Navigating your 20s can be a thrilling adventure filled with growth, discovery, and the laying of foundational stones for future success. This pivotal decade, brimming with potential, is the perfect time to establish habits that will not only propel you towards your goals but also ensure a fulfilling and balanced life. Whether you're stepping into the early stages of adulthood or seeking to redefine your path, here are 10 essential habits that promise to guide you through your 20s and beyond, with wisdom, health, and happiness.
1. Create a morning routine & make it a daily habit.
Mine:- Wake up, practice gratitude.
- Take my supplements and probiotics with a pint of water.
- Get sunlight/daylight on my face
- Go for a walk/listen to something
I've become a dad & still manage this - you can too."Win the morning, win the day." - Tim Ferriss
2. Don't spend time with negative people
You become who you spend time with. Young people care what others think & seek validation from the loudest voices - often cynical, jealous & bitter ones. Pay attention to who listens more than they speak, who's kind & who's curious."You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." - Jim Rohn
3. Be good to people who care about you
This is common sense, yet many people don't realize how they're treating their loved ones. When was the last time you said "I love you" to your parents?- Surprised them with a gift?
- Took them for dinner?
- Genuinely listened?
"Family is not an important thing. It's everything." - Michael J. Fox
4. Read
Your inputs drive your outputs. Neuroplasticity is your brain changing who you are, how you think & behave based on what it learns. So choose what to learn. Learn all the time. I say read but I listen to Audible, podcasts, always learning. This will change you."Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Gandhi
5. Take risks while you're young
This is not about having more responsibility while you're older, it's about having more 'risk bandwidth' while you're young.- More time
- More energy
- More wiggle room
You also have more resolve to bounce back, building resilience. Win win
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." - Mark Zuckerberg
6. Realizing you are your job
How many times have you heard the phrase "You are not your job" 100 times? I've heard it a million times. I hate to break it to you, but most of us definitely are our job. You are what you repeatedly do - most of your time is spent at work!If someone asked you, "What do you do?" you won't say:
"I breathe, eat, and sh*t, I also occasionally flex my muscle to move my body"
Nope, you're going to say "I work for X", "I do X" or "My skills are X"
Build a job around your identity, or get a job with your identity in it
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius
7. Nobody knows what they're doing
I used to think that everyone above 25 had it all figured out, but that wasn't the case. Nature is in linear progress. Meaning, nature evolves into the unknown with 'data' of the past.And since we are a part of nature, we too must evolve with linear progress into the unknown with 'data' of the past.
Nothing stops, everything begins infinitely.
Know it alls know nothing.
Beginner's mindset wins: they have the best advantage of all - always open & curious.
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's, there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki
8. Be kind to yourself
I've seen a lot of bad takes on this advice, which usually comes from lazy people (sorry)
They'll tell you not to work hard, to relax when you don't deserve it, and to 'be kind to yourself' which means give yourself as many breaks as possible forever.
This is BS.
Being kind to yourself means investing in your future self.
"If I started a business at 25, I'll reap the rewards when I'm 30"
"If I started walking daily, my mental health will be healthy"
"If I practice happiness, I'll actually be happy"
Being kind to yourself also means being your biggest, logical critic.
But avoid talking to yourself in a bad emotional state - it wont help.
Reflection once the dust has settled will provide clarity.
The only thing you should extract from your mistakes is lessons. Not shame.
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love." - Brené Brown
9. Start taking care of your health now (Not later)
If money wasn't real, wealth would be a fit body, a strong mind, and a balanced soul. Not a fat bank account. But money is real, so just be fit anyway. Again, Be kind To Yourself (Invest in your future self)."Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn
10. You Are What You Eat
Cheesy and true If you eat 3 Big Macs, you'll be 10 Big Macs. Same with salads, but you'll be minus 10 salads, malnourished, and depressed. Balance yourself out with healthy options on the table. Dont become a zealot. Avoid processed food.I'm an advocate for healthy eating now but in my 20s? Didn't care.
I only learned to cook this year - better late than never.
I think that's a big life mistake.
Whatever you do, make sure you are getting what you need in your diet.
Too busy?
Supplement. No excuses.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates
Conclusion:
Embracing these 10 habits in your 20s can set the stage for a lifetime of success, health, and happiness. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how these changes positively shape your future. Your future self will thank you!
FAQs
1. Why are habits formed in your 20s important?
- Habits formed in your 20s can last a lifetime, impacting your future success, health, and happiness.
2. Can I start these habits later in life?
- Yes, it's never too late to start good habits, but the earlier you begin, the longer you'll benefit from them.
3. How long does it take to form a habit?
- It varies, but on average, it takes about 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.
4. What if I fail to stick to a habit?
- Failure is part of the process. Learn from it, adjust your approach, and try again. Persistence is key.
5. Are these habits only beneficial for personal life?
- No, these habits are designed to improve both your personal and professional life by fostering growth, resilience, and well-being.
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