1. Develop a Routine

Having a routine is a MUST in your adult life. That means having a morning, night, weekend, and weekday routine.

Why it Works: Having a handle and regular pace on the mundane and recurring parts of life, makes managing the surprises that much easier.

Action Step: Create a morning and night routine for yourself that works for your lifestyle Monday – Friday. Make it specific and actionable!

2. Set Clear Goals

We often have ideas of what we want to do and who we want to become, but don’t make the time to set clear goals and stepping stones to get there.

Why it Works: Having goals means that you have something to apply the self-discipline to. Make sure they’re crystal clear and not vague.

Action Step: Set quarterly goals for the remainder of the year. Make sure the completion of each goal is a building block to the next one. This ensures that you stay on track.

3. Get Used to Delayed Gratification

The short-term results are rarely why you are truly ever doing something. Enjoy the instant gratification that may come, but don’t count on it. Always play the long game. I promise that satisfaction isn’t fleeting.

Why it Works: You’ll find yourself getting through the tough parts for the right reasons, not the instant pat on the back. This will in turn keep you going in the right direction, rather than stopping when someone else applauds you from the sidelines.

Action Step: Focus on the person you want to be, the career you want to have, or the people you want to be surrounded by 15+ years from now, not the things you want in the next 45 days.

4. Start Small

Sometimes we get caught up in the idea of climbing Everest. Although that may be a great thing to strive for long-term, what are the small things you can do tomorrow, to prepare you for climbing Everest later? Starting with the gym is a great way to start small, yet actionable.

Why it Works: Everything is a building block to the greater thing. The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Action Step: Make a buildable goal for yourself to achieve over the next six months. Challenge yourself by making at least three milestones to hit before the goal is reached.

5. Reduce Distractions

We live in a world that is full of distractions. Although I don’t think it’s possible to escape all of them, I do think it’s possible to drastically reduce them.

Why it Works: It’s impossible to focus when the smallest of things are constantly fighting for your immediate attention.

Action Step: Start with your phone! go into your notifications settings and shut off the ones you know are not important. You can also create different Do Not Disturb settings for yourself too. I have some for work, dinner, sleeping, and workouts – each slightly adjusted to my needs at that given time.

6. Implement the 2-min Rule

The 2-minute Rule is the idea that anything that can be completed in 2 minutes or less, is completed first thing in the morning. Don’t push these things off to later in the day, because the reality is, that procrasting on these small tasks will only make them compound into something bigger in the future.

Why it Works: Being able to complete small tasks right at the start of your brain releases a small hit of dopamine in your brain, in turn encouraging you to continue to do more.

Action Step: Make a short list of the three to four things you complete every morning. Leave room for a wild-card task that will inevitably come up.

7. Develop Healthy Habits

The habits you develop now, are likely the habits you stick to for the rest of your life. You only have one vessel to last you a lifetime. Make sure you take care of it to the best of your ability.

Why it Works: Trying to change bad habits 20 years from now will be a lot harder than establishing good ones now.

Action Step: Swap your least healthy pleasures for a better alternative. Learn to cook, or start cooking more at home.

8. Fail and Learn From It

Failure was once taught to be a negative thing, but many of the successful people that we look up to today would say the opposite. Failure means you’ve learned a new way not to approach something, and will come closer to the best way to go about it next. The faster you fail, in theory, the faster you learn. Just remember to learn from the mistake.

Why it Works: If you never failed, it means you never tried. Give it a go and keep giving it your best shot. Eventually, you’ll find the success you were looking for.

Action Step: Try that thing you were afraid of starting. Start the journey and remember to look back on days 30, 60, and 90. You might just surprise yourself.

9. Be Kind to Yourself

There are a million people out there who are ready and willing to shoot you down. The world doesn’t need another nay-sayer. Be your biggest champion, not your biggest critic.

Why it Works: Being mean to yourself does nothing but continue to discourage you. Negative energy is just that – negative energy. Be a source of positivity for yourself. Choose to be a light.

Action Step: Reflect on all the ways you’ve grown over the past couple of years. Give yourself credit on who you once were, who you are now, and who you are destined to become.

10. Visualize the Future

Sometimes the present can be bleak. We dwell on it and it becomes a ball and chain as we try to get to the next pocket of light. Instead of filling your room with darkness, focus on your dreams for your future. Whether that’s a small moment of dinner with your best friends in your apartment one day, your next vacation, or even the weekends. Visualize the future and let that be a source of light in the dimmer moments of life. No one else is going to pick you up when you are down. So it’s important to develop this self-discipline now.

Why it Works: Sitting in the negative will only make it that much worse. Focusing on the future will give you the energy to get through the present.

Action Step: Think about something you are excited about in the future. Heck, make it your phone screen.

11. Learn How to Say ‘No’

Being a people-pleaser seems like a frictionless path until it’s at your expense. Learn to protect your mental health, your time, and your bandwidth by saying ‘no’ a little more often. On the other hand, if you are always saying ‘yes’ to social engagements when you can make time to focus on yourself and your personal development? Learning how to say ‘no’ can have a profound effect on your self-development.

Why it Works: You can’t be everything to everyone at the same time. You’re going to burn out or be resentful down the road when you realize you put everyone’s wants before your own.

Action Step: Look at your upcoming commitments. Is there anything you really don’t want to do, or something you had to over sacrifice for?

12. Spend Your Time with Like-Minded People

There’s no better way to develop self-discipline than having an army of like-minded people around you who will hold you accountable.  Birds of a feather flock together is a very true statement to live by.

Why it Works: If you’re constantly surrounded by people with opposite goals to yours, you’re highly unlikely to reach your goals. Why? Naturally, we compare ourselves to our peers. Are we behind, or are we ahead, are we on track? If the people you are comparing yourself to, are on another planet, you’re never going to have a true metric on where you should be.

Action Step: Find or build a community of like-minded people around you, like that of the Our So Called 20s community.

13. Remember to Reflect and Celebrate

Life is short. The ride will get bumpy. There will be twists and turns. There’s no doubt about that. Make sure you recognize how far you’ve come and you celebrate the wins as they come. Sometimes these moments are fleeting. Don’t miss them.

Why it Works: Reflecting and celebrating is still part of the journey. It’s like a birthday. Whether you feel accomplished or not, your birthday is coming and you will be celebrated before entering another year of life.

Action Step: Go out with your friends and make something to celebrate. Even if that’s just making it through the week.

Self-discipline isn’t an overnight skill to obtain. It’s a constant work in progress that is muti-facilitated. Give it your best shot, even when things get hard and inconvenient. Remember not to beat yourself up, because at the end of the day, your desire to just want to be better in this department speaks volumes. You ‘d be surprised by how many people don’t care to work on this aspect of their lives or even realize that they need to improve in this area.

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Be Kind to Yourself

Being kind to yourself is by far the most important part of this. Ambitious people like yourself tend to strive for perfection, or at least the best version of self. The reality is, that there is no such thing as perfection, and life is full of ups and downs. It’s important to embrace these things and not beat yourself up for them. Especially for the things that are out of your control. During this mental health journey, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back and recognize every moment of growth, no matter how “small” it may seem.

