Gone are the days of the occasional babysitting job and metabolisms that will not quit. We are petering on the edge of the dark unknown that is called adulthood. We can no longer sustain life on corndogs and soda, and our parents do not hand us a couple of dollars each time we leave the house. While it may seem like a depressing, corndog-less life, it also means the start of a decade of unprecedented personal, professional, spiritual and financial (hopefully) growth.

I asked for advice from the women in my life that have made me who I am today. They range in age from twelve to much more than twelve. They are filled with wisdom, passion, and humor, and their advice is nothing short of that.

1. Wear sunscreen.

This is a habit I was lucky enough to have an aunt ingrain into me from a young age. I never leave the house without applying it to my face, neck and hands. Ask anyone who is aging well, from Christie Brinkley to your grandma, and they will tell you the secret to younger looking skin is protecting it from the sun.

2. Invest in good self-tanner.

This goes along with number one. There are some amazing self-tanners out there. Choose one that will not make you look orange or give you an un-natural smell of any sort.

3. Learn to love green juice.

Whether it is juice, a smoothie or a wheatgrass shot, life is a lot easier when you like them. I swear, whenever I drink anything with kale/spinach/celery/parsley in it my skin immediately clears up, I can suddenly remember every detail of everything I have ever learned, and I feel 15 pounds thinner.

4. Start saving.

You can make the next decades of your life infinitely easier by developing a healthy saving habit.

5. Buy a pair of really comfortable shoes.

Your feet will thank you later.

6. Make your own sunshine.

Make yourself laugh; life is a lot more fun that way.

7. Be 10 minutes early to everything.

People notice and appreciate it.

8. Learn to be alone.

You do not need to go to the mall with 10 other girls. Being alone can be peaceful and liberating. It is in these times that you will learn who you are and how to listen to yourself.

9. Join a gym and exercise daily.

Emphasis on our downward sloping metabolic rates.

10. Learn to say you are sorry.

You will save yourself a lot of stress by admitting guilt and moving on .

11. Keep up with current events.

We are too old now to float through life unaffected by events outside of our bubbles. It is on us now to realize what matters and fight for those things.

12. Read.

Being smart and well read is really cool.

13. Dress for success.

We are almost out of the days where sweat pants are acceptable to wear on every occasion during the week. That being said, take advantage of sweats to class being acceptable. When shopping in your twenties, buy staple pieces that you will have well into your fifties.

14. Decide who your lifelong friends will be and make an effort to stay up-to-date on their lives.

A handful of really great friends that know you inside and out are all you really need. These are the friends who will grow with you and meet you in Florida for a girls' weekend when you are 45.

15. Find acceptance for yourself and for others.

Life is easier when we are not so hard on ourselves and others. We all have faults; learn to love them.

16. Find a workout you are passionate about.

You can turn that passion into a killer middle age body.

17. Get your mental health in check.

A good friend of mine always says you have nothing if you do not have your mental health. Do not be afraid to see a therapist if you need to.

18. Learn to travel cheaply.

You have a great aunt that lives in Portland? Sounds like a free bed to me.

19. Learn to be your own advocate.

Know what you bring to the table, and ask for that raise if you deserve it.

20. Drink water.

Everything, from a breakout to a headache can be fixed by over hydrating, if there even is such a thing.

21. Get your sleep.

It really is magic what a good eight hours can do for you.

22. Invest in good make-up.

Your skin is changing, and so should your make-up. Visit a make-up counter so you can understand your skin and what you are putting on it.

23. See the world.

You have no children, no mortgage and really no responsibilities. There is no better time to drop everything and go.

24. Take your vitamins.

Biotin can work wonders on your hair and nails. Probiotics are life, and I have only been sick once all of college due to my daily dosage of Vitamin C.

25. Plan for the long term.

26. But do not forget to sometimes live in the short term.

27. Avoid Gossip.

Nothing good comes of it.

28. Remember, you are never too good for public transportation.

Learn your city's transportation system. You will be surprised how much you will save, both in time and in money.

29. Take classes outside of college.

Cooking classes, dance lessons, learn to sew. The world is our oyster ladies!

30. Get rid of baggage.

Having too much stuff weighs you down, so shop wisely. This goes for people too.

31. Wear sweatpants out if you want.

And stop judging girls that do.

32. Do not live outside of your means.

Recognize your budget, and live within it. Shop at Walmart; there is a time for Whole Foods, but that is not now.

33. Treat yourself every now and then.

Whether it's a facial, a manicure, a new pair of shoes or an extra helping of dessert, sometimes we deserve it.

34. Dance like no one is watching.

35. Learn to ask yourself, “Does it really matter?"

Nine times out of ten it really does not.

36. Date the dork.

They turn out to be really good husbands and fathers.

37. Start using a daily planner.

It will do wonders on the stress level.

38. Swear every now and then.

It is liberating.

39. Go to the doctor.

We tend to think we are invincible when we are young, but we are far from that.

40. Call your parents, and tell them you love them.

It means more than we know.

41. Be gentle to our environment.

This goes back to being informed; we do not live in a childhood bubble anymore.

42. Don't commit too early in a relationship.

(Trust me, I have not had that issue.)

43. Learn the qualities that make a good friend and surround yourself with these people.

Loyalty, humor, kindness, compassion and love were among the top characteristics listed.

44. Learn to say yes, but know when to say no.

This is especially important in the professional world; take new opportunities, but realize when something is not right.

45. Learn the qualities that make for a bad friend.

46. Stay in school.

Put off the real world as long as humanly possible. That being said, work hard in school to make those long nights and 8 ams worth it.

47. Love yourself.

Because confidence is more effective than any beauty product.

48. Be kind.

49. Be kind.

50. Be kind.

Every woman I asked emphasized the need for kindness. Growing up is hard. Our twenties will be hard, but they can be a lot easier if we are not such b#$*@s to each other.