17 Ways to Pursue Personal Growth in Your 20s
Feeling lost in your twenties? You’re not alone. The third decade of life is an exciting yet confusing time for many.
You’re not a teenager anymore, but you’re still just figuring out how to be a proper adult. Ask most people, and they’ll tell you that your twenties are meant for exploring yourself, trying out new things, and learning how to redeem yourself after you inevitably make a mistake (or two). Keep reading to discover 17 different ways to personally grow in your twenties.
1. Try out new hobbies
A great way to begin your journey towards personal growth is by trying out new hobbies. This is an exciting method of getting to know yourself better and discovering what your passions are.
Your 20s are the perfect time to test out different hobbies and determine what you like and what you don’t like. Cooking, art, or attending a workout class are great places to start.
2. Read
Reading is a wonderful way to expand your knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics. It helps to enhance our creativity and think of new, innovative ideas. Books, blogs, academic articles, peer-reviewed journals, all of these can help you to gain perspective and sharpen your mind.
3. Find Your Dream Job
Your work should challenge you and make you feel fulfilled. Choose to do something that you are happy to do daily.
Don’t be afraid to leave a job that doesn’t make you feel fulfilled, especially in your 20s. Finding the right job can be tough, but it will help you enhance your skills, improve your finances, and achieve personal development.
4. Work hard/save money
Practicing financial responsibility is important in your 20s. Money can be a stressful topic to tackle but establishing a system that works for you can help relieve some of this stress.
Applying personal finance tips can help to set you up for success for years to come. Map out a plan of what financial success looks like to you. This includes budgeting and career plans. Hold yourself accountable and achieve the goals that you set for yourself.
5. Find Friends who Understand and Accept You
Be around friends who make you feel supported. Inevitably, some people that you meet won’t be good for you. However, your 20s are a good time to cut out toxic friendships or relationships in favor of those that uplift and empower you.
6. Learn a New Language
With today’s globalized culture, it’s no surprise that speaking multiple languages has become the new norm. Learning a new language can help enhance your communication skills across the board, making you more valuable professionally as well as helping you achieve personal development. Studying new languages can be fun and challenge you to use new parts of your brain.
7. Take Some Risks
Your 20s are perhaps the best time to learn how to take some risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Of course, not all of these risks will pay off, but that shouldn’t discourage you.
Failure is an inevitable part of life; we all face it in one way or another. Learning to embrace failure as a learning opportunity to help yourself grow towards success.
How you interpret failure and react to it is what matters most. Keep shooting for success, and don’t let setbacks get in the way of you reaching your goals.
8. Set long term goals and work towards them
Now is a great time to start identifying what you want from life, even if it’s just a general idea. Your goals will likely change over time, but don’t let that deter you from exploring your options.
In your 20s you’ll discover new, innovative ways to meet your goals and then exceed them. One tip for taking strides towards your goals is learning how to effectively prioritize them.
How important are all of your long-term goals to you? Are there particular goals that can be saved for later down the line?
Make the most important ones a main priority. It’s also a good idea to develop self-discipline and learn how to hold yourself accountable. This will help you
9. Learn what you are looking for in a relationship
Although online dating has changed the way we view relationships in our 20s, commitment can encourage us to grow in a lot of different ways. Relationships help us get to know ourselves better, enhance our communication skills, and learn to care for someone other than ourselves. While it’s usually a good idea not to jump into a relationship with the first person who shows the slightest interest in you, being in at least one long-term relationship in your 20s can help you to identify what you want and what you don’t want for the long term.
10. Challenge yourself
To achieve growth in your young adulthood, you must be willing to challenge yourself in every way that you can think of. Push the boundaries of your comfort zone and expand your experience by identifying challenges and then conquering them. This can mean different things for everyone.
Traveling alone is one example of a personal challenge. It helps you become a better planner and improves independence. Furthermore, it encourages you to interact with people that you otherwise may not have. Opting for individual travel is a great way to take yourself out of your comfort zone, and there may be no better time to do it than in your 20s.
11. Become a better listener
Developing better listening skills can help you enhance your knowledge and make you a more well-rounded person. When someone’s speaking, tune into what other people have to say and giving them your undivided attention.
With practice, your skills will increase over time. Listening is a wonderful skill to develop in your 20s because being a good listener will help you become a better leader. It shows that you care about what others have to say and value them. When you listen to others, they will be more inclined to listen to you.
12. Identify your strengths and weaknesses
Your 20s are a vital time to identify your strengths and weaknesses. The best way to do this is through a series of trial and error.
Gaining experience can help you identify what you are good at and what you struggle with. Throughout your 20s, you should encourage yourself to figure out what your talents are and then build upon them.
Remember that you can always turn your greatest weaknesses into your greatest strengths, you will just need to be willing to work hard and dedicate time to them.
13. Define Your Values and Align yourself with them
Defining your values is one of the most empowering ways to achieve personal development in your 20s. It may be necessary to call yourself out on some toxic traits so that you can grow through them and become a stronger, more well-rounded person.
Ask yourself tough questions such as who you are now and who you would like to become. The answers might shock you, but they will ultimately lead you towards fulfillment.
14. Go to Therapy
Therapy is a vital tool for many people seeking personal development in their 20s. It is a great way to receive input and guidance from a professional, something we all can benefit from. Therapy sometimes gets a negative reputation, but it is something that all people can learn from, especially those of us in our 20s.
15. Volunteer
Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways to develop yourself. There are many options to choose from when it comes to volunteering. Donating blood, helping out at food banks, donating resources to trusted organizations, or assisting at a local animal shelter are great places to start.
It feels good to give back to local communities. This can help build your confidence as a person and give you additional insight into your personal interests and passions.
16. Form Good Habits
Developing good habits and promoting self-care are crucial parts of growing up. Forming good habits includes cutting out unhealthy habits, like spending too much time on social media, indulging in unhealthy food and drink, or spending money on unnecessary items. Replace these negative habits with healthy whole foods, refreshing self-care practices, and other routines that will nourish your body and mind.
17. Interact with people different from you
Different people can bring new perspectives into your life. Broaden your social circle and challenge yourself to start conversations with people who have different backgrounds than you do. You will never know who can offer you that vital piece of life-changing advice unless you break out of your comfort zone and interact with them.
In sum, your 20s are both a challenging and exciting time for personal growth. Throughout the third decade of your life, you will face both triumphs and failures. However, by maintaining a well-rounded perspective that is focused on personal growth, you will achieve your own individual version of success in no time.