Hello friends. As I’m sure you’ve gathered from the title of this post, today is my birthday and I’m sharing everything I’ve learned with you in these last 26 years. These are things that I’ve struggled with (some of which I still am), situations I’ve overcome, hard lessons that I’ve learned, & what I’m grateful for – basically what the last 26 years has brought.
1. You’re allowed to change your mind. If you’re in a job/relationship/living situation that you don’t like anymore, it’s ok to change your mind. Your 20s is the time try new things, experiment and find what you love.
2. It’s ok to be a little lost. Not sure where you’re going in life? Or what the right path is? It’s alright, no one is. We’re all taking a chance, trying to do the things we love. Life has a way of setting you on the right path. Trust me, follow your passions and it’ll all come together.
3. Start now. Just do it. If you want to quit your job to pursue something completely different, get a killer bod, start a company, take up a new hobby, there’s no time like right now. You’ll be thanking me in a year when you see exactly what you’re capable of.
4. It’s ok to be bad at something. Good things take time. Whether you’re a photographer, writer, web designer, vlogger – if you love it, keep going even if you’re not as good as you’d like to be. This stuff doesn’t magically happen overnight – all the talented creatives out there took their sweet time perfecting their craft. You need to put in the time too.
5. Don’t forget your parents. We all become so busy in our own lives that sometimes we forget their getting older too. Take them out to coffee, visit them on the weekend & make an effort to spend time with them.
6. You’re allowed to say no. Don’t always feel so pressured to say yes. Sometimes you need time for yourself, and if that means turning down extra projects, girls nights, or more responsibility at work, then do it. No one knows whats better for you than you do.
7. Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices. Less Netflix, going out, maybe even less sleep. If you have goals that you’re working toward, 99% of your free time should be devoted to them. There are only so many hours in a day. What are you doing with yours?
8. When it comes to careers, don’t do it for the money. I promise you’ll be happier picking a career where you love what you do. Even if it doesn’t make you as much $. Find your passion, start, and money will come.
9. It’s ok to commit. As a huge-commitment phobe – I have always been scared to commit to things whether it be jobs, guys, where I want to live. Try it out. You never know what will stick. I took a chance on Tylor (I joke), and it worked out just fine.
10. Don’t rush into things. As you step into your mid to late 20s, you’ll begin to see a pattern of your friends getting engaged, married, buying houses etc. And while you are incredibly happy for them, this sometimes makes us reevaluate our own lives and question why we aren’t quite there yet. I’m here to tell ya, it’s fine to feel this way. We all go through it, just don’t let other people taking big steps influence your decisions to take them when you might not be ready.
11. Don’t be afraid to put in the work. Whether is perfecting a new hobby or working overtime at your job, putting in those extra hours will pay off. People notice your work ethic, and it leaves a lasting impression.
12. Know when it’s time to leave. I made a tough decision to leave a job I loved because of the work environment. I absolutely loved the work, but being in that environment was slowly killing my creativity, confidence, health – everything. I was stressed out all the time, I didn’t even enjoy weekends anymore, and I had basically stopped eating majority of my meals. Everyone close to me was telling me it was time to quit, but I was so desperate to keep a job where I finally loved the work. When I made the decision to quit, it was a serious weight lifted off my shoulders. I took some time to bounce back, but I am so much happier now.
13. Complacency is something you need to avoid. Complacency is one of my biggest fears. Settling for something that doesn’t drive me, or not going after what I really want because it’s hard / requires sacrifices is the scariest thing. Never stop chasing your dreams (#cheesiestline, I know, but it’s true).
14. Treat yo’self. If you want that luxury handbag or expensive dinner, go for it. You work your ass off, so you deserve to spoil yourself once in a while
15. Work on your finances. This one, you can’t start early enough. Financial wellness is so important these days, whether you have dreams of buying a house or traveling the world. Talk to a financial manager about your goals and together you can plan for them, and have one less thing to stress over.
Leave a Reply