20 Things To Do in Your 20’s

The twenties are an amazing time in life. For most of us it is the first time that we are truly on our own and free to choose our own path. It is an age where we essentially get to start with a clean canvas and begin painting the type of life we have dreamed of since childhood. It is an opportune time to try new things, new jobs, develop new habits and enjoy the lifestyle that comes with having little responsibility and endless amounts of energy.

The twenties are also foundational years for us and should not be wasted or lived unintentionally. With the help of some friends and mentors, the following are some of the best things we could think of to do in order to make the most of your twenties:

1. Surround yourself with wise mentors - you don’t know how to get somewhere you’ve never been. that’s why you need mentors– insight and help from people who are where you want to be.
2. Become a lifelong learner - as mentioned above, the awesome thing about your twenties is that you gain a tremendous amount of freedom to pursue whatever direction in life you choose.
3. Travel - the practice of leaving home to experience new locations and cultures is fundamental, and one that nearly everyone I posed the idea of this list to told me to include.
4. Learn to listen and handle criticism well - if there’s one deadly mistake I’ve seen made by many of my peers over the past few years it is the inability to receive criticism.
5. Develop an active, healthy lifestyle - by adopting healthy habits such as eating well and exercising regularly in your 20’s you are setting yourself up for a much better quality of life.
6. Read a classic - even though we are required to read a few classics here and there throughout school, if you’re like me you have forgotten most of the characters and plot twists by now.
7. Go on an overseas missions trip - Traveling is wonderful, but it is possible to travel the globe without ever really stepping outside of yourself.
8. Create a monthly budget - often the big advice from financial planners for young people comes in a cheeky remark about cutting back on the Starbucks lattes.
9. Start a Roth IRA - I know of no better retirement vehicle than the Roth IRA. A Roth is unique because your money grows tax-free meaning at retirement age (currently 59 1/2) when you finally decide to pull out the money you have accumulated, you don’t have to pay any taxes on any of it.
10. Buy a used car - it may be tempting to show how independent you’ve become by pulling up to your friend’s house in a brand new car, but fight the urge.
11. Understand basic investment principles - there is no doubt that financial illiteracy is rampant among young people mainly due to it’s weak to non-existent standing in secondary school curriculum.
12. Go to a concert - Ever noticed that many people’s fondest memories start with, “One time we got tickets to (fill in the blank).” There is something amazing about live music and thousands of screaming fans that turns up the volume of our lives in all the right ways.
13. Learn a foreign language - there’s something wonderful about communicating with someone in their native tongue; it breaks down cultural barriers like nothing else.
14. Start a blog - the ability to communicate one’s ideas in writing is an incredibly valuable asset.
15. Get your college degree - according to a recent report from the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau a college graduate can expect to earn approximately $900,000 more over their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma.
16. Pay off credit cards - We’ve all heard the alarming stats yet few seem to be changing their behavior.
17. Stay in a hotel that costs over $200 a night
18. Read the Bible cover to cover - no other book has been cited by others, recounted in the arts, or debated in the public arena more than the Bible.
19. Explore your family of origin issues (positive and negative) and pursue growth
20. Figure out the type of person you want to marry