Get Exercise

Moving your body is more important than we realize. Exercising has been proven to release dopamine receptors in the brain, resulting in a boosted mood. Even though exercise may be difficult for you in the interim, by the end of it you are bound to feel better. This can be something as simple as going for a walk and getting some fresh air, to doing an intense HIT workout at the gym.  Getting exercise can also keep your mind off of the things that might be stressing you out. Getting active can also make you step away from your phone and get caught up in the doom-scrolling we all inevitably fall for. No matter what you choose to do, do it. It’s a great way activity to add to your routine when you are trying to figure out how to maintain mental health. For more information on the benefits of exercise on your mental heath, click here.

Eat Healthy and Hydrate

Food is fuel and it’s important that you put the right kind of fuel in your engine to keep it going. We’ve all heard about the negative effects of things like fast food, sugars, additives, etc, so let’s not ignore that. Now, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional grubby meal, especially after a long night out with friends, but, it’s important to make sure this doesn’t become a habit. Make sure you are fueling your body with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. Switch out your sodas for flavored sparkling water, or for just plain ole water if you can. Try to cut back on the caffeine and opt for better sources for an energy boost. Chances are, you need this energy boost because you are lacking other nutritional elements in your diet. Focus on filling those holes, rather than masking it if you can. Making sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day is also huge! Hydration is fantastic for the brain and something that often goes overlooked. Take care of your body and be cognizant of what you put in it. You only have one to last you a lifetime, so treat it that way.

Give Yourself Time to Decompress

Sometimes we go go go and forget to just stop, breathe, and smell the roses. I’m guilty of it for sure. Although the intention of this speed is rooted in a desire to be the best versions of ourselves, this can oftentimes lead to burnout and other negative effects on our mental health. Make sure to give yourself time to decompress and recharge. Going at full speed 24/7 will never lead to anything good. If you are struggling with burnout, click here to read How to Avoid Burnout. This will also help you figure out how to maintain mental health.

Focus on the Positive

Focus on the positive. I can’t stress this enough. It’s really easy to just see all the things that are going or have gone wrong in life. The reality is, that’s just a part of life. The other part of life is the positive. It’s a much more productive use of your time to focus on the positive than to dwell on the negative. Of course, reflect on where things went wrong in life, but once you’ve done that, move on. Remember that you can’t change the past, you can only learn from it. And by that same token, you can learn from the positive too! Focus on that and be proud of yourself. You’re doing better than you realize and you need to give yourself credit for that. To read more about learning from the past to help you look ahead, click here to read You Can’t Change the Past, But you Can Learn From It.

Lean on Your Community

Your community is your lifeline at the end of the day. If you are struggling with your mental health, or just not in the best of places, open up to the people you trust. Talking about things can be more therapeutic than you even realize. Let the people around you be there for you in your time of need. You never know who else around you is experiencing the same thing. Odds are you are not alone and you just need to talk some things out. Bottling things up can have a more negative impact on your mental health and self-esteem than you realize. Forcing yourself to mask your true emotions when you are around your community can also be even more taxing on your mental health. Open up and be vulnerable with those you trust in your circle. Don’t be afraid to lean on them. At the end of the day, isn’t that what your community is there to do? Opening up to your community might also help you discover new ways of how to maintain mental health in such a difficult time of life.

Give Back

Giving back has been one of the most impactful changes in maintaining my mental health. I never understood it in the beginning, but as I continue to make this a part of my routine, I realize why. Sometimes we lose our confidence as we venture throughout the journey of our 20s. In the wake of this, we start to feel inadequate or not as great as we once thought. One of the many beauties of giving back is that you are often helping someone or a group of people who are in a very different position in life than you are. This means that the knowledge or skillset that you once took for granted and became numb to now has a use again for someone else. It can often remind you that you do have something to offer and you are just as great as you once thought. Giving back can also expose you to a new community in your life that you didn’t think you needed. This can be a community that values connection and friendship over accolades and material stuff. this can be a community that highly values your religion. This can even be a community that you came from and you get to go back and pass the baton to help the next person prosper. Whatever it is, the responsibility that you will now have will help you improve your mental health more than you realize. To read more about the importance and benefits of giving back, click here to read Why You Should Be Volunteering in Your 20s

Trying to do it all while maintaining it all at the same time isn’t easy. Make sure you aren’t lying to yourself and beating yourself up about the not-so-great parts of life. The hope is that these tips will help you learn how to maintain your mental health, while still achieving everything you set out to do. At the end of the day, stress management and self-care are what makes taking on more and more tasks possible. Without it, you’re bound to have things slip through the cracks, including your mental health.

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1. Go on a walk – Seriously!

Taking the time in the day to step away and just walk outside can be a great way to reset your mind. It’ll give you a chance to breathe, think, reflect, and just be. The added bonus of moving as well, at a more leisurely pace, will also help you slow down your mind and thoughts. Getting some vitamin D from being out in the sun is also always a great added bonus and mood booster. Many of us are stuck inside all day and we sit behind our computers as time passes. Take a break. Step away and humanize yourself.

2. Get comfortable with saying ‘no’

If you are a people pleaser, odds are you struggle with saying ‘no’. If you’re someone who wants to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, you might also struggle with saying ‘no’. In turn, you overwhelm yourself and overload your schedule. The first step here is removing the negative connotation you have with saying ‘no’. Saying ‘no’ doesn’t make you a bad person, and it doesn’t make you a lazy or ungrateful person. Sometimes saying ‘no’ is the BEST thing you can do. Saying ‘no’ to the things that don’t really matter or serve you, opens up space for the things that do. Sometimes saying ‘no’ means that you understand the value of your time and the opportunity cost that this event brings. You have to allow time for yourself and allow space to take a pause when you need it. If you are constantly saying ‘yes’ to everything, you’ll never have time to entertain the idea of slowing down.

3. Read a book

Ah, the joys of reading. If you haven’t discovered the joy of reading, you might want to read Read More. You Might Just Enjoy It Again. Reading is a great way to yourself to disconnect from your to-do list and just be in the moment. Reading allows your mind to escape to another place, be it fiction or non-fiction, while also doing one of the hardest things in today’s world – pulling you away from your phone. Reading is a great way to slow down and get lost in something else. It’s also a great way to ensure that you are making time for yourself. Find yourself a quiet, comfortable place, and your favorite warm drink and get lost in some pages of paper.

4. Spend time with friends

Spending time with friends can be one of the most fun ways to slow down. The possibilities are endless. Whether it be watching a sports game with your friends, going on a hike, going out to dinner or the nearest bar, or something as grand as taking a trip, spend time with your friends. Work will always be there for the rest of your life. There is no doubt about that, but make sure you keep your friends along the way. There’s nothing worse than having it all on paper, yet no one to share it with. Don’t get so caught up in life and work that you forget to look up and around you. Always make sure you have people to share things with – the highs and the lows. Slowing down and making the extra effort to spend time with your friends will ensure that.

