What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A 30-Year-Old’s Advice for the Younger Generation
Turning 30 today and feeling grateful for the journey so far. Here are some insights and lessons I learned in my 20s that might help you too. 🧵
1. You don't have to have it all figured out by 30.
Life is not a race, and everyone has their own pace and path. Focus on your own growth and happiness, not on comparing yourself to others.
In early years I did felt like a loser watching cool status updates of others, but slowly realised everyone has their own struggles, hardships milestones and successes. So just be happy to see that others are succeeding in life and know that good times will come in your life after periods of bad ones and struggles for sure. So let outwards things be and live life at your own pace.
2. Quality over quantity.
This applies to everything from your relationships, to your possessions, to your experiences. Invest in the things that truly matter to you, and let go of the rest.
While striving for success, it’s important to limit what all things you need and want in your own yardstick of success. Keep your goals lesser and more precise. Be laser focused on one goal at a time and work consistently towards achieving it. Long terms goals can be sub-divided into set of short term steps first and achieve one step at a time. Also the deeper you dive into a specific field and niche, the more society will trust and reward you for sharing and using knowledge from that field.
3. Learn to say no.
You can’t please everyone, and you don’t owe anyone anything. Saying no to the things that don’t align with your values, goals, or interests will free up your time and energy for the things that do. Early 20s is the time when you have lesser responsibilities in general. You can devote more time towards achieving your dreams but be cautious of how, what and on whom you spend your time on. Late 20s is the time when you will start having more responsibilities and little lesser time, so use your time wisely and limit distractions by saying no earlier rather than regretting on wasted time and efforts later.
4. Take care of your health.
Your body and mind are your most valuable assets, and they need your attention and respect. Eat well, exercise regularly, sleep enough, and manage your stress. Prevention is better than cure. Short daily workouts, meditation or yoga practice done consistently can go a long way in better physical and mental health.
5. Be curious and keep learning. The world is full of wonders and opportunities, and you never know what you might discover or achieve. Read books, take courses, travel, try new things, and challenge yourself.
Knowledge is the investment with best long-term returns. Know what to learn first, choose your knowledge inputs wisely and strive towards incremental daily learnings.
6. Be kind and generous.
You never know what someone else is going through, and a small act of kindness can make a big difference. Help others when you can, and don’t expect anything in return. The universe will reward you in unexpected ways.
7. Be authentic and vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to show your true self, your emotions, and your flaws. You are not perfect, and neither is anyone else. Being authentic and vulnerable will help you connect with others on a deeper level, and attract the right people into your life.
8. Be grateful, optimistic and calm.
You have so much to be thankful for, and so much to look forward to. Appreciate what you have, and don’t take anything for granted. Expect the best, and work hard to make it happen. Little extra bit of optimism helps a lot in facing and overcoming tough situations. Calmness is most underrated quality anyone can ever have especially in rough situations.
9. Have fun and enjoy the moment. Life is too short to be serious all the time, and to worry about the past or the future. Laugh, play, celebrate, and make memories. Live in the present, and make the most of every day. Past memories and hurts can bring you down from time to time, what matters is staying in the moment and enjoying the precious little happy moments in between from time to time. Our thoughts and perspective matters the most in the quality of life we live on day to day basis. Good memories and postive thoughts go a long way in improving the quality of life.
10. Trust yourself and follow your intuition.
You know yourself better than anyone else, and you have the power to create your own destiny. Listen to your inner voice, and follow your heart. You are capable of more than you think.
These are some of the insights and lessons I learned in my 20s, and I hope they resonate with you too. Turning 30 is beginning of a new chapter. I’m excited to see what the next decade will bring. Thank you for reading, and feel free to share your own insights and lessons in the comments. 🙏
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