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The terrific 20’s - a time of fun, friends, freedom, frivolous spending, fantastic (and frightful!) relationships and for many – starting a family.
At such a fast-paced and frantic time of your life, it can be easy to have a tunnel vision outlook on life. You’re so caught up on getting a promotion at work, finding Mr Right and having a wardrobe Carrie Bradshaw would die for, you forget the simple things in life. Channelling our inner Oprah and Dr Phil, we’ve come up with 20 things you should start doing in your 20’s that will enrich your mind, soothe your soul and benefit your body!
1: Explore and appreciate the beauty of New Zealand before travelling off-shore. There’s nothing worse than being overseas and meeting people who have seen more of New Zealand than you have. “I’ve never actually been to the South Island” – not a good look!
2: Treasure and nurture your friendships. No matter what life throws at you – things are so much easier to deal with when you have good friends.
3: Volunteer your time or services. Whether it be voluntering at a homeless shelter every year at Christmas, teaching english to new immigrants or coaching the local netball team – helping other people often helps you to see your own life in a different light and see that your own issues may not be as bad as you think! $2,000 credit card debt vs sleeping on the streets…
4: Take care of your skin. Stop baking yourself in the sun and start using sun screen, eye cream, moisturising and exfoliating. Although it may seem like a hassle now, you won’t regret it in the long run and it will save expensive facials and botox treatments in the future! 
5: Learn how to cook. You don’t have to be next Nigela Lawsone or become a domestic goddess but get at least a couple of signature dishes under your belt so you have more to offer a dinner party than just wine - although there is nothing wrong with that…
6: Do something you’ve always wanted to do such as learn a language, visit India on your own, run the New York marathon – get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
7: Learn about all the different sorts of wine – it may not be “enrich your mind” but it’s always good to know about what you’re putting into your body right? 
8: Appreciate your parents and family – they have been there for you from the day dot and will continue to be there even after temper tantrums, tears and trouble so make sure you tell them how much you love them.
9: Find your voice. Be more confident and assertive in your every day life e.g. at work, with friends and in your relationship.
10: Learn to enjoy your own company – you can’t always rely on friends, family and boyfriends to make you happy so learn to enjoy time spent on your own, walking, reading a book, thinking and relaxing.
11: Read and listen to the news and current affairs. Read newspapers, books (and nzgirl of course!) and watch documentaries.
12: Be open to spirituality. Spirituality comes in different forms so find what suits you – going to church, practising yoga or going to meditation classes will help relax your mind amongst all the chaos.
13: Get regular health checks. No matter how healthy you “think” you are, there are often no obvious symptoms to serious many illnesses so make sure you get regular smear, breat cancer and STD checks.
14: Get into the habit. Start saving a certain amount each pay day, go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, pay your bills on time – according to many, it takes 21 days to set a habit but once it’s done.  15: Learn about your family history. Before you start your own family, find out where you come from and who your ancestors are. Forget boring memories of doing family trees at primary school, now that you’re older and wiser (most of us!) – you will have a new appreciation for your roots.
16: Don’t forget to dance. Although you now have responsibilities that didn’t exist when you were a teenager, don’t let these poop your party. Make sure you still go out and laugh at yourself with girlfriends - dance like nobody’s watching and sing like nobody’s listening.
17: Evaluate your relationships. Sometimes you’re are so busy going through the motions that you find yourself surrounded by negative people who bring you down into their pit of self-wallow. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
18: Throw away excess baggage – most have us have had a couple of terrible experiences with boyfriends. Bad memories so etched into our brains that old issues start seeping into new relationships with perfectly normal men and we become crazy…very crazy . Ditch the stalking and identify your issues and learn ways to deal with them. Count to 10, take up boxing, burning rituals, vodoo dolls….
19: Anonymous sex… So you’re past your teenage years where the sex was about quantity, not quality and now in your 20’s when you’re not quite a “grown-up” so why the heck not?! Experiment, have fun and be safe!
20: Live, love and laugh!
Victoria Fruean |