5. Be spontaneous

This is my favorite, because it can truly be anything! Carve away some time to let life happen. Block out your Saturday and text the group message to see who’s available. Make it a point to do something fun next Wednesday evening after work. Collect your PTO days so you can take a multi-day vacation. Whatever it is, leave time to be spontaneous. The only way you can do this, is if you say ‘no’ to the things that aren’t really serving you. Who knows what you’ll do with this time, but it’s important to claim it before someone else does. Remember, there are so many different ways to slow down. You could just end up binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix, or maybe you’ll end up doing a road trip with friends, or even a staycation with your best friend or partner. That’s the exciting part of being spontaneous. Make space for the time and decide later on how you fill it.

I think it’s important to note that slowing down doesn’t mean being lazy. It doesn’t mean that you aren’t ambitious. Slowing down just means that you’re enjoying the moment and all the beauty that this season of life has to offer. Odds are you notice a lot more of your surroundings when you’re driving through a neighborhood, than when you’re driving on the highway, but you’re still in route to your destination.  Life is no different. Sometimes you need to go 25 to be able to enjoy going 65.

While it might take a while for you to fully implement these things into your life, it’s important to not focus on perfection but instead to just start. Start anywhere, with any of these tips. Even if it might seem like the smallest thing to implement, this one change will not only have a massive positive effect on you, but it will also give you the motivation and courage to do more, or shall I say less, as time goes on. Do yourself a favor and slow down. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

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1. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is so much more important than we all realize. Of course, your body can go a while without proper rest, but eventually, it’ll come crashing down. Just like a car’s engine, after a while you have to shut the car off, and let it rest. If you run it 24/7, the wear and tear on the car will compound much faster than expected and eventually it’ll stop working. Your body is the same way. Don’t keep your engine running. As often as you can, reach for eight hours of sleep, and if you can’t try to let your body rest and reboot over the weekend. Make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to unnecessary blue light right before bed. Yes, that means putting your phone away an hour before bed to help you properly wind down.

2. Have Hobbies

Hobbies are some things that can go by the wayside as we get older and start our careers. Suddenly everything fun has to be productive, and any second of downtime is spent doing mundane tasks like grocery shopping. If you’re not busy, then you’re exhausted and trying to recover from all the energy you’ve depleted throughout the week. I get it. One thing that has really helped me reboot after a long week is bringing my hobbies back into play. For some people that’s long-distance running. For you, that may be pottery making, playing music, cooking, making cocktails, surfing, skiing, painting, reading, rock climbing, you name it. Find the activities that make you happy and do those more. Shut your brain off from work and achievements and just learn how to be a kid again. Find fulfillment in just being you – outside of those life achievements.

3. Unplug Daily

This might be one of the hardest things to do, I know. If it’s not our work computer, it’s our personal computers. If it’s not our computer it’s our phone, or our smart watch, or our tablets and e-readers. The list goes on and on. With notifications coming in left and right, it’s never easy to just “unplug”. Something that has helped me, is setting a wind-down reminder on my phone. So about one hour before my planned bedtime, my phone will go into do-not disturb mode, silencing all of my notifications and allowing me to focus on my wind-down routine and not lose focus. I have friends who have also put certain permissions on their phones to stop them from opening certain apps at certain times of the day. This can be super helpful for those serial scrollers. Once you’ve interfered with your screen usage, make sure to replace that time with another activity, ie reading a book, doing yoga, cooking, etc. >>Click here for an easy-read recommendation: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. 

4. Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care. The term we’ve all heard a million times over and over again. This can look like so many different things for different people. For some, it may look like having a slow night, drawing a bath, and reading their favorite book or watching their favorite show. For others, it may look like treating yourself to a massage or a facial. It can even be as simple as getting yourself a coffee and going on a walk, or sitting in a bar and ordering your favorite drink. There is no wrong way to prioritize self-care. What’s important is that you take time to do things for yourself, regardless of what’s going on around you. Investing in yourself will only increase your productivity and energy down the line. I’m not sure when treating yourself became demonized, but I think it’s important that we bring this aspect of life back to our routines.

5. Exercise

Exercise, exercise, exercise. It is never not important. No matter how you choose to go about this, make sure it is incorporated into your routine in some way shape, or form. Exercise can look different for everyone. You could be someone who likes to hit 10k steps a day, or you can be someone who likes low-intensity workouts like pilates or yoga. You could be someone who enjoys hit workouts, kickboxing, or jiujitsu. You could be someone who likes going on intense hikes, swimming, or just hitting the plain ole gym. Whatever it is, make it a non-negotiable priority in your daily life. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, improve sleep patterns, aid in your overall long-term health, and help relieve chronic pain for those who suffer from it. The other perk of exercise when it comes to work-life balance, is the fact that you can’t do anything else while you’re exercising. You go in to complete a task and you don’t leave until it’s done. Take this time to just focus on yourself, and not the glooming to-do list that you know is at the top of your mind. >>Click here to learn more about the importance of exercise on the human body.

6. Fuel Your Body Right

The food you put into your body is just as important as the way you treat the outside of your body. Food is fuel for the human body, so many sure you are putting the right things in it. This means eating the rainbow. Make sure your diet is full of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and as little processed foods as possible. It can be really easy to get caught up in eating out 24/7, or grabbing that microwave burrito from the fridge section of the grocery store. Although we all fall victim to the element of convenience, it’s important to not let it create a habit. Take the time to prepare food for yourself, especially if you have time to meal prep on the weekends. Something as simple as meal prepping can make healthy eating even easier for you to keep up with throughout the week, while also saving you money in the long run. “Fueling your body” with chips, soda, fast food, and processed sugars, is a surefire way to make sure your body will crash and burn, in turn making it harder to focus at work, complete basic tasks, and stay sharp. Eat the rainbow and give your brain and body the best chance at staying on top of your work-life balance.

7. Touch Grass

This has become one of my favorite sayings over this past year. This is mostly because it seems to solve so many problems in my life. Sometimes we get so caught up on what’s next, what’s around the corner, or what we don’t have. We are glued to our computers or staring at our phones with our heads down, hoping to get a glimmer of a dopamine hit, one scroll at a time. When life gets overwhelming, when work seems like too much, when your phone keeps pinging, just go touch grass. Go step outside, take a breather, and just be with yourself and your thoughts. Ignore whatever people are asking of you in that moment and just take five minutes to yourself. Of course, if you’re about to walk into a board meeting, this probably isn’t the best time to step away, but maybe make an effort earlier that morning to take some time, or later that evening. Whenever you have time, get some fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight exposure has been proven to help elevate one’s mood, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and so much more. >>Click here to learn more about the benefits of sunlight exposure. 

