Top 10 Skills to Develop in Your 20s

The Sweet Roaring 20s!

Ah, your twenties. So much change is in the air, along with so much possibility. This decade of your life is truly the foundation for the rest of your life. “Woah, woah, woah, Griffin. Calm down, this isn’t going to determine my whole life, is it??” You are right, this might seem like a strong statement, but studies show that what you do in your 20s will set you up for the rest of your life. And no, I am not saying the first job you take is going to determine your whole life, or where you decide to live right out of college either. In this newsletter we are going to discuss the skills everyone should learn, no matter your situation. So, let us dive into this list!

1. Be in the Moment

Being a ripe 23 years old, I have found myself constantly yearning for the next big thing, the next chapter, the next phase. It is only human to want to grow up way too fast. That is why this is the first (and possibly most important) skill on this list. I am obviously still guilty of looking too far ahead and not being grateful for what is right in front of me. So, take this as a reminder. Slow down, look around, and breath. Have some fun with what you have going on now, today, this minute. Thinking about the future is awesome, but the danger in that is you are going to miss what will very soon become “the good old days.” You only get one chance to be in your twenties, don’t waste them wishing you were in your thirties.

 

2. Keep Low Overhead & Budget

I hear this all the time from people my age, “spend money now, save later.” Please do not take that advice. Start budgeting now instead of later so you know how much you can afford. I am in no way advising you to save all your money and never have any fun, I am saying you should know exactly where your money is going. It is very easy to not have a true understanding of how much you are spending. When I say, “low overhead,” I mean eliminate unnecessary expenses. Do you really need every single streaming subscription? Do you really need five pairs of running shoes? Do you really need to get Starbucks when you can make coffee at home? This is true budgeting. I challenge you to add up all your bar tabs from one month. Add up those Starbucks runs. That hurts, doesn’t it? Just imagine what else you could have spent all that money on. My genuine advice is to sit down, make an Excel sheet of all your finances, and then start spending money more responsibly to be able to have your dreams and aspirations later in life.

      3. Learn from Others

You will never meet as many people on a day-to-day basis than you will in your twenties. I felt like I met someone new in college every day! Now that I am at my first job, I am meeting new people at my company, new clients, and mutual friends each day. Do not waste these valuable relationships and connections. Be open minded and collaborative and learn from everyone. This could be through professional development at work, casual conversation with a friend, or through someone you admire and hope to be more like. Everyone has been in your shoes at some point, no matter how old you are right now reading this newsletter. This may seem like a hinderance to you, but trust me it is an advantage. Take it. This is a tough skill to learn because you do not always know who you should learn from. My advice is, take any and all information and apply it to your life however you see fit. Like the saying goes, “take it or leave it,” I would take it and then decide what to leave as it pertains to you.

      4. Hard Work Does Not Always Pay Off, But You Have a Better Chance

This might be a hard pill to swallow for some people. I wish I could tell you that life is just like the movies where a little bit of hard work lands you a dream job and an amazing house. Unfortunately, real life is a little more, well, real. I think most people would agree that a little bit of luck and good timing are always involved in success. That being said, the skill of being able to work hard is still VERY important. Learning how to work hard will put you in the best possible place. You will also feel a sense of satisfaction and pride if you know you did everything in your power to make something happen. Have the confidence in yourself to push yourself to always work the hardest you can at the things that matter most. Jobs, friendships, relationships, school, and everything in between.

       5. Learn to Cook

First of all, cooking Top Ramen, is not cooking. I am talking about something your parents would make you for a family dinner on Sunday. Learning to cook is so valuable, and it is so necessary. Cooking meals for yourself is a basic part of being a self-sufficient adult. Not to mention all of the obvious benefits – the food is always healthier because you know exactly what is in it, you will save money from not eating out every day, and not to mention, ladies love a guy who can cook. Developing this skill and habit early will also encourage your partner and future family to develop these same healthy habits as well. Now before you complain that “cooking is hard,” no it’s not. Ask your parents to pass on some family recipes or use the magical resource of YouTube. Once you can successfully boil water and use the oven, you are on your way to living a much healthier and happier lifestyle.

