30 Things I’d Tell My 20-Year-Old Self

I’m officially a couple days away from turning 30, so I thought it would be fun to do a little reflection on the past 10 years. The twenties were some of the best years of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I graduated college, started my career, lived in several different cities, traveled more than I could have ever imagined, learned how to be an adult, bought a house, married my best friend and met several new friends along the way. It’s been one wild ride, and I feel so incredibly blessed to have experienced all of this in the last 10 years.

Before I get to my advice below, I wanted to share a little snippet from another blogger who is also turning 30 this week. I couldn’t agree more with what she had to say:

“Nothing will ruin your twenties more than thinking you need to have life all figured out by now. Take chances, immerse yourself in every single thing possible, make mistakes, TRAVEL, explore, be different, and most importantly, figure it all out on YOUR own timeline.“

And now…..here’s my list of “30 Things I Would Tell My 20-Year-Old-Self“

1. Wear sunscreen.
2. You’re not fat.
3. Listen to your parents more. They may actually know a thing or two.
4. Stop dating assholes.
5. It’s okay to be single. It’s actually GREAT to be single.
6. You may grow out of certain friends/friend groups. That’s okay.
7. It’s okay if someone doesn’t like you. You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
8. The hard work is going to pay off. I promise.
9. It’s okay to say no.
10. You don’t have to be involved in everything.
11. Get rid of negative people in your life.
12. Don’t be afraid to ask for things. Getting told “no” doesn’t cost you anything. Keep asking.
13. Perfection is overrated. No one is perfect.
14. Less things. More experiences.
15. That job offer you didn’t get….that’s okay. Everything happens for a reason.
16. Prioritize travel. Travel as much as you can and as far as you can.
17. Throw out any idea of a timeline. You don’t have to be married by “X” years old. You don’t have to have a house, have kids, etc. Do things are your own timeline. Things will fall into place how they supposed to.
18. Don’t be afraid of failure.
19. Sometimes relationships don’t work out, personally and professionally. Try your hardest not to burn bridges. It is better to not carry that weight on your shoulders.
20. You can do anything you set your mind to.
21. Just because you graduated doesn’t mean you should stop learning. Keep learning. Be curious.
22. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
23. Find a hobby that you’re passionate about.
24. Life isn’t fair.
25. You don’t have to apologize for everything. Stop saying sorry before and after every sentence.
26. Write down your goals. Also, you don’t have to wait for a new year to start over or make new goals. Set short-term goals and long-term goals for yourself.
27. Be more confident.
28. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
29. Ask for help when you need it. There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help.
30. Most importantly…..HAVE FUN! Your twenties will be some of the best years of your life so enjoy it.

I hope this post is helpful for anyone entering their early twenties 🙂 Also, if you’re 30+ years old, do you have any other advice or wisdom to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Now….I think it’s time to pop open a bottle of Champagne and celebrate. Cheers!