I was 25 on 4th September. You probably already knew that from my endless tweets over the past month where I’m fretting and panicking about getting older and the fact that turning 25 felt like such a huge, scary and daunting milestone for me. Well, it’s one that inevitably happened (I’m writing this in August and it feels weird to say inevitably because it’s not inevitable because I could very well die before I turn 25 and wow this post turned super morbid very quickly) – I’m 25 now and I’m still fretting and still panicking and still wondering when (if ever) I’ll start to feel like an adult. I’ve been thinking about things from a 25 year olds newly found perspective and here’s my list of things 25 year olds (myself included) should definitely be doing now.
1. Brushing your teeth properly: It’s boring and I hate it but I don’t wanna be scuppered with shit teeth when I’m 40 cos I couldn’t be arsed brushing them at 25.
2. Taking your make up off before bed: There is no excuse not to do this is literally takes a minute.
3. Just taking care of your skin in general: it’s taken me 25 years to get to the point where I actually want to take better care of my skin.
4. Checking your boobs / balls more regularly: we’re still young but cancer can happen to anyone. Check them.
5. Crying: we should be able to cry and not feel bad / guilty / pathetic about it by now. There’s a lot to cry about when you’re 25.
6. Saving money: whether it’s for a rainy day, a holiday or a mortgage- at 25 we should know how to save money and already have some saved up.
7. Not caring what people think of us: come on, we’re not in school anymore and we really shouldn’t care whether Carol from yoga class thinks you have a big bum.
8. Embracing your body: 25 is probably the age we should be embracing our bodies for what they are and not doing something to them just because someone else says so. Like shaving. Or getting a piercing.
9. Cooking: at 25, you should be able to cook something which doesn’t involve putting the microwave on. It’s always handy to have a few favourite dishe recipes stored away.
10. Using appliances: dish washer, washing machine, oven – we should all know how to use these things at 25. After phoning our mum.
11. Not comparing your journey to someone else’s: At 25, it’s important to remember that everyone goes at their own pace and it’s easy to look at people you went to school with who are miles ahead of you on this big life journey and feel let down in yourself. At 25, some people have a baby and a house. At 25, some people are travelling the world. At 25, some people still live with their parents. And there’s no right or wrong way to do life.
Do you agree with any of these? Do you have any to add?
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The Lilac Linnet
I think 25 is the most important and it’s actually a really good age where individual journeys come into perspective. There really isn’t one way to do things and you should just make sure your journey is the best fit for you 🙂 I think I would add ‘being able to agree to disagree/ learning to say no’ something I’ve always struggled with, but it’s a true skill. Being able to say no/disagree without anxiety and in a peaceable way really improves your relationships and your own life (especially worklife). Being kind is good but being kind to ourselves is also important.
Jen xxx
Learning to say no is a really important one. We have to learn to do what is right for us sometimes and not just agreeing to something because we feel like we need to xxx
such a great list, i really need to implement some of these! X
This has actually helped me quite a bit right now. I turn 20 in 15 days and my family keep saying to me “oh you won’t be a teenager then you’ll be a proper adult” and it really worries me because I can’t adult haha. I’m terrified of ringing important places on the phone. Also, the thing you said about our journeys at our own place is so true! Most of my friends went to university two years ago, but I didn’t go then because I didn’t know what I wanted to study and I knew I just wasn’t ready for it but now I’m hoping to go next year. Also one of my best friends is 17 and has a baby and lives with her partner, our journeys are miles apart but that’s what’s fun about life you don’t know where the journey will take you 🙂
Absolutely! Being 17 and having a baby works for one person but not for another and that’s fine. You’ll be fine – 20 is SO young so enjoy it (:
Thank you, to me I still feel 15/16 haha
Happy Birthday! That is a great list that you have composed! I felt 25 was a hard one too!!
Thank you (: 25 is so daunting!
I agree with all of these! That part where we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others really got me. I tend to do that a lot. Even though I’ve been in New York for 2 years now, left my home country Malaysia just to pursue my American dream, from time to time I still feel I am lacking. Need to change that mindset and just be happy with whatever I achieved so far, I suppose!
margheritaessa.com
I think that’s an AMAZING achievement! You should be thrilled with what you’ve achieved so far & I’m sure so many people (myself included) would love to have the guts / money / circumstances / courage to move to another country and start again (: xx
I’m only 19 but I should really take on these tips! Thank you for helping me get my life together haha great post as always girly xxx
Haha you’re welcome (; I’m sure you’re doing fine though!
