Being in your 20's is a stressful, yet amazing time. Between balancing school, friends, family, boyfriends/girlfriends, a job and whatever else you have going on in your life, things can get overwhelming. But, it is also a time of discovering yourself and who you want to be. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by everything going on, but remembering these 10 things can be a huge help:
1. It is okay to not know.
For whatever reason, there is this idea that at 20, you have your whole life planned out down to every detail. For some, this may be true, but for most, it is not. It is okay to not know where you want to work for the rest of your life, or even what you want to when you hangout with your friends tomorrow. Things can get hectic, and you won't know how to handle every situation that is thrown your way. That is okay. Your 20's are meant for you to discover yourself as an independent adult, and being unsure is okay. It's all part of the learning experience.
2. Take time for yourself.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by everything going on in your life, and although those things are important, it is okay to step back and take a break to collect yourself and relax. Whether you take a break to watch Netflix or take a walk with friends, make sure you have time for yourself to do whatever it is that helps you de-stress.
3. If someone wants to walk out of your life, let them.
Temporary people are just that— temporary. This goes for friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, anyone. You will meet so many people during this time in your life, and no one is worth stressing over. If someone can't see how lucky they are to be involved in your life, they aren't worth it anyways. Let them leave and realize what they walked out on.
4. Have fun.
When all of your friends are going out and begging you to go with them, it's okay to step away from the school work and go out once in awhile. School and work cannot consume your life and while they are extremely important, so is your social life. Know when you can and can't take the night off, and if you can, go out and have some fun.
5. Someone is proud of you.
Whether that someone is a parent, a relative, a friend, a teacher or whoever, someone is proud of you. One of the most discouraging things is feeling like no one is proud of you when you accomplish something, whether it is big or small. Even if these people don't remind you everyday how proud of you they are, don't doubt it. You are something to be proud of.
6. Step away from the toxic relationships.
Sometimes you meet a person and you think they want the best for you, but they end up bringing you down. Get out of there while you can. You don't need their negativity in your life, no matter how much you care about them. If they aren't benefiting you and encouraging you to grow, you don't need them. Don't let one person stop you from becoming who you want to be.
7. Stop procrastinating.
Nothing is worse than having to bust out a 10 page research paper the night before it's due. Kick your procrastinating habit as soon as you can. It does nothing but cause unnecessary stress. Learn to plan ahead and get things done early. It will make you feel better knowing you won't be cramming at the end.
8. Be adventurous.
Don't knock it 'til you try it! Don't be afraid to try something new that you usually wouldn't. Being in your 20's is all about discovering who you are and who you want to be. Take risks. Travel. You'll learn so much and have fun while doing it.
9. Breathe.
When it seems like everything is going wrong, step back and breathe. There's a good chance you are overwhelmed and it's causing you to overreact. Take a few minutes to clear your head and gather your thoughts. Once you stop panicking, everything will be easier. Take it one thing at a time.
10. Everything will turn out okay.
No matter how it may seem right now, everything will work out. You're still young. You have the rest of your life to figure things out. Enjoy your 20's. Don't spend them stressing about the future. Live in the present.