Work-life balance is a lifelong journey that only you will know how to best craft for your unique situation. Although it’s easy to fall into the trap of “perfecting” this aspect of your life, don’t let this stop you from just starting. Perfection isn’t important. What’s important is that you start investing in yourself and your well-being and not just dumping every moment of your life into work. Even though this may feel fulfilling in the now, long-term you will regret not taking the time to perform routine maintenance checks and oil changes along the way.

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There certainly is not a shortage of podcasts out there nowadays, but navigating the ones that are worth your time, can be a bit tricker. Every podcast checks a different box, and some check more boxes than others. Here is a list of some of the top podcasts for your 20s that we recommend and enjoy ourselves.

Best Podcasts for Feeling Lost in Your 20s

1. The Psychology of Your 20s by Jemma Sbeg 

This podcast is filled with topics that you might think of off the bat, but upon reflection, you might realize that’s the exact topic you need to dive into. From travel burnout, navigating relationships, guilt, and other mental health topics, this podcast is sure to have something you need!

Listen here

2.  LifeKit by NPR

Dive into this podcast if you are trying to refine those initial building blocks of adulting and gain a better understanding of the new responsibilities that this phase of life has in store. Marielle Segarra interviews experts across a range of topics to help educate the listener on the best way to approach the problem at hand.

Listen here

Best Self-Improvement Podcasts

1. The Happiness Lab by Pushkin Industries

We are all constantly pushed that consumerism is going to make us happier and feel more fulfilled in our lives. That next job, the next vacation, the next relationship, will make us happy – but the reality is that is all bologna. Dr. Laurie Santos dives into the science behind happiness and the journey of finding a more fulfilling life.

Listen here

     2. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

This podcast uses a different methodology to find what makes one incrementally happy, which leads to overall improved happiness. By cultivating a more meaningful life, and being more intentional about your decisions and the people you surround yourself with, 10% Happier is determined to help lead you to a more fulfilling life.

Listen here

Best Financial Podcasts

1. Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF by Vivian Tu

Your Rich BFF from TikTok now offers longer-form content through her podcast “Networth and Chill”. Listen in to get more financial, career, and even relationship advice in a relaxed, modern, and relatable way. With a range of topics, you’ll be able to find the episodes that relate to your own life.

Listen here

     2.  I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

A great weekly follow-up from the book, I Will Teach You to be Rich, and the Netflix show if you’ve already gone through those. I have found it helpful to see Ramit audit other people and couples, each with their own unique and complex situations. Often, I’ve used each episode as foresight in my own personal life on what to avoid.

Listen here

Best Podcasts for 20-Something Females

1. Not Alone by Valeria Lipovetsky

Listen in weekly as Valeria interviews some of the most kick-butt women in business to uncover their stories of triumph and learn about the pitfalls of their journey along the way. Valeria also talks about the realizations in her own personal life and rebranding herself while finding fulfillment and purpose after her years with Victoria’s Secret and the modeling industry. Although Valeria is no longer in her 20s, she and her guests constantly look back and talk about how they would have done things differently in their 20s, making this a no-brainer for the list of top podcasts for your 20s.

Listen here

      2. The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher

Jenna Kutcher highlights the highs and lows of being a successful woman in today’s world while balancing life with friends, family, and finding time for yourself. Each episode of The Goal Digger harps on growth and learning from the life lessons of others along the way.

Listen here

Best Podcasts for 20-Something Males

1. The Art of Manliness

Although this podcast can be listened to by anyone, it is focused on deepening the improving the lives of men. The topics range from relationships, philosophy, productivity, personal growth, and more. Gain personal insights from men of all different backgrounds in this podcast series.

Listen here

     2. Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu

Rooted in a mission to help improve the lives of others through the means of storytelling, Impact Theory is focused on education, growth, and empowerment through every episode. Listen in to learn about the stories of some of the most influential men from around the world.

Listen here

Best Career Podcasts

1. The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett 

Feel like a fly on the wall each week, as Steven interviews some of the top CEOs, businessmen and women in the world. In this podcast you get a front-row seat to hear each interviewee’s story of how they got to where they are today. Bartlett is one of my favorite interviewers and his questions never disappoint.

Listen here

    2.  WorkLife with Adam Grant by TED

Knowing that 25% of your life is going to be spent on work, make sure it’s something you enjoy. At the very least, discover how to gain joy and purpose from the work that you do. Grant interviews professionals from across a slew of industries to uncover what part of their job and journey brings them fulfillment.

Listen here

Best Educational Podcasts

1. Stuff You Should Know by iHeart Radio

Instead of reaching for your phone and engaging in an endless scroll, maybe add this podcast to your routine. My science and history buffs out there might find this podcast the most interesting with random topics like the operations of cranes, the science being cold plunges, or the water operations in NY. No matter what you’re into, you’re bound to learn something new!

Listen here

There is a podcast for everyone and we can all take away something different from the same podcasts. Take a listen to some of these recommendations and let us know what you think of them below. Better yet, share your favorite podcast! We hope that you found some new gems in these top 13 podcasts for your 20s. Check out the podcasts in our Resources section to discover even more great listens.

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Don’t Make Resolutions. Make Intentions and Goals Instead.

I know the New Year’s tradition is all about making “resolutions”, but I’ve never found those to be effective. You’re supposed to come up with some new way you’re going to approach your life with a sudden change. Overnight there is this sudden pressure to change every aspect of your life and stick to it for the next 365 days. It’s as if you’re supposed to wake up a whole new person on Jan 1. I don’t know about you, but I can’t say it’s ever worked for me. Instead of making a “resolution” this year, make a subset of goals and intentional changes for yourself in the new year and come up with a plan or a pathway to achieve these goals.

For example, let’s say you want to become a fit person this year, I know the classic cliche. Instead of saying, I’m going to go to the gym five times a week this year and only eat clean, break that down into something different. Start with eating better for the first 30 days and walking more to being more active. Build yourself a plan to get into the gym frequently. Maybe that’s finding a HIT workout studio that you like, getting a personal trainer, or even getting your friends involved and making an accountability club. Whatever it is, make stepping stones to achieving your goals and give yourself the best shot at maintaining this new life desire.

Try New Things

Life has so much to offer. From experiences, people, places, and things, life is never short of surprising. But, if you hold yourself back, you’re bound to miss out. Going into this next year, don’t be afraid to try something new! Go to a new place. Meet new people. Pick up a new hobby. Whatever it is, give it a go this year and give yourself the opportunity to try something new. You might just end up loving it, and if not, you’re bound to meet someone new through it at the very least.

Put Yourself Out There

People can be scary, there is no doubt about that. I oftentimes find myself fearful when I walk into a room of new people, or when I’m in a new work environment. I’m constantly worried about what people might think of me or if I am good enough. The reality is, odds are people are worried about themselves and aren’t thinking about you. Don’t let your anxious thoughts of other people’s possible opinions of you stop you from being you! Step into a new room with confidence. Be proud of the person you are this far in your life. Be confident in the energy you bring to the table and hold your head up high. Introduce yourself to that person you’ve been dying to meet. Start that thing you’ve been thinking about. Don’t hesitate to put yourself out there. The world is lucky to have you! To read more about gaining self-confidence and living without hesitation, click here to read Put Yourself Out There. Start That Thing!  Make 2025 your year!