Happy belated birthday lovely!
This is a great list. I’m going to be 20 next month and I already do most of these(except for saving money).
A Sparkle Of Grace
Thank you (: xx
Love this post!! I agree with all of your points, although I think the earlier you start the better, 100%!! I do most of these and I’m only 20 – Although I’m still terrible with money xx
Jamie | http://www.jamies-corner.com
Same here!
It’s a great list that I think needs to be implemented now😉 thanks for you thoughts! And happy birthday🎈🎁🎉
Thank you (:
I love that you mentioned not comparing yourself to anyone. My favouritee saying is “comparison is the thief of joy” – which I think is so true. I only wish I’d learned that before 25. Also, you are totally, totally right about brushing your teeth. My teeth are awful and I wish I’d been kinder to them!
Kate x
http://www.findingkate.co
I’ve heard that quote a few times since having this post go up! It’s so so true <3
I agree with most of them accept for the crying part. I mean, I don’t think should ever be ashamed to cry, but I don’t think there’s a lot to cry about. There’s a lot of stuff we can do in live no matter how old or young we are.
That’s true but some people are more natural criers than others and those people need to know that it’s okay to cry x
Wow… That sounds amazing… It is a must read article. Loved the way you described it… I am 23 and I totally agree with all what you told here.
Hope you are happy with your age now. I loved being that age ( I’m 40 now – my teeth are fine because I brushed 😉).
Great list but the one that stands out for me is DON’T compare yourself with anyone! Whatever your age, it is a sure way to feel miserable.
Ps. I have enjoyed your birthday related posts.
Amanda.
Thanks so much Amanda – and great to know that your teeth are still in tact haha (; I’ll continue to brush properly! Comparing yourself to people is a useless exercise. But obviously it’s hard not too sometimes. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them! xxx
Happy belated birthday 🎉 I’m 24 but I already fulfilled most of your points.
Thank you (: xx
A great post. I wasn’t doing a lot of these when I was 25. Definitely we must stop comparing to others. Everyone has their own pace of achieving things and also different priorities. Happy belated birthday 😊
Absolutely! You can’t compare yourself to someone your age who has a baby if you don’t want one yourself. And if that’s not your priority then that’s absolutely fine (: xx
I turn 25 in three weeks and I’m definitely going to be taking these ideas on board 😀 I’ve been getting into such a state about turning 25. Like, my MID twenties!? I still feel about 15 sometimes! I agree with all your points. The point about embracing your body really struck a chord with me because I spent so many years obsessing over my weight. When I was 18, I thought it was perfectly okay to have a raw carrot for my lunch and my weight dropped so much that I could count all of my ribs without breathing in. I was so miserable and it was all because I felt being ‘skinny’ was what was expected of me. I felt my worth was defined by the size of my clothes and it’s taken me many years to realize that my natural self – my larger thighed, big-boobed, not-flat tummy self – is fine. I love my body and I think everyone should love their own bodies, regardless of their size or perceived ‘imperfections’.
Great post! <3
Awh thank you so much for sharing this and I’m so glad to hear you’re embracing yourself as you are and learning to love yourself. I need to work on that still. 25 is scary for some people! It was for me. But you’ll be fine (: xxx
I agree with practically all of these! They are super important. I can definitely relate to not comparing your journey to someone else. I feel like I need to learn how to do this now!
-GG
http://www.girlingamba.com
We all need to learn how to do this! It robs you of happiness if you’re constantly comparing where you are in life to someone else your age. It’s also irrelevant xx
Great post, was really interesting to read. Definitely important points there that we should all be doing! I’m really try to look after my skin now. Happy belated birthday by the way! Xx
https://allaboutamy.uk
Thank you (: xx
Loved this post! I’ve just turned 20 so I’m absolutely loving reading posts about life in your 20s 💕 I recently published a post about 20 Things I learned in 20 Years if you’re interested in reading it! Xx
https://femaleoriginal.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/20-things-ive-learned-in-20-years/
Awh I’m so glad! You’ve got a lot to look forward to (; xx
This is so important because it ranges from little self care things to huge important things and life lessons! Thank you for this inspiration x
Absolutely! The little things matter just as much (: zx
Ahhh I’m always having nightmares about all of my teeth falling out – I heard it’s something to do with worry? Anyway, yes, it’s so important to take care of ourselves which can be especially difficult with uni, new jobs, etc! but our future selves will thank us for it 🙂
I’ve had nightmares like that before and they’re so scary aren’t they?! Ugh! I’m always so paranoid about my teeth falling out!
