November 2018, my 20th birthday. That day I went out excitedly for a dress in my university town. The dress ended up being a reduced sparkly number from Zara that I still own. We later went out and had a very drunken night of fun and late-night food.
My 24th birthday was different. One friend, an overpriced rooftop bar and dancing at Revolution sipping two-for-one cocktails.
Nights out are one of the biggest differences in your early 20s vs. your mid-20s. Barely drunk, stone-cold sober, ending the night with a garlic bread pizza from Fireaway Grill. What has changed? I thought as I woke up the next morning, a year older and sadder. And then it dawned on me – I’m no longer in my early 20s.
Your 20s are supposed to be a time when you’re having fun, finishing your educational endeavours, getting into relationships or moving out. But that’s entirely the problem: the pressure to accomplish milestones and to succeed. As someone who is 24, here are some of my tips on how to survive the change.
1. Embrace your changing body
If there is one thing that will hit you like a truck, it’s the changes in your body. It differs for everyone but according to Dr Boyle, you may notice a greater percentage of fat in your hips, thighs and breasts. In your early 20s, it may be easy to stay slimmer because your metabolism is at its highest. However, by your mid-20s your weight can start to fluctuate. Don’t feel disheartened if you’re exercising and are not reaching your goals as quickly as you used to.
As someone who struggled with their weight fluctuating, I can confidently say it is harder to lose weight now. But I have learnt to be more patient with myself, maintain a balanced diet and exercise in a less intense but more productive manner. Embrace your new bodies girls, you’re a grown woman now!
2. Invest in your health
In your younger years, you may have indulged in drinking, partying and easy ready-meals, which aren’t the most nutritious. As you enter your mid-20s, it is imperative to invest in your health (if you aren’t already). You don’t need to break the bank with expensive treatments or nutritionists but just be mindful of what you put into your body.
Our bodies need a lot of vitamins, so find a good multivitamin, ideally one for women’s health to take regularly. Asking your doctor for routine blood checks is a great way to keep on top of your vitamin levels and see if you’re deficient in anything. Women tend to lack iron, so check you’re not deficient and always do your research before you decide on a vitamin.
For your physical and mental health, exercise is a must to release endorphins – happy hormones! As someone who was not much of a gym-goer, finding a cheap membership with an accessible gym really helped motivate me to lose weight. I can’t say I am exactly achieving this goal, but finding a form of exercise you love, whether it is a sport or something that gets you moving, is great.
3. Craft a simple and tailored skincare routine
Invest in your skincare. The older we get, the more our skin is prone to damage and ageing, so having a structured and easy skincare routine is the key to protecting your skin. Firstly, figure out your skin type if you don’t know already. You can use the skin-type guide by Esteem Royale Cosmetics to find yours out.
Secondly, products don’t have to be expensive either. Boots and Superdrug stock plenty of affordable skincare brands, such as Cervae and Nivea. All you need is a good cleanser, moisturiser and SPF and you can build your routine from there. Shopping on LOOKFANTASTIC or Beauty Bay is also a great way to find skincare bundles and deals.
4. Set realistic goals for yourself
Goal-setting may seem generic, but it works wonders to keep you focused. Comparison is the thief of joy, and social media will have you thinking you have failed at 24! Setting weekly, monthly and yearly goals that are achievable, whether they’re academic, financial or work-related helps you to manifest what you want. I want to move out next year and setting a realistic timeline will help me achieve this.
Prioritising each goal also helps you to understand which ones are most important to you. Do you want a new job first or do you want to make time for the new hobby beforehand? For example, In the current cost-of-living crisis, I have found moving out next to impossible. Securing a full-time job has also proven to be difficult as a graduate, so I’ve made sure I focus on that before my other goals.
With the rising costs and an unstable job market, I’ve questioned my goals and wondered if they’re plausible. What we must remember is that existential circumstances are temporary, and our own goals are for life. I’ve struggled, cried and pleaded to find a full-time job nine months on. Still, I wait for that acceptance email, but I keep going and working hard.
5. Do not lose yourself in a relationship
As someone who entered their first serious relationship in their early 20s, it’s hard to have anything to compare it to. Those of us in this boat aren’t well-versed in knowing the dos and don’ts of a relationship. If you’re comparing dating experiences in your early 20s to mid-20s, the best advice is to remain true to yourself.
Staying authentic is the easiest way to keep your identity outside of a relationship. That year-long honeymoon period is great, but remember who you are! Do not cancel your plans to see them, and stay busy with your work and life outside of them. Relationships are about compromise and the reasons you were drawn to each other existed before you co-existed. It’s healthy to have passions, hobbies and relationships outside of your partner.
Navigating your early 20s vs. your mid-20s is hard, but keeping a good head on your shoulders and thinking about what you want out of the fundamental areas of your life helps. This is the time for new experiences and to go harder on your work-hard play-hard mentality. You’re still youthful, you just have more responsibilities now. Don’t get absorbed in social media, focus on your goals and relationships, and everything will come to fruition.
Find more self-improvement articles here >
Written by Sophie Humphrey
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
