Here are the things I feel one should do in their 20s.
- Learn to form Habits: We form a lot of habits, both good and bad, during our 20’s. Emerging from our teenage, where we were still guided by our parents, the newfound independence of the 20s result in huge changes. Smoking, Drinking, Sleeping late, Exercise or the lack of it :- Most of these actions turn to entrenched habits during the time. Habits make a man, and hence it is important that you learn to make and break habits during your 20s.
- Read: This is a time to gather experiences from the world to find your place in it. These experiences can be first hand or second hand. To gather second hand experiences, there is no better tool than books. Read a lot. Read that author who went to the Himalayas. Read that person who keeps talking about cognitive biases, Read that author who creates that fantasy world where Dragons and Magic rule. It is important you read as much as you can in your 20s. You will emerge wiser and better from the other end of the decade.
- Find out what gives meaning to your life: To some of us, it is our work that gives meaning. To others, it is love. Viktor. E. Frankl, in his book Man’s Search For Meaning, tells you about finding meaning in suffering too. Find out what gives you meaning and pursue it. Find love in your relation with your family, girl friend or wife. You should learn to find the purpose for which you pass through each of your experiences. 20s is a time when you don’t know how to deal with many things that happen to you. It is important to have a philosophy to deal with the whole range of experiences that will come your way.
- Obtain Financial Literacy: When I started earning, the only investment vehicles I was aware of were Bank Savings and Fixed Deposits. “Save your money for lean times” This was the advise I received. However, for lean times, you need to invest your money rather than save it. Simply saving your money actually reduces your net worth, rather than increasing it. Learn about market instruments, unconventional instruments, real estate and every other investment avenues out there. This is the right age to enter the investment world and to experiment.
- Foster your friendships: Identify the people you believe will add value to your life. Nurture your relation with them. Try to add value to their life too and to rise in the world together
- Exercise and Eat Healthy: This can’t be stressed enough. Take good care of your body and mind and for this it is important that you eat healthy and exercise well. Exercise not to have that wolverinesque body, but to be fit and to wield your body the way you want.
- Learn as much as you can: Always think what you can learn from the people you meet. Ask them about their experiences, Ask them about the books they like, Ask them how they go about their daily routines. Hidden everywhere are things that you could incorporate into your life and to make it better.
By the time you near your 30s, you would start to be more fixed in your ways of life. You search for stability. Therefore, it is important that you find your rhythm in your 20s. And finally, Remember that it is that period in your life where you can be the most proactive and will be full of energy. Be a Bon Vivant.