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Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Shopping Kim
Are you about to enter your 20s? If yes, we’re here for you!
Your 20s can be a very intimidating phase of your life because that is when you are starting to focus on short term goals as well as the accomplishments you wish to achieve long term.
This is the perfect time for you to focus on your growth and better yourself in every way — academically, physically, and mentally.
So in this post, let us look at 6 ways to improve yourself in your 20s.
In This Post:
1. Take Big Risks
Moving from your teenage years to your 20s, it is finally the time for you to experience the thrill of independence. You have the opportunity and brains to make decisions for yourself, so why not try out new things?
Since this is the time for you to figure out important life decisions, you should try taking risks. Be it moving out of your childhood home and into a new city, applying for a Master’s degree, or quitting your job to get a new one, take that risk! Your risk appetite will never be as high as it is right now, and taking big risks is a great way to improve yourself in multiple ways.
2. Learn to Manage Finances
Other than the thrill and new opportunities, independence also brings a lot of responsibilities for you to shoulder. This is why you should learn to manage your finances and handle your money in the best way possible.
The most important skill you should learn in this regard is establishing a budget, which will save you from overspending and let you know how much needs to be saved for things like groceries, hospital visits, car maintenance, and taxes. It will also help you set aside an emergency fund, which is important given the big risks you’ll be taking.
3. Boost Your Self-Esteem
Confidence is a crucial thing to have in your 20s, but it’s not easy to master. This is why you should add regular exercise to your daily schedule.
According to research, physical activity is directly and indirectly associated with self-esteem. Exercise tones your muscles and gives you a healthy and better look overall.
Plus, it gives you a strong sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a task. It also releases endorphins in the brain that help relieve stress, and if you suffer from depression, anxiety, or social withdrawal, exercise will certainly prove helpful.
Another way you can boost your self-esteem is by working on your physical appearance. Many young people are bogged down by how they look, and this holds them back in many situations in life. Do everything you can to avoid this, even if it means getting non-surgical treatments.
Dermal fillers and lip fillers are two examples of procedures that can increase the plumpness and size of your lips and cheekbones, which are vital aspects of your appearance. Lip fillers are a better option than fat injections or implants, since they give you natural looking lips and are less likely to produce any side effects.
4. Read More Books
Reading may seem like a tiresome chore, but it doesn’t have to be! Unlike in high school, where you had to read an assigned book, you can read any book that speaks to you in your 20s. There is a wide variety of genres out there for you to try, ranging from romance fiction to young adult and classic fiction to psychological thrillers and self-help books.
According to Cristell Russell, a behavioral researcher, reading books is incredibly therapeutic and can help with relieving stress. It also improves your memory and analytical skills, since you learn to recognize patterns when reading.
Plus, there are many self-help books that help guide you through your twenties (see also: ‘22 best books to read in your 20s’). They talk about a wide range of useful topics — such as self-discovery, career advice, and relationship advice — that will come in handy if you are willing to read.
5. Learn to Listen
When talking, we are often more focused on getting our point across instead of listening to what other people have to say. This is a highly unattractive habit that might cost you relationships and good career opportunities.
So active listening is a very important habit you should work on developing in your 20s. By making it your goal to listen more, you will be allowing yourself to polish your analytical skills and become an analytical thinker. You will also have the added advantage of getting to know the pros and cons of a situation that might not have occurred to you.
Apart from strengthening your personal relationships, active listening is vital for professional success because it plays a crucial role in making you a more likable and competent person.
6. Seek Therapy
Since your 20s are all about learning to live independently and facing life’s challenges alone, this is the perfect time for you to try therapy.
There is a misled belief about therapy: that you have to be facing a big problem in order to seek it. However, that is not true. There are several types of therapy designed to make you more capable of leading a fulfilling life. Two popular examples are humanistic therapy and psychodynamic therapy.
- Humanistic therapy is a way to help you reach your full potential by focusing on personal life experiences. It makes use of a holistic approach and focuses on free will, human potential, and self-discovery. Since it helps you improve your attitude towards life, you should consider seeking holistic therapy while in your 20s.
- Psychodynamic therapy, on the other hand, focuses on understanding your emotions and mental processes to make you self-aware and teach you the right skills to address problems in life.
Whatever you do, keep in mind that good mental health is an important tool for success as you’re about to enter some of the most turbulent times of your life.