'O'Captain my Captain' | Confronting pressure in your Twenties.

Your twenties are supposed to be a time of self discovery and taking risks, but in the midst of a global pandemic the light hearted and careless times seem out of our grasp. Trapped in our homes, I’m certain we have all comforted the thoughts “What am I doing with my life?”, “Am I falling behind?”, “Should I be doing more?”

Sometimes the feeling that you should be at a different place in life can overwhelm you; people you went to school with are moving out or getting engaged, university friends are secure in their cosy grad jobs, even your parents have told you that at your age they were married and had you in their arms.

The pressure of your twenties is real, and each passing birthday is a reminder that your childhood and careless years are becoming fond memories. It feels like it’s time to settle down and think about the future, but doesn’t it all seem so out of grasp?

Despite the overwhelming feeling that life is coming at you faster than ever before, this is still the decade to take risks. Since you were 16 years old you’ve been asked to make decisions that affect your future. what A levels you took, what university or colleges you applied to, what degree or course you decided to take. Ever since your teacher asked you what career path you wanted to take, you’ve been pushed onto a path that maybe you weren’t 100% certain of. And so, maybe you’re coming to the end of your degree, or you’ve graduated and you’re thinking ‘what now?’

Well, the answer is...WHATEVER YOU WANT!

You are not the same person you were when you made these decisions, you might regret your choices and fancy a completely different lifestyle to the one you once thought was ‘safe’, ‘well paid’, or ‘fun’. So, What’s next? If you settled down tomorrow would you be content with everything you achieved and the experiences you had?

Your twenties are a time where you have the most freedom in life, and your future is still ahead of you. So, make mistakes and discover a life that you know you can be excited for, don’t settle for less.

---

During lockdown there has been a boom in small businesses, run by people who are passionate about what they do, and in charge of how they do it. If you are passionate about something, start up that website or instagram page and get started! It may seem scary and unachievable, but many owners of these small businesses have given testimonies on their accounts and offer advice on how they got their idea off the ground and running!

(Check out our ‘small businesses we love’ post for some ideas)

---

Stepping off a plane and feeling the humid air hit you in the face feels like a hopeless dream at the moment, but this won’t be the case forever! Your twenties could not be a more perfect time to explore the world and get out of your comfort zone. Meet new people, discover a different way of life and learn new languages and customs! Get all those things checked off your bucket list now! You may even discover that you love it so much, you won’t want to come home. Earn money as you go and you might find a new career path you never considered before, there could be a whole other life waiting for you out there.

---

Learn new skills. Discover what you’re good at and find a hobby. Online classes are readily available during lockdown, so why not learn how to cook or pick up a new language at home. Find out what makes you happy and what you thrive at! You could even create a blog about it!

---

All in all, I think it’s safe to say that your twenties is a learning curve and you are starting to take notice of the different stages everyone else is at in life, but they’re not you! Go at your own pace, make the most out of the life you want and stop comparing yourself to other people. This is your life, you are in control.