This is a time of wonder and excitement. You’ve left the confinement of your parent’s home or college dormitory, and you’re stepping into a world all your own. Freedom! It is an exciting time, but it is also a dangerous one – not because you’re going out on your own – that’s part of growing up – but because you’re doing it with only your twenties ahead of you.
You don’t want to do life alone, nor do you want to make mistakes that could haunt you for the rest of your life. You need these five things in place before you step out of the nest on your own.
1. A career path
It’s not for everybody, but once you have a career path and goals set and work towards them and achieve them. A career is a way of shaping and maturing your character and provides you with stability in your life.
2. A support system
This is your family and friends, who will keep you grounded when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the world around you; this is also your church community or other faith-based groups that will give you positive encouragement.
3. Financial stability
This means having an income, but it also means being able to manage your money so that you can live on it without stressing over every penny. If you don’t have a job yet, find one. If necessary, take an unpaid internship or volunteer position to gain experience until you are able to land your dream job.
Although many 20-somethings are not thinking about their financial future, it’s vital to have your finances in place so that you can handle the unexpected twists and turns that come with being on your own. You never know what tomorrow will bring, but if you’re financially responsible today, you’ll be able to handle anything that comes up.
4. Personal maturity
Really, this is saying the same thing as number 3, but more in the form of relationship skills. It’s learning how to interact with others in a kind, mature way – learning how to work through conflict and putting your ego aside for the good of the group.
5. A life plan
You need to know where you are going or what you want out of life. That doesn’t mean you have it all figured out, but it does mean you have some inkling of what the future holds for you.
In your 20s, life is all about developing who you are as a person and learning from mistakes so that you can be better in the long run. Oh, and get Life Insurance, here’s why Shawn Meaike feels so strong about it.
In Conclusion
It’s exciting when you’re in your twenties, and it’s exciting for parents too. They get to see their children spread their wings and start doing life on their own. It’s a proud moment, but also a scary one because that child is wholly dependent on themselves at this stage of life. Just remember these five things to have in place before you step out of the nest on your own, and everything should go smoothly. You’ve got this!