        6. First Impressions Matter

First impressions have always mattered, but like I said earlier, you will be meeting a ton of people in your twenties, so do not underestimate the power of a first impression. This goes for people at work, your partner’s family, mutual friends, and everyone in between. I challenge everyone to think back to how they usually meet people and see if there is room for improvement. I will help you out, there is always room for improvement. I am not saying to change who you are, but I am saying to focus on showing your best self when meeting new people. You never know, a first impression could set you up for so many future opportunities you did not even know existed. So, put on a smile, make eye contact, and engage with the new people you meet!

        7. Your Health is Determined in This Decade

The words you just read are truer than you realize and here is why – humans are creatures of habit and routine – some of us more than others, but at the end of the day we all have our own comfortable routines. Because this is true, it is crucial that you implement healthy habits while you are young, so that when you have become “stuck in your ways” in your forties, you are not still eating dinosaur chicken nuggets and not washing your bed sheets. This is disgusting, but can also be severely dangerous for your health if you are starting bad habits now. If you are not exercising, eating healthy, and taking care of your mind now, there is no reason you would start twenty years from now. I challenge everyone to look in the mirror and write down what their fitness, diet, and mental health goals are and go after them like your life depends on it! Because your life does depend on it. You will never be as available as you are now to work on yourself and your health. Take this decade to figure it out and be exactly who you want to be. Drink water, moisturize, and wash your sheets!

       8. Clean Space = Happy Face

This is all about the environment around you. Your bathroom, workspace, bedroom, car, and every area in between should be clean. Research shows that clutter, messes, and overall poor organization will negatively affect all aspects of your life. They say that a cluttered desk reflects a cluttered mind. Like I stated above, we all get settled in our routines early, and if your routine does not involve cleaning or organizing, there is no reason to think you will ever start. Think about when you do a deep-clean of your room, how good that feels. I know I am not the only person who is truly happy when everything is organized and clean. Once you incorporate this into your life you will notice other things start to get better as well (i.e. mental health, skin and acne, motivation to be productive). I promise, give it a try and you will see what I mean.

       9. Work on Your Credit Score

Some of you probably do not even know what your credit score is, and that is just embarrassing. Therefore, I am here to give you the crash course you need! Your credit score is basically a number that shows how well you handle taking on credit. Whenever you use a credit card, that is money lent to you from a bank, also called credit. Eventually, you will have to pay back the bank for the credit they lent you with your real money. The beauty of a credit card is that it simply buys you time. Here is a scenario, you need to buy a new TV for your living room tomorrow because there is a sale at Best Buy. Uh oh, you don’t get paid until next week. Good thing you have a credit card that you can temporarily charge this large purchase to! Then, to keep a good credit score, you will pay the bank back for that TV right when you get paid next week. Voila. In your twenties, the best way to work on your credit is to pay close attention to your credit card usage and pay charges off as soon as possible. “Why is this important in my twenties?” you may be asking. Well, when you decide to make big purchases in your thirties like a house or a car, you will need to have the best possible credit score to be able to show the banks you are trustworthy, and good at paying back money. I would recommend using an app like Credit Karma or any other free service to see where your credit score is, and then go from there. If you do not have a credit card, I would highly suggest getting one now and start using it responsibly to build credit that way. Credit cards are dangerous, however, and can intis you into spending to much, so use it responsibly!

       10. Basic Home, Auto, and Money Maintenances

Learning how to be your own handy man will save you a lot of money. Your twenties are the time when you will now be responsible for your own home improvements, car issues, and money management. You should take the time to learn how to do these things on your own so that you do not need to always pay for a service. This life skill is also just that, a necessary part of being a self-sufficient adult. You can pay just about anyone to do anything these days when it comes to this kind of stuff, and that is because a lot of us are learning how to do these things ourselves. So, just like a couple of my last skills, take to the internet and start to learn things you need to take care of your house, car, and money. Being able to rely on yourself instead of others is a huge developmental part of your twenties, so why not start here.

I hope everyone enjoyed this week’s newsletter! Feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you think could benefit from a newsletter designed for the In-Between phases of life. Also, as a reminder, you can always go back on the website and see previous newsletters that you want to review or read if you are a new subscriber. I appreciate all the support so far from all my subscribers and I am glad you are here for the journey!