comes perfectionism, and if worrying makes you unhappy, it's not permanent, and you will find a job and a spouse eventually. So, why worry?
2. You can't even decide on a major in college, let alone know what your purpose in life is. Many people stress that they don't know what they are meant to do in their lives, but realistically, who really does until they do it? Don't let advisers and parents get the best of you, nagging you to find the perfect major, to get a perfect job after college. It happens for some, but not for all, and more 20-year-olds need to know that.
3, If high school is still on your mind, just quit. The person you were in high school, and that girl you used to fight with are probably not even close to the same person as you were then. Things change and being unhappy about high school is unreasonable. Either smooth things over with the people from high school, or let things go for your own sanity. Being unhappy over something in your past isn't going to change what happened in high school.
4. Leave your procrastination at the door. In your 20s, procrastinating on a paper until the night before and binging on coffee until you can't see straight is a true college experience. But learning to get things done in a more timely manner can not only reduce on stress, but also gives you more time to do things that make you happy.
5. Finding a creative outlet, whether that be writing, art, music, dance, sports, yoga or really anything that helps you de-stress, is the best thing to make for happiness in your 20s. Finding something you love to do could not only lead you to finding your zest for life, but could also help you to leave your procrastination at the door.
6. Quit comparing your body to other people's. Everyone was created differently and comparing bodies isn't something that will change the things you don't like about yours. Hit the gym or change your diet if you're unhappy. But don't let someone else's genetics or hard work keep you from doing what you need to do to be happy.
7. Oftentimes your roommate(s) can be a huge reason why unhappiness plagues your 20s. One doesn't do the dishes, and the other refuses to take out the trash. It's a struggle and regardless of how hard you try, you aren't going to change the people you decided to live with. Don't regret your decision, but understand that your roommates don't have to be your best friends. Yeah, you may want to hang out and get dinner, but being friends and being roommates may be split for some people. Letting it go will only add to your happiness.
8. When all your friends have boyfriends, that doesn't mean you should too. Some people find love early in life and some people don't. Understanding the difference between love and lust is extremely important to identifying the seriousness of your relationships. Remembering there is a lifetime ahead of you to find love will prevent love to make you unhappy in your 20s. Although your high school sweetheart may be the love of your life in high school, so much changes in your 20s that there's a chance the person you loved at 16, 17 and 18, may not tickle your fancy at 20.
9. Quit seeking the validation of others. If you want purple hair, get purple hair. If you want a sleeve of tattoos, get a sleeve of tattoos. Although some things may not be everyone's cup of tea, you need to be your own cup of tea whether that be sweetened, black or with a little bit of milk. Don't wait for someone to tell you how to look or how to live, be happy with your own decisions.
10. Lastly, spending more time with the right people can completely change your life. Surrounding yourself with friends that want the best for you and connecting with family that are supportive and motivating will push you to accomplish dreams that seemed out of reach before. Following your dreams can often start with great friends and family holding your hand along the way.