Everyone experiences a time in their life where they feel lost and unsure about what to do with it. This is often referred to as the “twenties”.It’s hard to know what you want out of life when you’re feeling lost in your 20s.
You’re just starting your career, trying to find yourself, and questioning the choices you’ve made so far in life that have led up to this point. Because there are too many alternatives available, it can be overwhelming and feel like there is no way out.
Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with my friends about how we’re feeling this way. We’re not sure if we want to go back to school, what careers are out there for us, or even what the point is of doing anything at all.
It’s almost as if society has set this expectation that once you graduate college, you’ll be successful. This is the time where this imaginary happily ever after begins. But then reality kicks in and it becomes clear that life doesn’t work like that for everyone.
So today I’m here to tell you guys some things just so you know – it’s totally okay to feel lost right now! Here are 16 tips you should follow if you’re feeling lost in your 20s.
Be Proud of your Accomplishments
Don’t let anyone make you feel small. You have come a long way and accomplished so many things- don’t forget that!
I know sometimes we can feel like our accomplishments aren’t really anything special. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth!
You should never forget exactly how much effort went into making each one of these moments happen because they matter too- not only how you made them possible, but how you can take your accomplishments as tools to better yourself for the future.
It only shows what kind of potential is in store for you. Each one brings you closer and more, ready for what’s coming.
Being Lost isn’t a Bad Thing
The feeling of being lost is a complex emotion. We are faced with the fear that we will never find our way out, and this paralyzes us into inaction.
It’s easy to think that because you don’t know where you’re headed that the only world available is a dark and dreary one. It can be difficult to see past your fears of failure or loneliness when everything seems bleak around you.
But if we just squint our eyes for a moment- take off those rose-colored glasses -you’ll find yourself faced with an endless variety of possibilities.
There’s also an element of freedom in not knowing where to go next, and that’s exciting.
Don’t let your College Major limit your Options
You may think that your college degree will only make you eligible for certain jobs, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
According to a 2013 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,only 27 percent of college graduates landed a job closely related to their major.
Nowadays, there is such a wide variety of industries and businesses hiring employees with any degree in mind.
All this means for someone looking into their future job prospects at graduation from university or high school is they should be prepared not just for one field — but multiple fields—to enter after finishing their education!
Reflect on your Relationships with People
Relationships are a two-way street. They’re not just about what you get out of them, they also need to be beneficial to the other person in order to work properly. This is because relationships require reciprocity and partnership that can only happen when both parties feel like their needs have been met.
Reflect on your relationships with people. It’s time to make some tough decisions about what is really important for you in the future and break off unhealthy or unsupportive connections that are holding you back from reaching your full potential.
Ask yourself which ones you should maintain for their benefits to you and those around them versus cutting off contact with people who may not be entirely beneficial to your well-being.
This is an important part of living a happy lifestyle – do consider how some individuals fit into this category more than others!
Don’t follow a Path That isn’t Yours. Stop debating, Start doing.
If you don’t like the life you’re living right now, change it.
“You never know what’s going to happen until you do it.”
Nike’s famous slogan is simple, yet so profound. Just as Nike encourages us to stop thinking about doing something and start actually doing it because we’ll never really know how successful or unsuccessful the outcome will be before trying. I want each of you reading this message now not even just think about taking action, but take actual steps in order for your dreams to come true!
You deserve to be happy. Create your own path in life and make it the best one for you.
Don’t let others tell you what to do with your life.
The real point is that life and success are about taking risks- don’t just go down one path with all this other time left you have. Stop debating what could’ve been had you taken different chances; start doing those things now while there’s still so much more opportunity than regret.
Spend Time Alone. Talk to yourself.
Spending time to yourself can seem scary. You may have no idea what you’ll do, and it’s almost inevitable that at some point in your day you will feel bored or restless.
However, spending time for yourself is necessary if you hope to grow as an individual, especially if you’re feeling lost in your 20s. Our thoughts are constantly being pulled this way and that by the demands of others: employers demand our focus on deadlines; family members want us around when they need someone else who understands them; friends expect updates and time to talk.
Even though it seems like there won’t be enough hours in life for all these competing priorities, taking care of oneself should always come first.
This type of self-reflection is a good way to get in touch with your inner self and can help you clarify what types of things are important to you. It will also help you gain clarity about life decisions that need making.
It gives you some time to think about what makes you happy.
Have a Mentor
The exhilarating experience of having a mentor when you’re feeling lost in your 20s may never be forgotten.
When you’re an ambitious young professional, it’s exciting to have someone offer guidance and support as you navigate the world of work for the first time. Mentors are often people who’ve been there before — they know what can help or hinder your career path based on their own experiences – which is why working with one during this pivotal stage will not only propel but also shape how successful things turn out later down the line!
It can also help you shape healthy habits that you will keep as you get older.
Take the New Opportunities
Try something completely different that could open your eyes to an entirely new way of life or perspective on how we approach our personal goals every day. It will help make all those long days worth it instead of being left with regret for not taking any chances at all!
I also encourage people to leave their hometown even if it’s just for a bit. It’s okay to refresh yourself and begin a new life.
