30 Pieces of Advice I’d Tell my Younger Self  

One of my friends mentioned, in recent conversation, that the person she is today is definitely not the person she anticipated she would become when she was twenty. This statement made me think a lot about myself and where I thought I wanted to be when I was that age.

I’m now in the last year of my 20s and, admittedly, it feels bittersweet — like it’s the impending end of a beautiful era that involved lots of mistakes, failures and uncertainty — but also many more triumphs, successes and lessons learned. I honestly wouldn’t change a whole lot from the past decade, because I feel blessed with the way things have worked out through action and natural progression.

That said, there are some things I wish “the younger me” knew way back when — a dose of reality, if you will. In honor of hitting the big 3-0 soon, here are the 30 things I’d tell the curiously savvy early-twenty-something-year-old me.

1. You won’t always end up in the career you envisioned for yourself right away. It takes time. Rely on a little bit of fate, but also strive for what you want and be proactive to get to where you need to be.

2. Travel more. Experiences build memories and are the things that you remember, not the material things.

3. It’s okay to stay in relationships with a partner that are fun — for a bit —  but don’t stick around if you know it’s not going anywhere.

4. Drink more water. Your body is around 50% – 65% water and needs replenishment every day.

5. Stay in touch with your friends from college. Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean the friendships you’ve built there have to end.

6. Write more. Find a publication you like, reach out and ask if you can write for them (it doesn’t matter how top-tier the publication is – after all, you deserve to write for the best!).

 7. Invest in some good running shoes — then use them.

8. Keep your mind strong by always continuing to learn. Your brain is like a muscle, and all muscles need a good workout.

9. Tell the people you care about that you love them, often.

10. Pay it forward whenever you can. It could totally change someone’s life.

11. If you like someone, go for it and tell them. If it doesn’t work out, it’s their loss.

12. It’s okay to be ambitious, but don’t let work overtake your life.

13.  Don’t stay in a dead-end job, a job you hate, or where the environment is hostile. It’s guaranteed there’s always something better out there for you.

14. Volunteer for something you’re passionate about, or something that moves you.

15. Dance more, even if you have two left feet.

16. Show your leadership skills and have a voice in your community — join a non-profit board.

17. Partake in a sports league: kickball, softball, bowling, billiards, you name it.

18. Say thank you and vocalize your appreciation often.

 19. Save up — one day you may buy a house and have a family, so start preparing now.

20. It’s okay if you’re not married yet. Sometimes it takes a little longer to meet your soulmate, but the wait will be worth it.

21. Call your parents and do it often. They can always benefit from hearing from you more.

22. Network, network, network. Those connections can hold so much weight in your career and life.

23. Find a mentor — someone to whom you look up — and aspire to be.

24. Or become a mentor — help someone through your experiences.

25. Read the news, amidst all the cute cat videos. Stay informed, and know what’s happening around you.

26. Pamper yourself. Pedicures and manicures can make you feel pretty, and massages are a nice way to reward yourself after a rough day.

27. Distance yourself from toxic friends who don’t make you a better person.

28. Remember that you’re beautiful, no matter how your body changes as you age.

29. It’s okay to make mistakes. Learn and move on.

30. Spend more time doing the things you love — and less time on your phone.