Things You Should Do in Your 20s

Your 20s can be some really weird years. They're the years where you're trying to learn how to be an adult, but you don't quite know how to be an adult yet. It can be very easy to get caught up in trying to get your entire future figured out that you stop being you, and you stop trying to better yourself. Try doing a handful of these things while you're still in your 20s to remember that you're still human, and it's okay to have fun!

1. Get a pet.

Pets can bring a lot of joy to people's lives. They can provide emotional support, and they will always be happy to see you. They can also provide you with a sense of responsibility, because the pet is 100 percent dependent on you to take care of it. If you are struggling with lack of responsibility, or if you are trying to prove to yourself—or even to others (like your parents)—that you can be a responsible adult, getting a pet to take care of may be an awesome first step! At 22 years old, I got a cat and she is the first pet I have that I can call my own. She has been emotional support for me, and she makes sure I take care of myself well enough that I always come home at the end of the day to take care of her.

2. Move away from home.

Living at home can be great. You don't have to pay all the bills someone living on their own would pay, and most nights you will get dinner made for you. You always have someone to bail you out, and you also always have someone to chat with if you're feeling a little lonely. However, you lose a lot of freedom that comes with living on your own. Yes, you have to learn how to budget, and sometimes you have to be alone, and don't even get me started on the adventure of learning to cook, but you learn responsibility. You learn how to be on your own, and you have no choice but to take care of yourself. You become responsible for yourself and your own well being, and honestly, as scary as that sounds, it is such a freeing feeling.

3. Take a solo vacation.

Vacations are so necessary for mental stability. Sometimes you just need to get away, and more times than not, you more than deserve to take a break. Vacations can be stressful, however, when you have to be responsible and you're held accountable for others. In order to truly take a break, try taking a solo vacation. By taking a solo vacation, you can really be free of anything that could be possibly holding you back from really taking a break. You ONLY have yourself to worry about, and you can make your own agenda and accomplish whatever you want during YOUR vacation.

4. Learn a new skill.

One way to keep yourself sharp and always improving your future self is to never stop learning. Take the time to learn a new skill while you're in your 20s. It can be anything, ranging from learning how to draw or how to drive a manual car. Just take the time in your 20s to master at least one new skill. Not only will you feel good once you master it, but it will also give you a challenge to keep your mind on its toes.

5. Take classes as a hobby.

You may be thinking, "No way, I'm 25 years old, I am done with college." And I know, classes, be it high school or college, were always the worst. Having to go spend hours in a class every single week, and then getting tested on how well you remember it was borderline torture. But if you sign up for classes solely because you WANT to learn the topic, I promise you will enjoy it a million times more. Check out your local community college for different classes listed, and find something you want to learn more about it. It could be an introduction to sketching class, or a beginners welding class, or even an engineering 101 class. Most colleges have something that will interest anyone in some way or another.

6. Do something that scares you.

Honestly, I think this is my biggest piece of advice for people in their 20s. Take the time to do the things that scare you. If you're afraid of heights, go skydiving or bungee jumping. If you're afraid of dogs, volunteer at an animal shelter and work yourself up to working with the dogs. No matter what scares you, try to face your fears. Take chances and put yourself out there. It will change the way you approach things later on in your life, and it will teach you that with enough willpower and determination, nothing is really that scary. Conquering even just your small fears will help the future real world not so scary anymore.

Your 20s don't have to be overwhelming. I know it seems like the time where you need to figure out your entire life, but that simply isn't the case. Your 20s is the time in your life where you should be able to find out who you are, and developing into the best version of you that you can be. Take the time to explore yourself and your interests and the things that make you happy. Devote your 20s to you and developing yourself, and you will be set for the future without even thinking about it.