20 Things I Wish I Knew Before My 20s

1. Know when to put water under a bridge and when to let your bridges burn

Some things are bigger than holding grudges & some things are better to live without. Oftentimes stewing in your feelings can be the biggest things holding you back.

2. Live in a share house

Your sharehouse will stress you out and piss you off but it'll be some of the best times of your life. It will bond you to some of your best friends and help you learn the way you want to (or not want to) live.

3. Know where your local laundromat is

At some point it will rain too much to dry your clothes, or you will be too busy/down/stressed to keep on top of your washing or maybe just need a nice place to sit while you wait and watch people or help an old lady. Laundromats are always a nice reminder of the good in people. Finding some community doing something that can be so mundane is also what being in your 20s is all about.

4. Tell your friends you love them

Do it often and mean it. Creating a culture of showing appreciation for your friends will give you an unbreakable support system.

5. Have things in your house that bring you joy

The houses in your youth won't be out of a reno show. Your furniture probably won't be much, but those plants, that art, those photos, your favourite throw blanket, all make it feel like yours.

6. Save for good linen

It really does make a difference! Clean comfy bed sheets are always at the start of a good week.

7. Learn the difference between self reflection and wallowing

Sit with your feelings, know your feelings, let yourself feel them. But know when to stop; a pity party is the worst kind of party. Learning from our mistakes is really important in our 20s, there’ ll be plenty of them. But sometimes we have to let ourselves remember exactly that. We ARE in our 20s and these things happen. We can’t let them define huge periods of time. We have to grow and get a movin.

8. The only opinion on your life that matters is yours

Ask for advice, listen to it, some of it is good. Take note if people who love you are concerned about you. But don't aim for goals that aren't what you want. Don't let people shame you out of being yourself or doing what makes you happy. It's not your family or friends life, it's yours.

9. Get a hobby

Try out a few. You don't have to be good at it at first, but have a hobby. Try a new team sport or ask your mum how to make your favourite dinner. Gardening, knitting, and cooking aren't just for oldies.

10. Make your bed every day

This one can be a hard one. But you'll thank yourself for it. The last thing you need on a hard day is for your bed to be a disaster.

11. Wear sunscreen

Like making your bed, adding sunscreen to your routine is something you’ll thank yourself for later. You also won’t have to worry about funky tan lines because you wore your sunnies halfway up your forehead.

12. Learn to set boundaries 

Know when to say no, to speak your feelings, to put your needs first. Setting these boundaries early will mean you don’t come out of your 20s feeling like you got a li’l too crazy.

13. Be affectionate with your mates

Do it in a way that's good for you (and them - consent!). Cuddle them on a couch on movie night. Put your hand on theirs, or rub their shoulder. These connections are important and shouldn't just be romantic. A wordless way of showing you're there. You never know what someone is going through behind the scenes and these small actions can mean the world.

14. Call the person orpeople who raised you just to say hello

There is no need to elaborate further here, because in the long run you know it'll mean as much to you as it does to them.

15. Learn to cook at least one banging meal

You will cook for the people in your life. This will help you throw dinner parties. Some of my best memories from 18-22 are with a group of friends and a good meal.

16. You don’t have to go out every night to have fun

Going out is and can be heaps of fun, but we all need an early night every so often. Having a good night's sleep is essential to sustain going to the ravers! And it is alright to finish off that tv show you’ve been dying to watch.

17. Family doesn't have to be blood

Don't feel like you have to stay connected to your blood family if they are bad for you. But even if you are close to them, having your own people, your own family was the biggest gift of my youth.

18. Your life doesn't have to be like a coming of age film

You will have moments of singing in the car on a road trip, playing beer pong with your mate, going on a picnic, that will very much feel like you're in a movie.

But life won't always feel that way. Find the beauty in the ugly and the mundane. Learn to appreciate everyday things.

After chasing that "movie" feeling, I ended up finding true happiness in washing the dishes while talking to my house mate, watching movies on the couch, dancing in the bathroom before my shower. Finding gratitude in the everyday, not just the travel and the parties and the adventures changed everything.

19. Know when to ask for help

Whether it's a helping hand to move house in the back of your mates ute, a home cooked meal from your friend a few years older, a little advice. You will be amazed how often your mates will show up.

But also for the more serious stuff, know when you need to go to the doctor or start seeing a therapist. If you can't do it on your own, ask someone who cares about you. There's always someone who can make the call to set that appointment if it's too much.

Even just telling someone you're not in a good place right now and you need them is better than nothing. Ask for help!

20. Learn from those around you

Take your time and watch others. Learn from their mistakes. While learning from your own mistakes is necessary, learning from your friends, older siblings or teachers helps you make leaps and bounds towards your own growth. Watching and listening to others is something you will continue to do down the road.

So get out there you 20 somethings and take those opportunities as they come. Don’t hold yourself back and make the most of your first years being well and truly independent. Have fun and be safe. Good luck!

Written by Sage Rodgers