Today is my 27th birthday! I really cannot believe it. Every time my birthday rolls around it feels like it just happened yesterday (kind of like Christmas). But, here we are, and I am 27! I definitely feel a little older and a little wiser, and I am reflecting on some key things I have learned so far in my 20’s and in my 27 years.
On Relationships
1. Do not waste your time on people who do not fulfill you.
Negative people, people who drain you, people who you do not really want to spend time with but feel obligated. Do not do it. Life is too short.
2. Do prioritize important people to you.
This seems obvious, but it is really just a little reminder to not be selfish. The world does not revolve around you. There are people who love you and care about you and deserve to be treated with respect, who deserve to be heard and their opinion valued. Listen to what people you love are telling you; they are almost always right.
3. Say goodbye to relationships you doubt.
I have seen so many friends continue to date people when they know it is not going to work out. Do not settle. I promise, the right person for you will come along, and they will be perfect for you. It took me a while to learn this, but it was so worth the wait.
On Self-Care
4. Take care of yourself first.
You have to feel okay to be a good friend, employee, partner, roommate, etc. If you are stressed beyond belief or dealing with something overwhelming, take a day off work. Book a massage. Do what you need to do so that you feel well, and do not feel selfish about that.
5. Never neglect what makes you tick.
I honestly think it is healthy for everybody to have a hobby, and I think we should make time for it. For instance, I love teaching, but that’s my job. I am not only a teacher. I am also a blogger and a writer. Do what you love outside of your day job.
5. Do exercise that YOU like.
It is way easier to get motivated to work out if you are doing something you love! Do not stress about what it is. Take walks, go to Barre, do yoga, ride a bike. If it gets you moving, do it, and do it regularly. Do not force yourself to go to a cycling class if you hate cycling. That will backfire.
On Adulting
6. Do laundry often and clean regularly.
Having laundry pile up or my home feeling dirty just brings me down. I have gotten really good about washing my towels every couple of days (they get germy fast, guys), my sheets every week or two, and my clothes once or twice a week. I wipe the kitchen counter every time I cook and vacuum every weekend. Doing these small things keeps my home feeling continually fresh, and nothing ever piles up on me.
7. Buy fresh food.
I can get into a trap of buying a lot of boxed items at the grocery store. Not a healthy pattern. But lately, I have gotten better at always having fresh fruits and vegetables in my fridge (particularly vegetables – I have always loved fruit). I hate wasting food, so if it is in there, I have found that I will eat it. I have really upped my veggie game by eating more fresh salads and raw veggies (instead of chips) + hummus.
8. Get sleep.
We know how important sleep is. Do not get less than 7 hours a night. That is so bad for you, and your daily abilities to function drop tremendously. If you struggle with this, put your phone away a few hours before bedtime and read so that you go to bed sooner.
9. Invest your earnings.
Now is the time to save. I know it can be hard, but save whatever you can, no matter how small. So important in your 20’s if you want a comfortable life.
10. Understand that you are not entitled to a perfect job in your 20’s.
So many people are concerned with being happy in their jobs in their 20’s. Honestly, for most people, it just takes time before you figure out the work environment that you like. I am still trying to figure out where I am most happy.
On Self-Growth
11. Read more books.
Reading makes you a more empathetic, smarter, more understanding, all-around better human. If you are not taking the time to read you are not experiencing potential self-growth. Find something you like to read and read it.
12. Travel when and where you can.
Travel does not have to be expensive and extensive. Simply take a weekend trip when you can. Or if you find a deal, go bigger and head to Europe. Wherever it is, getting away for a while is usually always renewing and brings you a fresh perspective.
13. Try new things.
We will never be too old to try new things. If you have always wanted to draw, take a drawing class. Try a new exercise class. Whatever it is, signing up for some sort of class is awesome for self-discovery.
14. Self-reflect.
I love journaling every night before bed. Journaling is amazing for processing your day and making sense of it all. If you do not like to journal, I would encourage you to find some type of time and space for self-reflection.
On Life Hacks
15. Just bring your groceries to work so you don’t have to pack lunch every day.
This one’s a little tongue in cheek. But seriously I do this sometimes – put my groceries in the fridge on Monday and eat them all week – and it saves time.
16. Grocery shop at night or at off-times.
If you are able to, grocery stores are way less crowded and stressful at night. Usually I grocery shop on Sunday around midday, and I hate it. A few times, I have been picking up dinner on a Saturday night and gone ahead and done my grocery shopping for the week. It feels so awesome to get it done and have Sunday free.
17. Buy several of what you need, especially if it’s on sale.
This seems silly but honestly I really dislike shopping, so if I need toothpaste, you can bet I am buying five packs to last me a while.
18. Spend money to save time.
I have realized that when I feel short on time, it helps to spend money on time savers (instead of on stuff). Maybe one week that is paying someone to walk your dog or getting a cleaning service to your home. I promise there is nothing wrong with that – people are often happier when they have more time to spend in ways they want.
19. For a quick mood booster, think fresh flowers.
I often pick up fresh blooms at the grocery when I do my weekly shopping, because it brightens up my home and lifts my mood. It really is the little things.
20. Regularly purge your stuff.
Better yet, do not shop until you are sure that you do not already own what you are looking for. Each new season, I try to avoid clutter by creating a donation pile before I shop.
On Attitudes
21. Be open.
Often, when we are school age, we can feel self-conscious to express ourselves or be ourselves. As we get older, sometimes this follows us. We continue to feel self-conscious of how we behave or how others behave. For the most part, this is a good thing so that we act appropriately in public. But sometimes, it holds us back from things we want to do or take part in. I would encourage you to not judge others for their choices, but just maybe to join in if you feel the urge. This could be as simple as dancing at a party if you really want to dance.
22. Be realistic.
I love and respect people who are positive all the time. But I prefer to take the route of the realist. I try to manage my expectations at all times so that if things turn out better than I expected, I enjoy the experience all the more.
23. But continue to dream.
Manage your expectations, but if there is something you really want, do not be afraid to just go for it. It is true – you really never know until you try.
24. Listen.
In the world of iPhones, it can be easy to tune others out when you hear your phone ding. We are all guilty of this. I am trying to work on ignoring my phone (even putting it on silent) when I am with others, especially when they need to be heard.
25. Say no.
You know the feeling. You say “yes” to something that you really do not want to do, and then you feel trapped and resentful. If you cannot handle something, just say no. They will understand (and if they do not, move along).
26. Avoid indecision.
I can be really indecisive, and about the silliest things. I am still working on this one, but I am trying to be confident in knowing what I want and voicing what I want. It feels better to not waver and instead just state, “this is what I want.” People will respect that.
27. Laugh often.
Frequently, the best cure in life is to find your sense of humor. You know what they say: if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. In all seriousness, finding someone to laugh with can be a cure-all.
If you made it this far, thank you! Thanks so much for reading. Would love to know what resonates with you in the comments!
Love, Bee
Lauren (Braided Brunette) says
Girl, all of these things you have learned are PURE gold! Happy birthday to you and thank you so much for sharing!! 😘
Blythe Cate says
Thanks so much for reading sweet friend!! You are too kind!
Chloe says
Love this list! Completely agree 💜
-chloe http://www.brunchspeak.com
Blythe Cate says
Thanks so much for reading, Chloe!!