Navigating Happiness in Your 20s

When thinking about some of the most transformational years of your life, some may argue it’s when you hit puberty or when you were in high school and the world was either seemingly revolving around yourself or felt like it was ending. Or, maybe it was going off to college and being on your own for the first time.

But what about after all of that? After the years of “growing up,” the classes, the parties and the “do & don’ts” you are taught your whole life. After you no longer live under someone else’s roof or with ten of your college best friends. After you’ve started your first real job. We think it’s when life has finally stopped spinning long enough for you to sit down, look at your life, and think about who you are and who you want to be.

Meg Jay, PhD, Author of The Defining Decade, takes a scientific stance on why this period in our lives is so transformational. “Our 20s are the defining decade of adulthood. 80% of life’s most defining moments take place by about age 35. . . Personality can change more during our 20s than at any other decade in life. . . The brain caps off its last major growth spurt. When it comes to adult development, 30 is not the new 20. Even if you do nothing, not making choices is a choice all the same. Don’t be defined by what you didn’t know or didn’t do,” says Jay.

Can your 20s be overwhelming? Yes. Does it always have to be? No! Our 20s are the scariest, most amazing, and influential decade that we experience. So why not make the most of it? It can be easy to get caught up in all the hard work, long hours, and confusion between wanting to be young, wild, and free, or mature and work on yourself. The most important thing to remember is you are not alone. In fact, there is an abundance of resources available at your fingertips to help get you on your feet, take action and make your 20s the best years of your life.

Self-Help & Professional-Help

Life Coaches are an amazing investment in yourself to help you explore your core values, career aspirations, wellness goals, and personal development. They act as a teacher, therapist, trainer, spiritual guru, and more, all wrapped up into one.
Follow positive, influential content on social media to fill your mind with daily, healthy information to motivate you to chase your goals.
Books, books, and more books! There is an endless supply of knowledge available to us at every corner. Even if you don’t consider yourself a reader, or maybe you’ve fallen off the bandwagon, this is your sign to start again. Reading or listening to audio-books is a great way to learn new information about transformational habits, attitude/mindset shifts, career goals, and how to build faith in yourself and the Universe.

Daily Habits

Today it seems like meditation is everywhere— but this is not a trend that will come and go. Meditation is proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and memory loss while increasing self-awareness, focus, and health. It is available to everyone and only requires a small amount of time out of your day. It will calm your spiraling mind and allow you to connect to something greater than yourself. Don’t overthink, just relax and let meditation do the trick.
Journaling is another great tool to implement into your daily routine. You can use this as a space to free-write about your day, thoughts, feelings, or dreams/ambitions. Or you can journal about what you’re grateful for, what you hope to accomplish in the day ahead or to reflect at the end of the day. Whether it’s for 5 or 50 minutes, journaling is a sure-fire way to improve your mental health and happiness.

Wellness

Yoga is a great form of exercise that not only helps you physically but mentally by combining physical postures with breathing techniques and relaxation. Exercise releases endorphins, which makes you happier and reduces stress, while the mental and spiritual elements of yoga cultivate mindfulness. This can be a great way to connect your newfound learnings into a physical practice to bring your self-development journey full-circle.
Find your passion — the one thing that lights your world on fire and brings happiness to your heart — and chase it! Nothing brings more drive, determination, and purpose to one’s life than finding what they are meant to give to the world. If you’re unsure of what this may be for you, start by thinking of what you enjoyed doing as a kid, what brings you joy and excitement, or what you wish you had time to do/try but never found time to commit to. Start small and dream big. Finding your soul’s purpose will help you increase your love for yourself and the life that you’re working to create.