Unpack the Old. Make Space for the New

Although it is a new year and we all like to start with a clean slate, the reality is there are things from our past that tend to follow us year after year. For some people, this can be life-long trauma or trauma from unfortunate events from the year prior. For others, this can be making amends with people you’ve cut out of your life or even seeking closure with these people. This can even just be the way you view and value yourself. Whatever it is, make space and time to allow yourself to unpack what’s been stuff under the rug. The truth is, the longer these things go uncovered, the more likely you are to trip on them in the future. Set yourself up for success and invest in your overall well-being this year. Therapy is a great way to do that for many. If you want to learn more about therapy or are wondering if therapy is good for you click here to read Therapy: We All Need It.

Create a Routine and Stick to It

Routines are crucial for success in life! I do not think that there is a one-size-fits-all when it comes to routines, as everyone’s lives, situations, responsibilities, and desires are different. I think that one important thing to note is that routines tend to be the commonality of successful people. When you build structure and consistency in your life, you set yourself up to be able to deal with life’s challenges and ebbs and flows. Creating a habit with the everyday tasks in life makes the more random ones digestible. When you fail to have a routine, it can feel as though every day is a high tide and you’re just treading water to stay at the shore. Set yourself up for success and figure out what your routine will look like. Whether that is a morning routine, an evening routine, a weekend routine, or a quarterly activity that you do to check in on yourself. Find a routine that works for you this year and stick to it. You’ll be glad that you did.

Move Your Body

Exercise is SO important! I know we’ve all heard it our whole lives and for many of us, it came easy as a kid. We were always running around, involved in sports, playing outside, or just had busy schedules. Now that we are all adults and headed in or are in the workforce, it’s likely that our activity levels have changed. Make sure you are making time to move. Whether that’s planning phone calls with your family and friends while you’re going on a walk, joining a rec league in your city, or even doing the basic gym routine, make time for it. If you are someone who finds the gym boring, maybe join a run club in your city and give running a try. If you hate running, maybe join a gym and see if you like it. I’m personally not a huge fan of cardio, but I love weight training and recreational exercise. Find what works for you and make it a habit this year. Better yet, find yourself a group of friends who enjoy the same and hold each other accountable. Life is better with community!

Take Time to Slow Down and Reflect

Although it’s great to look ahead and become excited over everything that the new year has to offer, it’s also very important to stay present in the now and absorb all that it has to offer as well. Sometimes the most beautiful moments in life are right in front of you, but you’ll miss them when you focus on mile marker 210. I fall victim to this a lot. The year will end and I’ll look back and reflect and genuinely forget all that has occurred. Slowing down and reflecting is something I’ve been working on a lot over this past year. There is beauty in every day, and it’s up to me to be able to recognize and receive that. Even in the low moments. If this is something you struggle with as well, you might enjoy reading The 5 Things I’ve Learned About Time. If you are also working on daily reflection,  click here to download the OSC20s Dialy Reflection Journal Template. 

Spoil Yourself

I don’t know about you, but I have developed a negative connotation with this idea over the years. I’m not sure where it came from but it’s something I’ve started to see differently over this past year and hope to carry with me into the next year. There is nothing wrong with spoiling yourself. You work hard and have done a lot to get to the point you are at in life. Treat yourself and pat yourself on the back for all your hard work. Spoiling yourself can be as simple as getting yourself a dessert at dinner out with friends, or even allowing yourself to go out with friends! Spoiling yourself can be upgrading your gear from your favorite hobby or treating yourself to a massage. Whatever it is, do it! At the end of the day, what’s the point of success, making more money, and growing, if you never get to reap the fruits of your labor along the way?

Rest and Be Present

Resting and being present go hand in hand with taking time to slow down and reflect in my opinion, so what is the difference you might ask? Resting! It’s an easy thing to forget with how fast life moves. Of course, we go to bed each night, but what about the end of a crazy work week? Do you take time to just be alone and decompress? This is the part of resting we tend to forget. We get so caught up in checking off each thing on our schedule or to-do list that we forget to just be and do the slow things in life. This was a big wake-up call for me at the top of the year. To hear more about it, click here to read Be More Present. 

The new year will be here before you know it and there’s no better time to prepare than now. Take the time and set yourself up for success this year. You got this! Hopefully, these tips will help you answer the question ‘how to make 2025 your year’.

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If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Have It

Getting Through the Uncomfortable

There’s something sweet about a reward for doing what the majority wouldn’t do. I’d argue getting through the uncomfortable is the hardest part. Having to be the first one to start the conversation. Being the one to speak up in a room of opposite thinkers. Speaking the first words of vulnerability in a sea of silence. Packing up your stuff and starting to move to a new city. These are all the worst parts – the uncomfortable. I’m coming from experience when I say this, but once you get past this part, you’ve made it through the hardest part. It’s up from there! That saying, “Just rip the band-aid off”, I think it is true in every sense of the word. Get through the hardest part. Dive in head first. Don’t delay it. Because after that part, comes healing. After that part, comes growth. After that part comes new beginnings, and sometimes even a new way forward.

The Ugly Parts

Your Gut

Vulnerability – the Ultimate Courage

It’s scary I know. I used to hate it, and sometimes I still do. I’m not sure I know anyone who really likes it, but fortunately or unfortunately, it’s a part of life. You can’t escape it and to be honest, you can’t fake it.

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Time. It’s been the thing I’ve always wanted to speed up and just get to the point.

Time. The thing that’s had me glued to a clock watching each second tick away, focusing on the future while I’m missing out on the present.

I can’t say that I’m known for being an impatient person, because I don’t think that’s quite it. I think many people would say that I am a patient person. I think only the closest people to me know, that at my core, I can be an anxious person about the things I care about most – I guess we probably all are by that premise. I care so deeply about my goals and the finish line, that the stuff in the middle – I’d rather skip over – at least the old me used to feel that way.

It’s been a wild few years, and the last year has been one to remember for sure. I’ve learned many things over this past year. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned a lot about those around me and the people I care most about. I’ve learned a lot about what I thought I wanted out of life, and what I now realize I truly want out of life. Most importantly, I learned to grow a new perspective on time.

1. The End Goal Isn’t Everything.

My eyes used to be fixed upon the finish line. I’d do anything to make sure it happened, and I’d give up anything for its certainty. This past year, I realized that the end goal is such a static way of looking at time. Fixing myself upon the finish line meant one thing—I missed the lessons that the journey had in store for me to make the finish line just that much sweeter.

I don’t know if you’ve ever trained for a marathon – if you haven’t gotten to this part of your 20s yet, congratulations, you’ve somehow gotten past the cults that are run clubs in your 20s, ha. But if you can imagine training for a marathon (a marathon is 26.2 miles for those who don’t know), it’s a JOURNEY to say the least.

