10 Things You Need To Learn Quickly In Your 20s

1. Free yourself from negative people.

As soon as you graduate, you no longer have the “obligation” to remain close to anyone you choose not to. Oftentimes in college you’ll find yourself with an annoying roommate, an irksome group project partner, or your significant other’s friend who you just don’t get along with. Anybody who brings negativity in your life should no longer have a place in it.

2. Stay in better touch with people who mean a lot to you.

The moment you graduate, everyone’s lives go in a million different directions. There is no excuse to not stay in touch with people who matter to you. Even if this means writing a note to yourself on your calendar to call your childhood friend monthly. Your 20s is a new chapter of your life, but that’s no reason to lose sight of what made you who you are today.

3. Learn to cook a few good meals.

In college you got breakfast on the way to class, got lunch with a friend between classes, and ate at the bar after pounding a bunch of beers. You than topped off the night with whatever was closest to the bar. However, as soon as you graduate, it’s almost like your body just starts vehemently rejecting all of that questionable food. Learn to keep a balanced diet and start taking care of yourself.

4. Set time aside for you to do you.

Pick 2-3 activities that you really enjoy — be them as simple as reading, watching Netflix, or drawing. Pick the activities you enjoy and make sure they get into your schedule. Adulthood becomes overwhelming, and these simple de-stressors can go a long way.

5. Set time aside to workout and stay in shape.

Any sort of workout — even a short run when you wake up — will jump start your day and add another activity to your routine to make you feel good about yourself. Make it in an activity such as biking – whatever it is, just get up and get out.

6. Make a list of things you want to do and stick to it.

If you are in a new area, make a list of things you want to see and do. If you want to travel, make a list of a bunch of places you want to go to. Your 20s is time for YOU so do what YOU want to do.

7. The concept of paying yourself first.

Be sure to put some percentage off your paycheck into a savings account first and pay your bills. Find a healthy balance to do both with each paycheck and than have fun. Building good money habits as soon as you graduate will keep moving forward with you.

8. Learn to accept what has happened.

There is nothing you can do to what has happened in the past or how drastically your life changed in a matter of months. It is what it is. The earlier you accept that the better off you will be. Leave it the present and in the moment.

9. Know what you want out of your career and the path you want to take to get there.

You don’t need to plan your entire life out, but it’s certainly quite helpful to have an idea of what you want out of your career. Do you believe in what you wake up to do every morning? If not, maybe you should something else to occupy almost 80% of your time with.

10. Get rid of your “type” or your “dating checklist.”

The moment you graduated, your entire life changed. You went from a group of friends in college and this idea of what you were and who you wanted to be with. Let go of all of those. Open yourself to many possibilities – you will quickly learn what else you need out of a significant other or affirm everything you’ve said to yourself. The real world and college are two drastically different places.