Being in your twenties can be an exhilarating yet confusing time. You’ve got a million things on your plate: college, work, relationships, your future and your many responsibilities. You’re trying to juggle it all and you’re constantly at battle with yourself, trying to decide between being a responsible adult or living the adventure.
In your twenties, you’re either hustling or trying to live your life to the fullest. You’re young but you feel like time is passing you by. Others seem to have everything figured out and you’re just trying to make it to the end of the week. With all that circling around in your head, you’re stressed, sleep deprived and not enjoying what is supposed to be the best times of your life. If you can relate to any of this, join the club.
For all my twentysomethings out there, take a breath, here are 8 signs that you’re actually doing just fine.
1. You have some idea of what you’re interested in doing
While you may not have the particulars figured out, you know where your passions lie. At this point in your life, you’ve graduated or you’re about to graduate from college, and you have a general idea of what you want to do and what you’re good at. Though your plans aren’t exact, you’re making moves toward making a livelihood out of that passion. Just remember that your twenties are your exploratory years, this is the time where you explore all your options.
2. You know who you are as a person
You’re past that age of constantly tailoring your identity to fit in with others. Now, you’ve learned that if someone doesn’t like you for who you are, they aren’t worth your time. You’re accepting who you are, and realizing that you can’t go through your life pleasing others. If you’re content with the person you are, then you’re on the right track.
3. You’re not afraid to dream
When you’re little, you believe that ‘the sky is the limit’ and no dream is too big. Unfortunately, we grow up and realize that nothing is handed to you and you need to put in the hard work to get what you want. If the world hasn’t made a cynic out of you yet and you still ‘swing for the fence,’ good for you, you’ve got ambition. At the same time, setting realistic goals for yourself like making a plan to pay off your student loans or saving money for a better apartment is a sign of adulthood.
4. You know your priorities
At this stage in your life, you’re able to make sensible decisions. You understand the repercussions of your actions and you are able to choose between what you want to do and the right thing to do. You have priorities in place, keeping in touch with your loved ones, dedicating yourself to your job, paying your bills on time; if that’s you, you’ve got your head on straight.
5. You care
Remember when it was cool to not care about anything? Whoever made that a thing, clearly had their priorities misplaced. As a twenty-something, you can’t afford to ‘not care.’ You have responsibilities and your future depends on you placing your focus on things that truly matter. Whether that’s supporting a cause or taking an interest in global issues, you’re on the right track towards become a contributing member of your community.
6. You know how to move forward
Part of growing up is realizing that you can’t change the past and you’re only option is to learn from your mistakes and make a better effort in the future. Your past is just that, your past, leave it there. If you’re focused on your personal development and making an effort to move on, congrats, that’s a big step.
7. You can handle your own responsibilities
In your twenties, you realize how much you relied on your parents for everything. Now your well being, physically, mentally and financially, are on you. Staying on top of your bills, doctor/dentist visits, can be a bit of struggle but if you’ve accepted your responsibilities as your own, kudos to you.
8. You have experience
You’re wiser now than you were in high school, freshman year of college and even than you were yesterday. You’re constantly learning new things and better ways to deal with certain situations. You have a degree (or working towards it), you have a job, you’re independent, you have experience!
