4 Things People in Their 20's Should Do

Most people will settle in and assert that your 20's should be the best years of your life. While I agree with the concept, I normally disagree with their personal meanings behind it all. Many claim that your 20's should be your time to travel the world, your opportunity to purchase that brand new car due to the additional income you now have, or live the “extravagant lifestyle” of fine dining, apparel shopping, and attending concerts/sporting events. These all sound exhilarating, but in my opinion: “Your 20's are a time to explore outside of your comfort zone, an era when you can take on challenges that were once not possible, and most importantly, a period to construct the foundation for a better future.” The following are four examples of what I believe people in their 20's should be doing at this moment.

Take on More Responsibilities at Work and/or Get a Part-Time Job

Now this may not be the case for those who are already satisfied with the income they make from their full-time position, but having a few extra bucks here-and-there can go a long way for planning your future. For instance, my current part-time position is being a retail sales specialist for Fanatics and the Philadelphia Union. While the title and responsibilities are not the most glamorous, the pay I get from the job covers my current gas and toll expenses every month, which was usually coming from my full-time position’s compensation. What’s even better is that the position only requires me to work home games that are usually scheduled only every other week, and I get to snag any sweet Fanatics apparel with a 50% discount rate.

Though money seems to be the best aspect of obtaining a part-time job, there is a lot more to think about. For starters, you’ll be able to gain more experience which can support your efficiency overtime. If you were to take a gig in sales, you can continue to build upon your public speaking aptitudes, tactics on how to sell, and much more. Part-time jobs can also connect you with some powerful individuals; if you were to transition careers at any time, having great references can go a long way.

As for taking on more responsibilities at work, I’m not suggesting that you become the office’s “brownnoser”, but you should do whatever you can to improve your skill-set anyway possible. For instance, if you work in a customer service position, but your plan is to one day work in marketing, request to partake in side projects that assist the marketing team or your own department. Your supervisor might see that you’re a great asset to the team, which can really turn the tides for you; they might become more dependable on you which can support your true potential in an organization.

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Invest, Invest, and Invest Some More & Pay Off Your Debt as Fast as Possible!

I don’t have to say much here since much of the content I write about on Gen-Achievers incorporates why you should be investing as well as the methods you can incorporate to pay off your debt quicker. However, you need to realize that you MUST start one way or another if you want to support yourself down the road. You need to also be SMART about how you invest or pay off debt, so think about what you want to do with your money before getting caught up in anything silly.

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Pursue Graduate, Doctoral, or Certification Programs

This one might also be up in the air with some individuals due to a number of reasons, but I will always believe that education is a powerful tool. Today’s markets expect people in upper management positions to likely attain some form of degree and/or certification aside from a bachelor’s degree. I’m not saying that you must get multiple degrees in order to get a better salary or job title, but it can support those over the long-term. It also enables you to stay relevant with issues surrounding your current field as well as gather key skills that may not be offered within your current organization.

Trust me, as an individual who works in higher education (admissions specifically) with two degrees (and working for number three), I understand it can be difficult to juggle a full-time job, 10-plus hours of school work a week, and attempting to pay tuition in full, but it is possible! It is always important to talk to friends and family about this path because taking on a graduate degree as well as going to work 40 or more hours can cause a lot of stress and/or anxiety. However, if you know that you want to get a graduate degree or hope to take on a different career path that requires some form of educational background, let's say for instance an M.S. in Engineering, why wait?

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Get Acclimated to Daily Exercise & Healthy Eating Habits

Being in your 20's may seem great in that you can still (somewhat) eat anything you want without dealing with the repercussions, but it also doesn’t mean any of us are getting younger. Soon we'll be faced with monthly checkups, and it's important to practice healthy habits before it's too late. I’ve noticed that when I eat a healthy balance of meals and exercise 5-6 days a week, my productivity at my full-time job, schoolwork, and blogging all increase tremendously.

Now, I’m not saying that you need to go all in with your fitness mentalities or cut out all the foods you love (pizza and brownies are my personal kryptonite), but if you notice that you tend to get sick when your stressed and overwhelmed with responsibilities or feel sluggish on most days, it maybe because of your eating & fitness habits. Simple things such as going for a daily walk around your neighborhood, replacing salad dressing with vinaigrette, or resisting to drink soda throughout the day will likely lead to you being capable of taking on more challenges in your life.