Turning a quarter of a century is a big deal. It feels like the first milestone birthday since turning 21, but this time around you’ve been out of college for a few years and are likely settled into a job. Although everyone’s path is different, there are definitely a few “adult” staples in life we should all know how to do by the time our 25th birthday hits.
1. Find enjoyable hobbies.
Whether it’s reading, yoga, rollerblading, or blogging, make sure you make time in your day or week for things you actually enjoy. Spending time doing an activity you love both helps improve your mood and reduces your stress levels. Some days work and chores can seem endless, so taking a break from the stress for some alone time is vital. Finding a hobby can even help you become more productive in other areas of your life as well!
2. Manage your finances.
The first step in managing your finances is sorting out all of your bills. Take a look at your loans, credit cards, and other monthly payments, and figure out the best way to reduce them or pay them off. Being in debt is never smart. Unfortunately, we have been taught that student loan debt is perfectly fine. Consider refinancing to get a lower interest rate so you can pay those loans off faster!
Of course, practice saving money too. Put at least 10% of each paycheck into a savings account and stop using a credit card for every purchase. It’s smart to have a credit card to build your credit score, but remember to never carry a balance!
3. Get health insurance.
Under the Affordable Care Act, our parents’ insurance will cover us until age 26. By 25, you should understand the healthcare options available to you. If you are employed, simply go to your HR department to talk about healthcare plans at least six months before you lose your healthcare coverage. If you are unemployed look into Medicaid because under current laws a variety of different people qualify for federal coverage.
4. Learn the value of a therapist.
As often as you might use them to work out all your problems, your friends and family aren’t free therapy. Find a professional to talk out any issues you may have, big or small. Therapists can give you truly helpful (third-party!) advice on any struggle you may face in life. Even if you aren’t depressed or anxious, it’s extremely valuable to have a professional dentist in Tallahassee to whom you can talk to candidly.
5. Learn to cook.
If you’ve been living off of the classic college diet of dinosaur nuggets and Gatorade, it’s time to learn how to nourish your body. Cooking may seem difficult but it can be super fun! It is a great creative outlet and fantastic way to connect with others, too. We have a ton of cooking tips in our food section that apply to everyone, no matter your skill level. So no, you don’t have to be a master chef to be a good cook. Just learn what you like and savor the feeling of satisfaction and health.
6. Get rid of toxic people
By the time we turn 25, we should be able to recognize the people or things in our lives that are not serving us in a positive way. If you have toxic people in your life, it’s time to cut them out. Also, take a deeper look into how you’re spending your time and what consumes your thoughts the most. Many of us spend up to 4 hours a day on social media alone! Our social media comparison habits can be toxic to our health.
Start by simply using the “screen time” tracker on your phone. It can help detox yourself from social media by showing you how many hours you actually spend on it. However, feel free to take it a step further by taking a week off from all social accounts.
The same goes for people in “real life” too. If you have a negative relationship with someone, have grown apart, or simply just don’t care for a person anymore, don’t be scared to cut them off!
It’s important to master these six tasks by the time you turn 25. It will help you grow as a person and keep you on the right track.
Leave a reply below and let us know something life-changing you learned at 25 (or wish you had!)
Photo by Atikh Bana on Unsplash
