5 Easy Ways 20-Somethings Can Make Better Use of Their Time

I’m 22.

Actually, I’m 22-and-a-half. And in my 22-and-a-half years, I’ve done everything in my power to keep myself busy.

I started my first job at 15, working at a local ice cream shop. I was a two sport athlete in high school and was lucky enough to continue my athletic career in college, playing football at a DIII university. I had the (incredible) opportunity to study abroad in Dublin, where I discovered my love of writing. I’ve worked at least one job every summer break, working two jobs one summer and three jobs the summer after that. And I started my first full-time job as a writer and partnerships coordinator at a startup called Digital Press one week after graduation.

Needless to say, I’ve spent a lot of my time, well, investing time into things — be it work, school, sports, hobbies.

And what I’ve learned, is this:

Keeping busy is essential to personal growth.

Too many twenty-somethings waste time.

They waste time watching Game of Thrones. They waste time scrolling through their Twitter feed. They waste time editing pictures for Instagram (a.k.a. caring about what other people think). They waste time at the same bar with the same people every Friday night.

Worst of all, they waste time telling people how they want to make X amount of money, don’t set any goals, then sit back and wait for success to happen as if they deserve it.

Too many twenty-somethings waste time. Period.

In order to discover your interests, what you like and dislike, who you are, and ultimately, your purpose in life, you need to invest time in yourself by experiencing as much as you can — a.k.a., keeping busy.

If you’re looking to be more productive with your time — considering the little time we have on this planet — look to invest time in yourself.

Don’t know where to start?

Try any (or all) of these:

Read

• When I ask people my age, “What was the last book you read,” and they respond, “Lord of the Flies my junior year of high school,” I cringe. Reading is the easiest positive habit to pick up and is crucial for personal development. Next time you go to watch T.V., pick up a book instead. Regardless of what you’re reading, it’s better to flip pages in a book than flip channels on a screen.

Go outside

• I don’t care what the weather says. Get outdoors and take a walk, go for a bike ride, go for a run, play basketball, play golf — do something other than scroll on social media. In fact, get rid of your social apps altogether. Make ‘being active’ part of your daily routine. You’re not missing out on anything.

Hang around likeminded people

• Realize something: we are all a product of our environment. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re a make-up of the 5 people you spend the most time with. If you want to invest your time wisely, hang out with people who have the same vision for personal growth as you do. It’s your life. Don’t waste it around people that bring you down.

Travel

• Experience is life’s greatest teacher. Instead of wasting all of your money at the bar on weekends, save up and take a trip to a new city once a month. If you can, travel to another country as often as possible. Go with your friends, go alone — it doesn’t matter. What does matter, is getting out and seeing the world. You’ll learn more about yourself than you ever thought you could.

Stop talking, take action

• Twenty-somethings need to stop talking. All the time I hear people my age say, “I’m going to do this and I’m going to do that and I’m going to make this amount of money and buy that car,” yet do nothing to actively work toward those goals. Newsflash: anyone can talk — you aren’t special. Unless you’re going to be productive, set goals and diligently work toward bettering yourself, please do everyone a favor and stop talking.

(NOTE): Before anyone tries to argue this let me be the first to say, you’ll have plenty of time for friends, family, and extracurriculars. It might take some time to find a balance, but in time, you will. So take a breath, relax, and invest time in yourself by keeping busy.)

Thanks for reading!

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