Since I am a big 30 that has made me analyze my time from 18 to 29 in order to see where I have been in life and where I to go and what I hope to accomplish. Since I am now a teacher I might as well get used to giving some advice sometimes at least. There are a few thoughts that I want to share based off some of the mistakes and misconceptions that I have personally have and/or my friends have had.

Life Is Not Set in Stone at Age 30: I have encountered this thought process that suggests that life is set in stone once you reach 30. Some examples include “you better (travel/party/get married/have kids/explore outer space/etc) before you turn 30. You may also hear joke about how your body starts to fall apart at age 30. This is typically not the case and especially if you have been healthy you can still do the things that you did at 29 even when you are 30, 31, or even 40+. I know people in their 30s and older that are travelling to other countries, going back to school, getting married, and even changing careers. There have been famous people who did not catch their break till they were in their 30s. So don’t feel like if you are in your mid to late 20s that you are about to mess your whole life up if you don’t have your dream job or are in a relationship. This popular meme sums it all up. With that being said it is important that you don’t take that time for granted.

Your Social Media Image is Vital: It seems like most everyone is connected to social media and their mobile devices. We now have the ability to post our thoughts, opinions, and life events for the whole world. With that ability comes responsibility. Since the whole world can potentially see your thoughts and posts on social media so can your employers, future employers, potentially future love interests, and even local law enforcement. There have been several teachers and other workers that have lost their job over things they have posted over social media. There have been people prosecuted for a crime because of what they posted on social media. That means watch what you post, watch what you like, and watch what your friends tag you in. Your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. is how you project yourself out to the world. You have to ask yourself what image are you projecting to the world.

On the Topic of Social Media: Remember that a person’s social media is often a highlight reel. You may see the trips, the happy and perfect relationship, the perfect outfits, the perfect family. You do not see the trials and tribulations that the poster had to go through to get to the point when that photo was posted onto Facebook or Instagram. This is important so I will say it in bold DO NOT COMPARE YOUR LIFE OR RELATIONSHIP TO EXAMPLES POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. You are just seeing what they want you to see which is the everything is just perfect side. They are not posting “Got into an argument with the boyfriend or girlfriend” or “I feel insecure about my looks today”. More than likely the struggles you are going through are the same struggles the people posting about their perfect life are also going through.

Not Everyone is Going to Like You the Way You Like Them

One of the hardest things I have had to learn is that you cannot make someone feel a certain way about you. This is especially true romantically. The romantic comedies of the world often show a guy or a girl pull out all of the stops to try their love interest. In the romantic comedy world, it works and it makes for a heartwarming happy ending. The real world is much different. In the real world, you can be the most charming, nicest, most groomed, most loyal, and even most compatible but if he or she doesn’t like you that way then they don’t like you that way.

Outside of the romance world you may have a friend that just out of the blue stops talking to you or that removes you from their life. You will drive yourself insane trying to figure out “why does so and so not mess with me?” or “what did I do wrong?” you may even try to be a hero and try to save your friendship. Unfortunately, this will not matter if that person does not feel the same way about you as you do them. Instead, you have to learn to move on and learn to believe that you are doing the right things. If you do that and you have a + self image then you will attract the right people as you will more than likely be on the path that you need to be.

Stay Healthy: Physically, Emotionally, Mentally, and Spiritually

You may still be young but your health is vital. When I talk about health a lot of people tend to only view it through the physical side. Am I in shape or not? Do I eat right? The physical side is very important but it is important that you do not neglect the emotional, mental, and spiritual side. Even at a young age you can make decisions that can put your health at risk for the rest of your life. In the world of healthcare, failure to monitor your physical health will cost you in the long run (hospital costs, potential for cancer development, lower quality of life, etc). Failure to monitor your mental and emotional health can also cause strive in your life in many ways (e.g. failed relationships, workplace issues, the potential to become addicted to negative things, etc.).

PHYSICAL SIDE: This is something that I need to work on myself before I go further. This deals with both diet and exercise. Making sure that you have a balanced diet, with enough carbs and protein, and that you are watching your calories and sodium. High sodium is especially something to watch for as that leads to high blood pressure which can lead to further health issues. For exercise, you need at least 60 minutes of it. If you are busy then come up with creative ways to stay in motion. Maybe it is you park further back so that you have to walk more. Maybe it is taking the stairs instead of the elevator. All of that adds up over time. When your physical health is good it makes you feel better for yourself.

MENTAL SIDE: It is okay to not be okay. When you are not okay then you need to address that. It could be with a family member, friend, etc. but if needed do not be afraid to seek mental treatment. If someone judges you for seeking mental treatment then they shouldn’t be in your life anyway. Many famous people suffer from mental illness. The most important thing is that you get help for it to ensure that you are living the best possible life you can. https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/contact-us That is a link to important numbers to call if you are experiencing or have a loved one who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

EMOTIONAL SIDE: Being able to regulate and handle your emotions is a key skill as an adult. If one cannot handle their emotions they can often make bad or awkward situations much worse. It is important that one can properly control their anger, hurt, jealously, etc. If you do not take efforts to control it then it will control you. This also has to deal with being able to express your emotions in a proper way. It is important that you are able to express how you feel about a situation as keeping it inside can result in an increase in anger and improper expression can cause negative relationships. Just like on the mental side if this is a struggle then it is perfectly fine to get help and talk to someone about this.

SPIRITUAL SIDE: This doesn’t have to necessarily deal with religion although it must certainty can. Spiritual health to me means that you are living life with a purpose it is your deeper purpose in life. If you have good spiritual health then that means that you see value in life, see value in yourself, and value in the role of yourself in life. That ways that you have a deep rooted sense of your calling in life. One advice I would give to develop spiritual health is to partake in something that is bigger than yourself. That means that you are engaging in an activity that will benefit more people than just yourself. Think community service, a major project, public service jobs, things of that nature.

Overall, the 18-29 life is a learning experience. There will be some successes and failures, but make sure that you keep your health in mind, make and cultivate + relationships, and watch social media then you will make it through young adulthood. Even if you do not achieve all you want you still have your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond to get there.