I struggle with 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 11! I’m
pretty good at crying though and do it often!
Nothing wrong with a good cry, it can be very therapeutic (:
Love these to do’s. 25 seems a looooong time ago now but embracing your body is the the one that resonates most with me. Wish I had done that at 25, things have gone very much downhill since then, haha! X
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
I’m sure you look just as beautiful Lisa! Age and bodies isn’t a correlation that peaks in your 20’s for sure!
I’m 22 but I’m definitely jumping on board with this list. Especially that last one – comparing our own journey to others results in so much unnecessary stress and hurt. Also – tbh I think I need to hire someone to smack me every time I ignore #2. I know it doesn’t take that long but I just can’t help it. I have a problem.
love this list!
xDana
It absolutely does and its irrelevant what everyone else is doing! That’s the one I think is most important and we all need to work on (: xx
I really liked this post, i’ve turned 20 recently and i still find myself phoning my mum asking how to use appliances aha!
Haha! Nothing wrong with that. My dad is in way older than 20 and doesn’t know how to use various appliances!
Yessss! I cannot agree more. I’m 27 and do most of these – recently I’ve started taking better care of my skin but I haven’t slept with makeup on since I was a teen haha
Yay that’s brilliant! I haven’t really either, since I was around 18 and was out drinking and clubbing most of the time and by 4 in the morning comes around, you just can’t be bothered haha!
FIrst off…happy birthday for the other week! 25 is a big age isn’t it? I don’t think many people get just how big of a deal it can be. When I turned 25 I was constantly thinking and worrying about how my friends were doing this and that at my age and yet I felt somewhat stuck and didn’t know which path I was on. All worked out well in the end though! You’ve given some really good advice, especially the one about not caring what others think! X
I feel exactly how you did. Some people just don’t think about it but for others, 25 or these “milestones” can be very daunting. 25 seems such a tiny age in the grand scheme of things but it is scary.
Love this post! I agree that you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people!
Absolutely not!
I’m trying 21 in a couple a months, don’t think I need to do too much growing up as of yet but, I still need to learn to do some new things, thinking about learning to cook some new things, it’s always handy to know!
Absolutely and cooking can be so much fun and therapeutic too! I love spending time in the kitchen cooking myself something nice.
deffo agree on the skin front, I really wish I’d done that when I was 25 lol I would add to your list and say explore more. Looking back I don’t think I had a bigger disposable income or lack of responsibility than I did in my early twenties, I wish I’d done it.
Hannah @ The Northern Writes | http://www.thenorthernwrites.co.uk
Good one although I don’t believe travelling is the be all and end all. But I support exploring doesn’t necessarily mean travelling does it? You can explore your local area more thoroughly and that’s not travelling!
Great posts! Looking after yourself and not caring as much is something I need to do more
Thank you (:
Comparison is the thief of joy. You’re absolutely right to just focus on your own journey! Also definitely looking after your skin properly is a must. xx
That’s a brilliant quote and you’re so right. I’ve got myself into some very deep, dark pits by comparing myself to others before xx
Jenny – loved this blog ! hilarious – do you fancy taking a guest blog form a 55 year old answering the same questions – with the benefit of 30 extra years! Could be quite a laugh.
I’m glad you liked it (: I’m not currently taking guest posts right now but that’s a great idea – would love to see that post.
Love ❤️ your list! As a mother of a 27, 25 and 20 year olds I can only pray they have these in their list. Happy Belated birthday 🎉
Haha! I’ll pray on your behalf too (; thank you (: xx
I’m almost 30 and I still struggle with some of these. 😕 This is a good list though.
Happy belated!
Thank you (: oh yes I’m sure many people do! Just because we struggle with them doesn’t mean we’re not doing okay! (: x
Happy late birthday!!!!
Thank you (: