In popular culture we often see depictions of childhood, deep analyses of the teen years, and critiques on adulthood. We often view life in three stages: childhood, teen years, and adulthood. Very often we forget that patch of young adulthood. That patch after college when everyone is figuring themselves out and curating their future lives. When we get into this weird patch of our 20s, we realize that there is no guide, no rule book, no fool-proof methods one can take to survive this gap on their way to full-fledged adulthood.
The 20s are the most variable patch of years. Some people are still living with their parents. Some have moved to entirely different countries. Some are still slogging through school, while some have started high-end corporate jobs. Some are drowning in their finances and some have hit the jackpot and come into wealth. Some pursue stability and some pursue their wildest passions. The 20s are lawless.
This is the first time in our lives where we do not have a schedule or someone directly telling us what to do. There is no structure. We are faced with an endless array of possibilities that can almost be paralyzing. Our rigorous years in school, where everything is done like a checklist, leaves us unprepared for the vastness of the 20s.
How Can One Prepare For This Directionless Patch After College?
There are five strategies you can implement as you near this patch of life. This will help you prepare and have somewhat of a starting point. This is perfect for college seniors or even highschoolers who have opted not to go straight into college!
Curate Your Resume — Create a document on your computer or google drive, wherever you prefer. Label it as your “Master Resume.” In this document you will write up every single position you have ever had along with the date range and a short description of your roles and skills. Include work roles, educational activities, extracurriculars, and any volunteering. Add in any role where you have demonstrated transferrable skills. If you have been freelancing or running a small business, include that too. These are all valuable skills!
Use a simple template. No colors and no fancy fonts. Companies prefer simple resumes that are easy to scan through. Make sure your template follows a unified structure. For instance, if you listing your role, then work place, then date, make sure the whole resume then follows this pattern! The point of a Master Resume is that you will have all of your experiences documented in one place. As you apply to different job roles, you can copy & paste roles from the Master Resume to create quick and tailored resumes on a separate document for specific jobs.
Just Keep Doing — Do not sit around inactive. I know that this phase can be confusing and paralyzing. Part of figuring yourself out and curating your future life is to keep trying. Try and try again. Try out your crazy business ideas. Say yes to opportunities that come your way. If something does not work. Don’t fret. That is one option eliminated. You are now closer to your destiny. Just keep moving and keep doing!
Set Achievable Goals — Set up a tiered goals system. Identify what your 5 year goals are. Where do you want to be in 5 years? What job do you want? How much money do you want to make? What do you want your lifestyle to be like? How do you want to be physically and mentally? Once you have identified the larger goals. Break them down into yearly goals. Break the yearly goals down into quarterly goals. Make sure your short-term goals are actionable and achievable. Keep a journal or digital diary to keep track of all your goals. Keep yourself on track. Give yourself rewards every-time you achieve a small goal. This will give you a workable plan. You will wake up each day with something to do and get done.
Self-Care — Implement a self-care system. It is very easy to get burnt out in your pursuit of a desired future. If you let your physical health and mental well-being slip, you will burn out and suffer later. Block out some times in your routine to unwind, relax, and take care of yourself. Set aside time for a compact workout, skincare, showering, a proper meal, and some time for a leisurely activity such as watching TV or reading a book. Get proper sleep as well!
Gauge All Opinions, But Follow Your Gut! — In your 20s, you will get boundless advice from everyone. Your parents will have their expectations. Your friends will have their views. Your colleagues will have their own opnions. Even society will try to dictate where you should be and what you should be doing. Opinions are not wrong. They are subjective. What may have worked for someone else may not work for you! Take the best aspect from every opinion or suggestion and curate it to fit your needs and desires. Do not ignore your gut or your inner inclinations. Your intuition knows best!
These are the five basic strategies to help you setup a starting point for your journey into the unknown territory of your 20s. It is all about setting a general direction for yourself and planning accordingly. You will change your goals and actions multiple times along the way as you change and adapt. Most of our personal development occurs in our 20s. Our brain also finalizes its maturation in our 20s. Change is thus inevitable.
Embrace the change. Adapt to the change. Learn how to best the change.
Everyone is confused and no one has answers. You must seek the answers.
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