98 babies are turning 25 this year, for many of you this might come as a shock. Leading up to my birthday a lot of people were asking me how I felt about this age. My honest answer was that I was excited to turn 25. A lot of people are afraid, anxious or worried about turning this age for a lot of reasons. Which is why I wanted to talk about how to make the most your mid-20s. In fact, if you stick around I intend to make a whole series about navigating your mid-twenties. Okay so let’s get into how to make the most of your mid-20s.
Why people are afraid of the Mid-20s.
1. Fear of getting Old.
I have seen a trend on social media of people making jokes about life and speaking down on themselves. But the thing about growing older is that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Which is why it is not wise to spend your precious time and years fixed on the things we have no control over.
Rather than scorning and fearing the fact that you are getting older. It is important that we start being grateful that we get to see and celebrate another year. Every year that you are alive and get to celebrate your birthday is a blessing, whether you see that now or not. You are blessing, you are loved, you are a force to be reckoned with.
Plus, what is the point of fearing the inevitable? It is wiser to make the most of your youth so that you can reflect on it in the later days. A lot of people will tell you that life doesn’t stop at a certain age. So don’t fall into this trap of life and your possibilities ending because you feel that you are getting ‘older’.
2. Not reaching your goals in “time”.
When we talk about dreams, for most of us, our mid-twenties were meant to be a time that we had it all. The all being the job, the marriage, the house, the car and of course, children. The reality of life is that some will manage to achieve these things, while for others it happens, but not so easily or at a certain age.
Another reality check is that by the age of 25, a majority of people will find that they are still living at home. This goes to show you that life is not as linear, as the movies often make it out to be. It is completely fine for you to be still living at home in your mid-twenties, it doesn’t make you any less of a human being. This where I would (insert quote) about not adhering to the pressure and standards of society. This is because, things will happen at different times for different people, this is something that you need to grow to accept.
3. Social Media
Social media is another reason why people fear their mid-twenties. The pervasive influence of social media cannot be ignored because of how much of it we consume. People spend hours and hours on Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, and all these other addictive apps. What we consume on these apps, often ends up impacting the way we think of ourselves and other people. You are probably thinking, that’s crazy talk, I’m not that easily influenced. Well, you will be surprised. If you want to read more about the influence of social media check out this post.
Going back to social media and it’s impact. The reason why most people end up not looking forward to their mid twenties is because they compare themselves to the people they see on social media. The sad reality is that people only show you what they want you to see. You only get to see a small part of their lives. Most people will see these things, and start to compare themselves to others and feel inadequate about their lives. But the reality of life for most people in their mid-twenties is often very different.
3 ways to make the most of your mid-20s
1. WORK TOWARDS SOMETHING
This is my first and most significant point. If you want to make the most of your mid-twenties, make sure that you are working towards something. This can range from applying to university, changing jobs, getting your driving licence, or saving up. But the list doesn’t end there, it is also a perfectly viable thing to work on your character in pursuit of being the best version of yourself. Working towards a goal will look differently for each of us. What really matters is that you do the things you set your mind on. It is better to try and fail, than not try at all.
Just remember that it is not too late to start working on your dreams. Better yet, it is not too late to change your mind concerning the things that you want for yourself. Working towards something often brings fulfillment. Even if you haven’t reached the goal that you want; the process of actively working towards that specific thing is important. It will give you a sense of purpose to work on something that you love or that will benefit you and others. So, if you haven’t yet figured out what it is you want to do with your life, start by working towards something. It can be something as simple as (not so simple) as getting your driving licence or learning a new skill. Find yourself doing something to help you grow as an individual.
2. Stop comparing yourself to other people
Honestly, I know, this is truly one of those things that are better said than done. But, one way that you can make the most of your mid-twenties is by stopping the comparison games. By now, you should have greater insight that peoples experiences differ. Life is not a one size fits all. The reality is that some of the people you went to school with, probably have great jobs and some are buying houses.
The truth is that we don’t know peoples lives the way we think we do. Someone else’s successes shouldn’t mean that you are now automatically a failure. To look at your life in the lens of someone else can be harmful to your wellbeing. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. To make the most of your mid-twenties try to move away from comparing your life to others, especially those you see on social media. It is far much better to focus on your journey by doing things to help you progress.
It is important to celebrate other peoples wins rather than trying to find the negative. Trust me when I say, one day soon it will be you celebrating your personal achievements with your loved ones.
3. Invest in Hobbies
Life can get pretty repetitive when you get to your mid-20s. That is because most people by this time of their lives are in full time employment. I know that some of us may be in ‘not everyday is the same’ kind of jobs- yes, I mean healthcare jobs. While others are working in more office based jobs. Whichever industry you are in, I know that you will agree with me that at some point your job became your life. I get it, honestly, we all have bills, so you need to work. But, the issue is that the more your job consumes you, the less time you spend on the things that you love. Better yet, the more we work I have found, the less we take care of our health and wellbeing.
There are several ways that you can adopt a work-life balance. One of the ways that I have found very useful in my mid-20s in investing in hobbies. Let me tell you, in this time, I have learnt how to bake, play an instrument and even learn a new language (currently learning espanyol). None of these things are linked to my job or any type of money making thing. I am purely doing it for me. I remember the first time I came home from my first Spanish lesson, I felt good, I couldn’t believe that I had put my mind into doing something and had actually done it.
This may all seem like small examples, but until you try and actually start doing the things that make you happy. You will realise that there is more to your life than the job you are doing. Hobbies are very important for wellbeing and in truth, they help us to realise that there is more to our lives.
O’L Final Thoughts
Navigating your mid-20s can be a difficult. In a time where people showcase so much of their lives on social media.It is easy to look at that and compare yourselves to others and start to feel inadequate about our lives. But remember, everyone’s journey is different to yours. Rather than spending your mid-twenties looking at the things that you don’t have, start to work towards your goals, adopt more hobbies, and believe that you can be more and succeed in life. Just don’t fall privy to the pressure of doing things at a certain ‘time’- it is never too late to start.
