20 Things You Should Know Before You Turn 20 In The 2020s | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

20 Things You Should Know Before You Turn 20 In The 2020s

Life doesn't happen the way you plan.

25
20 Things You Should Know Before You Turn 20 In The 2020s

It's time to get on it. We are only getting older by the minute. Adulthood is going to knock us off our feet if we don't catch up.

Life doesn't happen the way you plan.

And that's the fun part.

Have a personal graveyard.

A personal graveyard is a place where all those who do you wrong go. They do not exist. They are not on your radar. You no longer affiliate with them. Do not be someone's doormat.

How to defend yourself.

And if you don't know, you should brush up on it.

Toxic friends and family are NOT friends or family.

Toxicity will absolutely ruin you. Cut that shit out of your life before it manifests.

Negativity only creates negativity.

This is not algebra. A negative plus a negative does NOT equal a positive.

Know what actually makes you happy.

This may take some time. Nevertheless, it is still important.

Buy the expensive purse.

YOLO.

What others think of you is none of your business.

Stop caring about what people think of you. It is none of your business if they love or hate you. The only person's opinion that matters in regard to your own life is your own.

Know how to cook at least three meals WELL.

Contrary to popular belief, ramen noodles do not count as a meal.

You don't need to know what you want out of your life.

I know most people do not like to talk about it, but it is OK to go with the flow. It is not necessary to have every single detail of your life planned.

Putting yourself first is important.

It is super cheesy, but you are the only version of yourself. You only get one life. Do not waste it making it about irrelevant people or things.

"No" is not a bad word. 

As Meghan Trainor sings: "My name is no. My sign is no. My number is no. You need to let it go."

Everyone knows something you don't. 

You will never know everything. It is a fact.

Your popularity will not matter. 

This isn't high school anymore.

Success obtained by sacrificing happiness is not success. 

You may be making the President's List, but neglecting your daily needs is a huge sacrifice. Not sleeping, eating, and taking care of yourself is detrimental.

Always carry cash. 

You never know when Kroger's credit card machine is going to crash.

Always have an escape plan. 

Sadly, this is important. You need to always know where you are and how to get out of a sticky situation.

Never let your gas tank get lower than 1/4 of a tank. 

Especially during the winter.

If you don't like where you are: move. 

"I stopped thinking; I just go out, and everything is in the moment. I just stop thinking and start moving—you just gotta be you." - Lil Uzi Vert

If you are not part of the solution: you are the problem. 

And that's the tea, sis.

This article may not mean a lot coming from someone who is 18, but it's the thought that counts.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

379
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The Post Thanksgiving Panic And Anxiety

It happens to all of us, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas the catch up with you.

1694
studying

Thanksgiving Break is most likely everyone’s favorite break during the fall semester. You get to go home and reminisce with all your high school friends. That diet you’ve been on for the past month goes out the window, and you get to eat until you put yourself into a food coma. There’s no rush on homework and you can just lie in bed and Netflix to your heart’s content. To me that sounds like an ideally wonderful break, and totally stress-free.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments