24 Things I Learned at 24

A list of life lessons I learned about myself to as I'm heading into my mid-20s. From self-care regimes to setting boundaries. In this list I talk about:

• The people and energy that you allow to surround yourself in. From friends, home, to work setting.

• Putting in energy and effort into hobbies and self-care regimens. Allowing yourself to feel and process your emotions openly.

• Regular day tasks, like chores and car maintenance.

1. Answer and reply at your own time.

Let go of the pressure of feeling rushed to reply, until feel like you you want to speak. When you do, you are more engaged and available to their emotions without shutting yours out.

Photo by Brian Tromp on Unsplash

2. If they don’t bring you happiness or play a significant role in your life, don’t give them your time.

Your time is precious too; they won’t see you fading and by the time they notice- the relationship is already gone.

3. Real friends support each other through thick and thin.

They’ll ask about your day. They’ll check up on you; even if it's not daily but they put in work to show you they care. Having a mutual relationship like this is good yet rare. Low maintenance friendship are the best. They're the kind that burn bright and fuel each other.

4. Learn the basics of adulting:

Insurance, how to run a dishwasher, checking and refilling your air tire pressure.

5. Expect the unexpected, and be okay with that.

Bad things happen, but so do good. There’s a balance in life and it’s okay for your emotions to fluctuate while you’re working on adapting to the changes. Try to keep a positive mindset if you have the energy, and if you need time to sit down and cry, that’s fine too.

6. Sing and dance more.

Fill the air in your lungs and do what makes you and your body happy.

Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer on Unsplash

7. Waking up early in the morning is refreshing.

Feeling and seeing the sun rays makes me feel productive and makes the day feel longer.

8. If you feel yourself relapsing back into your old habits, it doesn’t mean that you haven’t grown.

Continue to learn from those experiences. See what changes you can do in the situation and understand that it’s temporary and you’re okay.

9. Dinners with parents bring back the old times.

Eat with them, even if it’s in silence. Parents are continuing to get old as we are, so cherish them.

10. Spend your 20s authentically and have fun!

Be with your friends, go out and go partying. Make sure to also save the weekends for recharging as well.

11. Pick up a hobby and put everything in it.

Release that drawing or post from your drafts, it’s nice look back and see improvements. Pick up old hobbies, and experiment with different parts. It’s easier to try new things when you’re already familiar with the structure of how you did things.

12. Online Friends

Online friends are great friends but exchanges in platonic languages is harder to recognize and organize than real life friends. I've noticed this especially if there are time zone differences/hobbies/lifestyles.

13. Work Environment

A healthy workplace allows there to be a healthy mindset. It’s where you practically spend the other majority of your life so it will affect how you feel.

Photo by Damir Kopezhanov on Unsplash

14. Refresh Yourself

Run into the ocean, even swim in it. It’s refreshing and calm. It resets the soul.

15. Have movie nights and cuddle your significant other.

Holding each other and resting our palms in one another makes me happy and safe.

16. Giving love even to inanimate objects.

For example, the plushies/my "children": Stitch, Sharky, Sharko, Sharkth, Sharken, and Bobo. They makes me happy and feel less lonely.

17. Self-Care

Painting nails and trimming my hair is another form of self care. Especially gua-sha, though I don't do it too often.

18. Making Friends

Meeting strangers and connecting in that shared moment with similar interests feels somewhat surreal. The best part is staying keeping in contact with new friends and updating each other about our life events.

19. Cry.

In the car, in the bathroom, in the shower. Never cry in bed.

20. Books

Reading books allows me to escape from reality and jump into a new world where I can shape and interact with on my own. My emotions are unfiltered and shared with the characters in them. A safe space.

Photo by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov on Unsplash

21. Expanding your love language.

Before I wasn’t really into acts of service I realized when I began doing little things like taking the trash out or bringing water for my partner, it makes me happy because I’m taking care of him like he takes care of me. :)

22. Give more time to prep for things than realize you’re arriving late.

23. Social media breaks are healthy.

You can always plug in and out of it, but the actual life you’ll always be in until the end.

24. Refine and sharpen your skills, there’s always room for improvements.