Ah 20. The start of a new decade, a decade where you have to get a lot of stuff done. You have to graduate college, get a real job, get an apartment, pay taxes, maybe get married (MAYBE), maybe have kids (AN EVEN BIGGER MAYBE). There’s a lot to do, and there’s also a lot you should know by 20.
By age 20 we have been on our own at college for at least 2 years. We’ve dealt with changing friendships, changing relationship dynamics with our parents, and entered a new world known as college. But what should we know by this point in our lives? I’ve developed a list of what you should know by 20 — if you are counting down the days to 20, use this as a checklist, and if you are already 20, then use this as a list of what you should Google.
1. How to cook a good meal.
No, instant mac and cheese and ordering pizza doesn’t count.
2. How to do your laundry.
If you are still using a laundry service at 20 I’m sorry but YOU ARE PATHETIC. Learn how to do your laundry — it’s easy!
3. How to budget.
Speaking of money – you should know how to stick to and make a budget by now. Creating and sticking to a budget makes your life easier, you won’t have to cringe every time you open your banking app to see how much you have left.
4. You should have an answer to: what’s your favorite…
Chances are it will change but don’t be that person that says “I don’t have one”. I can 100% guarantee that when a certain song comes on the radio, a certain movie is being shown on TV you get excited to hear it or watch it – that’s your answer to this question.
5. How to fake It until you make it.
We are 20, we don’t have the answer to everything and we certainty don’t know how to do everything but one thing we can do – pretend you know how to do it because there is a 100% you know how to figure out how to do it – it’s called Google.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
We don’t know what we are doing we are only 20 so asking for help is ok and encouraged don’t mess something up because you were afraid to ask for help.
7. Be friendly.
You never know who is watching or who you are talking to. Be friendly, say please and thank you and it will get you places in life. If for no other reason be friendly because it’s the NICE thing to do.
8. To show up.
Half the battle is showing up – just do it.
9. How to network.
Networking is having conversations with people and then keeping in touch with people – that’s it. You should know how to do this.
10. How to take a good photo.
Find me a 20-year-old that doesn’t have a go-to pose for their Instagram photo and I will show you a liar.
11. The best way to relieve stress.
What makes you feel less stressed? For me it’s baking or reading – you should know because from what I hear stress doesn’t go away it gets worse (SOS).
12. Who you can rely on.
By this point you should know the 5 people you can call no matter what. They could be your best friends, your parents, siblings, cousins – I don’t care you should know the people you can call when you need it.
13. How to not procrastinate.
We all know procrastinating is bad yet we all do it. But you should know when you can’t procrastinate and that’s what this is all about reading the situation.
14. How to format a resume.
Even if it’s not perfect yet you should have a resume formatted and ready to go for when an opportunity comes around.
15. Read as much as possible.
Ok that’s super corny and I sound like such an old person BUT just do it, you can thank me later.
16. How to skim.
Don’t read every word in every paragraph skim it and figure out what it’s important – it’ll save you time.
17. Know what’s going on in the world.
If you don’t have a news app or follow some news organization on some platform of social media by age 20 then I’m seriously concerned for the future of our planet.
18. How much sleep you need to be a functioning human.
You should know that if you get less than 5 hours of sleep you are going to be a mean person the next day. This information can be used to a) warn others and b) determine how much caffeine you will need to consume throughout the day.
19. Have something planned for the future.
Whether you want to save the planet from global warming or you want to get that internship this summer have something to aim for. It sounds super corny but having that driving force will make you work harder.
20. Have fun.
If dancing on elevated surfaces does it for you, or staying in bed watching Netflix is your thing then do it.
Your 20s are a time to be selfish so make sure that whatever you are doing you are having fun while doing it. So here’s to 20 and figuring out what to do in this new decade.