When you train for a marathon, you start by probably barely getting through a mile without feeling out of breath. Then after a while, you’re running 13 miles, and that feels like the first mile you ever ran. At this point, you’ve stopped going out for Friday night drinks, because you’re so hyper-focused on feeling and being your greatest. While training, you sustain some injuries along the way. You learn how to start pacing food and water at different mile markers, so your body gets used to digesting and fueling you throughout the run. Then eventually, eventually, you complete your first 26-mile run, and you fully feel what you’re in for! Marathon day is a couple weeks away, and you’re excited, but also probably a bit tired. You see the big day on your calendar, and you’re excited for it, but you also have to remember to rest for it. This way, you don’t overwork your body and tire yourself out before the big day. The big day comes, and you wake up bright and early to get to the start of the race, and you’re off. The thing you’ve been training for is finally here, and you remember everything you worked on and learned to get to this point. Each mile marker is now a representation of an action to help you get to the next. You get to the halfway point, and you’re full of adrenaline, ready to get to the end. The last five miles suddenly become a bit harder, but you finish it. You finish the marathon, and your body is beaten, but your mind is full of dopamine. All of the people who were cheering you on as you were running, they’re at that finish line giving you the biggest hugs and high fives, congratulating you on the humongous feat. You did it. You did the damn thing and man does it feel sweet!

I just want to point out, that crossing the finish line didn’t feel sweet because you completed the marathon – maybe in part it does, but that’s not the whole picture. The whole picture is the journey. From day one, when you couldn’t get through a mile without being winded, to completing 26.2 miles and a damn marathon at that. All the hiccups, new trials and tribulations along the way, the continuous story of overcoming the last, that’s what made it so sweet. That’s the whole picture! If you took away the journey, you’d just be left with a mundane task, and something tells me that wouldn’t have been as fulfilling.

This year, I’ve learned to look at time in this exact way, as cheesy as this might sound. Don’t get me wrong, I still want that end goal, but I’m now realizing, that the end goal isn’t that sweet without the journey. And to be honest, the finish line isn’t the best part. The best part is all the growth, lessons, and people you meet along the way of the journey to the finish line. When you rush time, you miss the journey, you lose the stories, and you stifle the growth that time allows.

2. There Is Beauty in the Suffering

I know this phrase is so cliché – but honestly, it’s true. They say pressure makes diamonds. Rushing water smooths rocks and stones. Experience is the best teacher. All of these things are made possible with the beauty of time. If you shorten the amount of time allotted in your journey, I’m sure you’ll end up with a stone, but it won’t be a diamond – the hardest Earthly substance. If you rush the process, you can end up with a smoother rock – but it won’t be a beautifully rounded pebble. If you sit and wait for time to hurry up – you’ll end up getting something, but you’ll miss the experience and great teachings that the world has to offer you. There is beauty in the now that will make you appreciate the joy that is to come, just that much more.

3. Don’t Feed into The Modern Day Pressures

I can’t be alone in the pressure I feel to do everything all at once, all before the last fleck of sand hits the bottom of the timer. I get it. I know in my own life, some things are self-inflicted, but I also know that many things come from societal pressure. The pressure to have it all figured out before a certain age. The pressure to travel to all these places before “life happens” and you can’t travel as freely anymore. The pressure to find that person, before all the “good ones” are gone and you’re left with the “left-overs”. Oh and make silly mistakes and go out and get “all the party” out of you, before you have to “really grow up”. Trust me, I get it. I think about everything, all the time. But one thing I’ve started to ask myself lately, is what timeline is this all based off? Who’s timeline at that? Is it the timeline of the generations before us? I’d argue it probably is. “Your 30s are the new 20s,” they say – I’m not sure I’m sold on that, but one thing I am certain of is the shift of our generation’s priorities. It used to be that you focused on getting married and having kids in your 20s, and then in your 30s, you’d focus on grinding and providing for your family. But what if, hear me out, what if your 20s were the time you focused on yourself, your growth, finding someone to grow with, and then in your 30s, you worried about planting roots with that person, putting all that growth to work, loving yourself and having kids with that person you got to see grow alongside you? What if it was reversed? What if your 20s were about the foundation of the house, and your 30s were about picking out the furniture and décor? That’s how I’ve started to see my life and how I want to spend time. This new perspective has helped me release the pressure valve that society has created around the time in my 20s.

>> Click here to download the OSC20s Daily Reflection Template <<

4. There Are Little Lessons Throughout Everything

I can’t say that this year of life has been my favorite. It for sure hasn’t been my worst and I wouldn’t even put it in the top five, but it most definitely wasn’t the year I was looking for as I watched the ball drop in January. Naturally, I wanted to get through it. I wanted to get to “the good part” as they say. I wanted to just find peace again – but life had a different plan in store. Little did I know, I could find peace in the interim. Little did I know, that the biggest moments of growth were going to be throughout the journey and not at the end of it. Little did I know, I’d learn so much about myself in the process. Better yet, little did I know I could laugh so much and make so many memories while I trained for mile 26.2. If I had to guess, I still have another nine miles to go, before I get to mile marker 26.2, and that’s okay. For the first time in my life, when I look behind me, I realize that I’ve run and trained for 17.2 miles, and that’s a lot farther than one mile. When I look back, I realize the new skills and lessons I learned at each mile marker and how they’ve helped me up to this point. Most importantly, when I look ahead, I’m excited and grateful for all the things the next nine miles have in store for me.

Sure, there’s an element of this that is still a race, but like most people running a marathon, I’m not running it for the winning time, I’m just trying to finish it for my own sake. I’m not an Olympian, so I’m not going to set a new record, and that’s not what this whole thing was about to begin with. It was about completing it. It was about doing the damn thing, and I’m doing the damn thing if I do say so myself. So when I get to mile 26.2, I might hurt a bit, I might exhausted, but I’m going to celebrate like no one else’s business, because I know the journey it took to get here.

5. Wait For The Diamond

Harness each stride and don’t rush the journey – no matter how thick or murky the water gets – because I promise you the gems you’ll find along the way, are going to be so much more rewarding than the rushed stone that lies at the finish line. Give yourself time to be rewarded with a diamond. And this is coming from the person who used to celebrate the passing of time and missed gems. Now, as this year comes to a close, I couldn’t image not having the gems in my pocket that I’ve collected over time. I couldn’t imagine knowing less about myself than I have discovered so far this year. And most importantly, I couldn’t imagine a life without the memories I’ve made this year. Time is a fickle thing. The funny thing I’ve learned about time is that you can’t stop it, you can’t rush it, but you sure can miss what it has to offer. They say that time is the most valuable thing that man can spend, so go spend it wisely. Get all you can out of it, because at the end of the day, it’s the one thing you can’t get back. So ask yourself, if you had to give it away, what would you want in return for it? I know I’d want as many gems as possible and a diamond to go with it.

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I’m not proud of it, but I’ve been known to send emails or hop on impromptu work calls while in the peak of a fun event and making memories with friends. This harsh reality hit me last year. The truth of the matter is that this lifestyle is not at all what I want to live or continue to attribute to. To say the least, there are many changes brewing, and I think they’re all for the best. The root of all these changes is the focus and goal of being more present.