Sometimes that’s all you need when you’re feeling lost in your 20s.
You are unique and so is your Journey
There are so many ways to be unique in this world! We all have our own passions, pursuits and journeys. Stop comparing yourself to the things you’ve done with other people – remember that your journey is always going to be just yours.
You’re a one-of-a kind person, with experiences of your own making.
The only person who can do what you’re doing is YOU. Don’t ever forget that or feel like you’re not doing enough compared to the person next to you.
Explore More
Travel is a great way to refuel and explore life. Seeing new things, meeting different people, learning about their cultures – all of these are part of the adventure.
If you’re not up for living on your own yet or just want some more time away from home before making those big leaps into adulthood, then go backpacking.
Sure, it’s tough sometimes, but nothing worth doing ever comes easy, so don’t be afraid to get out there and see what this world has in store for you.
It might open doors that would have otherwise never been crossed at any other point in your life, as well as give you memories you’ll cherish forever.
Don’t Give Yourself a Strict Timeline
I know everyone thought they would be living with their husbands and kids by the time they were 25, but that was back in high school. Nowadays, you have to think about what kind of life you want before settling down into one place forever because anything can happen at any time, so don’t limit your happiness based on age or milestones like babies and houses!
You’re never too young or old to achieve the goals that you have in mind. Always remember to go after what you want.
Take a step back
For those of us who are always on the go, it can be easy to forget that life is what you make it. When you’re in a hurry and feeling frazzled some days, take a second to step back and ask yourself if this new endeavor will really have an impact on your happiness—or just more stress?
How many times have we seen someone who rushes into something not thinking about how much better off he or she would be if they only took a moment? I don’t mean to sound like your parents when you were little asking “are you sure”, but are YOU absolutely certain about going forward with this idea? Take one second – literally one second – look at yourself on both sides of the decision-making process and ask: Do I want this?
It’s important not only to follow your gut but also to remember why you wanted something from the beginning. Learn to pause.
Take some time to stop making decisions out of fear. Always trust yourself first – don’t let anyone talk you into something just because they’re trying too hard; do what makes sense from within.
Stop caring about what others think
When it comes to life’s choices, everyone is entitled to make their own decisions. However, many people let the opinions of others influence what they do and how they behave in certain situations. It can be hard for some people not to care about what others think – but you have a choice whether this bothers you!
Many individuals feel that society pressures them into making specific lifestyle decisions based on social expectations rather than personal desires or needs. They also feel obligated by societal norms because “everyone else does.” But with all these thoughts circling your head at one time—conforming versus standing out from the crowd; being true to yourself versus going along with something just so someone won’t judge us unfairly is always the winner.
But in all honesty, who cares what people think? They’re not living your life. You don’t even like these people, so what’s stopping you from doing what you truly want to do?
Have you thought the reason why you may be feeling lost in your 20s is because you’re living the life everyone expects you to live and not the one you want?
Fake it till you make goes a long way
If you’re feeling lost in your 20s, think about the life you want.
One of the most difficult things is starting a new project. You have to go through all the motions and make it look like you’ve been doing this for years. It doesn’t matter if your first attempts are not successful, but that may be because people don’t understand how hard it can be at times.
I think sometimes we just need to fake it until we become confident enough in ourselves. Then, eventually one day our confidence turns into skill. Just by acting as though something was natural or easy when really there’s so much going on underneath might feel foolish. However, waiting around never works either-we should do what feels right.
Everything happens for a reason (if you’re upset about something not working out- don’t be)
In life, it’s important to realize that there’s always a silver lining. If you are upset about something not working out the way you want them to- don’t be! From my own experience and from what I’ve seen in others’ lives too, things happen for certain reasons. It may seem like an unfortunate event at first glance but trust me, everything happens for a reason— if we just take time (or sometimes many years) enough to see why bad things happened in our lives then eventually they will all make sense someday; good or bad.
There will always be something in store better for you. What is meant for you will fall in your laps.
Don’t Give Up
The best word of advice I can give to someone if you’re feeling lost in your 20s. You absolutely do not give up.
Quitting is for losers. Determination and persistence are the keys to success in this world. If you want something bad enough, then go after it with everything you can. One day when that dream comes true you will know without a doubt how hard work pays off.
Bottom Line
It can be hard to see the light at the end of a tunnel. It’s easy as adults who’ve been through life before us tell you that things will work out in their own time and just keep going. But when we’re feeling lost for so many reasons, like not knowing what career path is best suited for your personality or if there even are any careers with high pay but low stress levels, how can we not feel the pressure?
Well then suddenly being told “it’ll all work itself out” doesn’t feel comforting anymore . This is because deep down inside you’re feeling worse when someone says that. All you want to do is lay in bed and do nothing.
I believe that you have a beautiful life to look forward to, full of happiness and career moves that you would’ve never thought would happen.
You’re just being a little impatient (which is fair!) But trust and believe that something must be wrong if you’re not feeling lost in your 20s. Everyone goes through it. I believe you’ll push through and find exactly what you are looking for. Share your thoughts today!
