What I would tell my 26 year old self
Turning 26 this year felt…odd. I was both emotionally confused and wanting absolute no attention to the fact that I’ve now entered my late 20’s. I think it’s the perfect year to re-evaluate where I’m headed, how I’m getting there, and if any changes are necessary.
So I asked people if they could go back to their 26 year old self, what advice they would give. From close family and friends to strangers I met at a bar, even from Uber drivers during my travels:
Don’t panic. You still have plenty of time. You’re hopefully only a quarter to a third of the way through your life, and you’ve already done and experienced so much.
I think I would tell my 26 year old me to be more humble. Work smarter not harder (I used to work 80 hour weeks). Take a real vacation once in a while instead of working vacation.
You have to do what you love. You spend 90% of your life working, make sure it’s something you want to wake up for.
The importance is not in completing a task but in paying attention to the details and doing it right.
Be more open to meeting new people/friends
No grudge is worth all the stress that comes with it so just reflect upon the situation and say what you have to say. Apologize for your portion, explain what you need to and listen if you have to.
Now is the time to make your bold moves, take chances that will challenge you and make you uncomfortable, because you don’t have much to lose. Put yourself out there. If you’re interested in a particular field/discipline, jump at roles that will help you get you there (even if they’re lower than your pay grade/title), but future proof it and try to see the eventual path it will lead to. In this day and age, skills and mindset are more important than titles.
Notice when you start to act like a chameleon, what situations make you want to blend in and say yes to things you don’t want to do. Notice who makes you feel like that. Your opinions matter.
Learn and read more books.
I would tell myself not to fall in love with worldly things too deeply or become too dependent on them, including people. Everything at its own time shall pass. Be fully present in that moment.
You are time rich – and none of your time thus far as been wasted.
Be patient with your career. A lot of us at 26 are a couple of years into their career, have crazy ambitions and want to take on the world at once. It’s a good attitude to have, but I think it’s key to understand that being successful (however you define it) takes time.
Pay close attention to your mentors and don’t expect to solve all the world’s problem at once.
12:30am is no longer an appropriate bedtime.
You are living a great life. It’s hard to not live in the amazing-now, but put money away and start saving aggressively. You’ll be so grateful as it opens up for room for options and better choices in the future.
Keep volunteering! 10 years from now you’ll look back and be glad that you had the chance to give back as much as you did.
Get ready for the adventure. You’ll have a set view of how things will turn out but plans will change. So put your seatbelt on and go on the ride.
“It feels like time is fleeting and always speeding up – yet that’s the pressure the world puts on us. So do what really satisfies your soul.”
26 – a good time to reflect while eating donuts.
And a BIG thank you to everyone that contributed to this post.