Distractions in Modern Day Life

We live in a world where every company, entertainer, and news outlets constantly fight for our attention every second of the day. They battle for our attention, our money, our vote, and so on. Our world today constantly dangles a carrot in front of us, telling us to “come here” and indulge in something better than what we already have. We become tunnel-visioned and struggle to see what’s actually around us, not right in front of our eyes for that millisecond of time, so being present isn’t as easy as it once seemed.

Have you ever been able to sit outside in the morning, sip on your coffee, and not instantly grab your phone to scroll through social media to catch up on what you missed last night (the past)? Have you ever woken up on a Friday and immediately checked your group messages to see if there were any plans for the evening or the weekend (the future)? Have you ever gone to a show and watched it through your phone as you record the coolest moments to “save for later” (the future)? Have you ever gone to the gym to work out and constantly checked your phone or smartwatch notification in-between sets? Because I have. How can you not in today’s world?! The world is full of distractions. Something as simple as being present seems like a painstaking punishment that riddles your body and mind with anxiety and fear.

My Realization

I know the feeling all too well. I have an absolute love for nature, and places that have more animals than people are my favorite places to escape to. I try to make an annual trip to Wyoming to kick off each new year for this exact reason. This past year, I went out to ski and see friends and detach from the world. Every year, it is typically the highlight of my year and the trip I look forward to the most. This year was no different. I went with a dear childhood friend of mine. We made time to see the new hot springs that were built across from the old natural ones we used to visit. We had planned to leave the slopes a bit early that day so we could enjoy the hot springs with a local friend and watch the day turn to dusk.

The view was perfect. The temperature was a chilly 6°F, but the water was a nice 98°F, and we had ice cold sparkling drinks on the edge of the hot springs to tie all the temperatures together. The air was still, and it was perfectly quiet. All the things I wanted to enjoy on this trip were right in front of me, and I was spending time with some of the people I love the most in life. You want to know the sad part? We had a 2.5-hour reservation, but the whole time I sat there feeling antsy, thinking about all that I needed to accomplish when I got home. My mind couldn’t comprehend the current moment because I was so busy planning the next and worrying about the past (my emails and missed texts from my day on the slopes). I thought we were nearing our 2-hour mark, but when I checked my phone (of course I covered it up by getting everyone a drink refill), it turns out only 30 minutes had actually passed. I was THAT anxious, and over what? I was consumed by everything except what was right in front of me. I found myself growing irritable and stressed while in the middle of what I define as paradise. The trip itinerary that I had once dreamed over was now becoming a source of anxiety and greatly unappreciated.

That night, I talked to my childhood friend about it all. I told my friend how much I’ve struggled with the idea of just being still and how much I really wanted to correct this bad habit this year.  I told them how important it was to me to start living in the moment. I’m grateful to have someone like this friend to hold me accountable and point out when I trip up…and boy, do I trip up. I’ve also worked with my therapist on this, as well. There is always a root cause for these kinds of behaviors. It’s been super helpful for me to have the deeper understanding of self, my triggers, and a new set of tools to deal with it all. I’m a work in progress, but I will say, the days in which I am the most successful are some of the most fun and happy days for me.

Mindfulness in Daily Life

Being present isn’t about the hippie dippy part of it. It can be if that brings you joy in life, and I’d encourage you to lean into it. But when I say “be present,” I’m talking about enjoying the fruits of your labor in the moment and embracing the life that is being lived before you. It’s not about wishing and hoping for what you’d love to have in the future that is not even close to guaranteed. It’s about enjoying the now, the tangible, memorable, and fleeting moments of time that you truly cannot get back. Living in the present is about breathing and truly living in the world you are standing in. Not living with a screen in between you and the real world. Not taking photos to share with people later. Not planning something now for later. It’s just about the now. Enjoying the time that is promised to you at the moment before you have no choice but to reminisce on all the days and memories from before while you firmly grasp onto the time that you have left.

Being present is about loving and enjoying the time you have with your friends, family, and loved ones. It’s about learning the lessons and hearing the messages and conversations that the world gives you that day. Being present can also look like relaxing and fully comprehending the activity you are doing. Being present is about enjoying and harvesting instead of reaping and sowing. I know it can seem daunting for so many, but there will come a time in your life when you wish you enjoyed some time or event more. You wish you remembered more. You wish you talked about something more. I know I have already experienced those moments myself, about 60 years before I ever thought I’d have to worry about them. Don’t let that lead further into your life…that leads to regret.

Building Healthy Habits for Mindfulness

• Put your phone away. (I know…easier said than done.)
• Create phone-free events or plans with friends.
• Have your phone set on do not disturb at a certain point in the day when you want to focus on self-care. Tip: there’s a do not disturb feature on iPhones when you out are at dinners. Use it!
• Go outside and touch grass! I know we use the phrase “touch grass” as a joke nowadays, but it’s a real thing we should all do daily.
• Ask your friend to be your accountability partner.
• Don’t pick up your phone first thing in the morning. (Getting a real alarm clock has helped me do this!)
• Have slow mornings.
• Go on a walk and listen to the sounds around you. (I know this sounds stupid, but I did this recently and forgot how often I don’t actually hear the birds chirping. How sad is that?)

Enjoy Your Life

At its core, being present is about enjoying life, not just going through the motions. Live in the moment! Life can be mundane and boring as it is. It doesn’t need your help to achieve that. But to make up for the boring and mundane moments, enjoy the beautiful, bright, wholesome, wild, spontaneous, unhinged, and joyous moments of life. The only way to do that is to be more present.

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Recent studies have shown that the world population is growing sicker and sicker, despite our increasing societal and scientific innovations. The World Health Organization recently published research stating that depression is now one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people from the ages of 15-29. In the last decade alone, there has been a 13% increase in mental health conditions and substance abuse. It’s tough to ignore numbers like these. With the mental health crisis that the world is facing today, I don’t think anyone is too “good” to skip a health check in this department, and therapy is a great way to start taking care of yourself.

Disclaimer

I have not always been the biggest champion of therapy. To be honest, I used to think it was only needed if you truly had a mental aliment, experienced severe trauma in your life, or really struggling with something major. I never saw the universal value in it. I admit there was a lot of ignorance on my part, though I have grown far in my perspective since.

Last year, I started going to therapy. Coincidentally, some of my closest friends started doing the same. I quickly saw the value of it, not only in my personal life, but in my friends’ lives, too. We all come from slightly different backgrounds and have different things that boiled to the surface throughout our young lives, yet many of them are all connected to the same root issue. Anxiety, fear, inability to sleep, constant stress, feeling inferior or not enough, recent loss of loved ones, or depression are examples of these identified challenges. We all realized we were struggling with the same or similar things. I’m lucky enough to have a friend group and community that is very transparent with one another. We call or text each other when life hits the fan; we consistently tell one another what is going on and how we are feeling. This has been such a blessing in my life, and I can’t tell you how freeing it is to be fully honest with those around you. Although we give one another advice and tools that have helped us get through similar situations, having a professional on your side, like a therapist who is trained in these specific areas and probably has better hindsight than your friend group, is invaluable.

For me personally, therapy has felt like a weight off my shoulders, and it has given me a clearer understanding of who I am as a person, why I do what I do, and where I fall short in the best way possible. It helps give me a roadmap and life parameters that I keep in the back of my mind when I make decisions and go through life. It also helped me recognize certain relational patterns with other people and how I navigate them throughout my life. Therapy has empowered me to feel more in control in a multitude of ways, and I know my friends have experienced the same. Since starting therapy and unpacking my life stories, fears, and weaknesses, I have gained control of my thought processes and decision-making by understanding my building blocks to get there. I can predict the way I traditionally react or respond to a situation and can now make an informed choice about how to better react going forward. I now have a different standard of who I accept into my life and how I let others treat me. As simple as this may sound, it has profoundly changed my life, not only in my personal life, but in business and day-to-day interactions as well. So, as you continue to read this, know that this is not coming from someone who’s been screaming from the rooftops for years to advocate for mental health initiatives. It comes from a once-skeptic-turned-believer and greatly appreciative consumer.

Historic Societal Reputation

We all know how therapy has been perceived over the years. It is no secret that it has been seen as a “weakness” or something only needed for the “mentally unstable.” And I’m sure we’ve all heard the cliché statements, “If you aren’t traumatized, you don’t need it,” or “It’s a waste of time,” or even, “All therapists are quacks. If you’re religious, you don’t need a therapist. Talk to God.” As I mentioned earlier, I once ignorantly subscribed to some of these ideals as well, so I can’t quite make a mockery of the people who still believe these adages. But what I can say is that the historic reputation of therapy is becoming just that: historic. I believe this is for the better.

Why Everyone Should Consider Therapy

I just want to take the time to acknowledge our generation’s reality. Don’t get me wrong, in MANY ways we have it easier than the generations before us, but that should not overshadow the challenges that our generation endures. For starters, this technological generation is truly unlike and unrelatable to generations before us. Everything you do can be recorded forever and may be used against you at some point in your life if it ends up in the wrong hands. Your fun night out in high school or college…just wait till someone spins that into a tale of your spiraling out of control since you were young.

Social media? Oh, we all know about that all too well. There’s even a social media platform for the business/career version of you. You want to be successful? Don’t forget that there’s a published list of the most successful 20-something-year-olds that is published in Forbes every year to remind you of what you could have done if you worked even harder. 30 under 30. You want to spend time scrolling on TikTok, Reels, or Shorts before you go to bed? Remember the 17-year-old you’re probably watching is making millions. Gone are the days of being praised for living out your 20s like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton or becoming a household name like the stars on Jersey Shore. Our generation is very different than even the one before us.

Don’t even get me started on the family dynamics we all face. If you think about it, most of us probably grew up in households of handed-down trauma. We may have grandparents or great-grandparents who fought in Vietnam or World War II. Our parents, aunts, and uncles may have gone to war in Afghanistan. That in itself creates a certain mental health dynamic in a family unit. PTSD is so common in these environments, and rightfully so. This is not at all an attack on the men and women who serve to protect our borders. I can assure you that I could never do that, but I do think it is important to draw light to how few mental health services are offered to these men and women during and after their time in service. Many of us might have grown up with an alcoholic in the family or someone who had or has a substance abuse problem. Many of us come from parents who had an abusive upbringing, grew up in utter poverty, or lost a parent at a young age. All of these life experiences have, arguably, gone untreated and unaddressed for generations. Imagine how that impacted our own upbringings. Generations of complexities passed down, bubbling to the surface in various ways, with a big ole swirl of the modern world mixed into it. I think it’s about time we all ask for some help.

Our world is constantly changing and evolving, and so is your life. I think our generation is realizing the power behind something as simple as therapy to use as a tool when navigating the turmoil that life inevitably throws at you. There is vulnerability in strength and being able to articulate your feelings and emotions. This is a superpower that we should all lean into, not shy away from.

How Therapy Can Improve Your Life

As I mentioned before, your brain is an extremely important organ in your body. Treat it just like you do the rest and give it a check-up, then make it hit the gym (therapy) and do some exercises. Now, everyone’s reasoning for going to therapy will be different. I can share why it has been important to me and some of my friends, and you can determine whether any of these reasons resonate with you.

• It can help you better frame or understand your life.
• It can help you foster deeper, stronger, healthier, and more intentional relationships. Whether with friends, family, or a partner.
• It can help you mend or learn how to navigate tough family dynamics.
• It can help prevent you from passing on your trauma to the next generation, your spouse, your friends, or co-workers.

Emotional intelligence is a skillset that is more powerful than most people realize. Having control and dictation over your emotions will serve you greatly in every aspect of your life, so don’t scoff at the idea of growth in this arena. It’s not easy to cope with modern life challenges, so give yourself the best shot possible.

Affordable Therapy Options

Therapy can be very expensive, especially in the United States.  I’d argue it’s a flaw in the American Health System because therapy is often not seen as medical treatment but an optional service. I can’t speak for the system that exists in other countries, as that is not my experience, but I hope that there are some overlaps here in the options provided below. Before you count therapy out due to your finances, see if some of these options may work for you.

1. See if your job offers mental health services. More and more employers are willing to cover this expense or provide options to help.
2. Check out online therapy services like betterhelp.com, growtherapy.com, talkspace.com, etc.
3. Look into whether your health insurance has any options. Give them a call…you’d be surprised what they might cover.
4. Look for a therapist on zocdoc.com. Many of them are free or very cheap with insurance.

Another aspect to think about is making appointments as you see fit or as you can afford them. I do not think the “all or nothing” approach is the best way to enter therapy. You don’t have to go weekly, or even bi-weekly, especially if you can’t afford it at this moment in time. Make a system you can afford to keep up with and stick to it.

You can also reassess your spending and determine if there are other areas you can cut back on that don’t provide much value, then reallocate that money accordingly. If therapy is still not possible for you, that’s okay. Maybe make it an obtainable goal for your health and well-being in the future.

Invest in Yourself

I don’t mean to sound crass because I know therapy can be a touchy subject, and it truly can be like opening Pandora’s box for many. But if you take a step back and recognize where you spend your time, where you put your money, what you pay for to improve your skillset or your education, I want you to ask yourself why you don’t view improving your mental health and taking care of yourself as a similar initiative. Treat therapy as self-care. Treat therapy as a pathway for personal growth. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. So why not start today, if you can? Something tells me you’ll be glad you did in the end.

Sources

Brain Anatomy and How the Brain Works. (2021, July 14). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/anatomy-of-the-brain#:~:text=The%20brain%20is%20a%20complex,process%20that%20regulates%20our%20body.

Mental health. (2019, December 19). https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1

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