Apurva BhiwapurkarCruising through the quarter-life crises, it was time to turn 27. Damn! Remember how eager we are like kids to grow up and be on our own? Well, maybe not so excited anymore, right?
Adulting is hard. Living alone comes at a cost of paying rent. Buying that 65-inches 4K TV comes at the cost of myriad subscriptions that requires you to shell out money from your pocket. No wonder time is a tricky dimension! It will pass no matter what you endure. If you can vibe so far, keep reading to see what I have learned in these 26 revolutions around the sun:
1. Financial Independence: No matter what! This is the first and foremost thing that comes to my mind as I ponder over what I learned so far. No amount of make-up will bring that shine to your face and give you the confidence of earning on your own. Being able to pay your own bills and getting that well-deserved paycheck at the end of the month is worth the effort. Bonus – If you like your job, you are living the best life, my friend!
2. Getting back to the good old habit of reading: I know I know, toggling between new content streaming every week on Netflix and working 9 to 5; we hardly have any energy left for reading a book at the end of the day. I realized how far I have gone from the beautiful world of imagination that books transfer us to. I made it a habit to read 5 pages every night after screen-time. Starting small but these baby steps have gotten me back to my old bookworm days.
3. Explore more: Every place and its people have a different story. I enjoy expanding my horizon by learning elements of myriad ethnicities and places as I travel. I love talking to the random stranger sitting next to me in a café when I am traveling. This gives me diverse perspectives and memories that I would cherish for a lifetime. Recently, I met a sweet woman and had fun chatting about how she sells hand-made products from her lavender fields. This one sunny afternoon in Oregon took me straight back to my childhood memories of lazy summer afternoons after school. Peaceful! It is amazing how enriched one feels after knowing so much about a place through its folks, food, and all those little things in between.
4. Staying up-to-date: Reading news highlights every day and keeping up with events around the globe boosts my confidence. I am no more a teenager and I feel obligated to be aware of what is brewing around the world. There are tons of apps out there to keep one abreast with local and world news. Some apps that I like are Apple News, Flipboard, and Inshorts. You don’t want to be the Joey in a group when discussing evolution (F.R.I.E.N.D.S fans 😉 )
5. Learn something completely new: As we grow, our grey matter needs some movement too. We keep learning till we die, so why restrain from trying new things as we grow. Learning something new causes a rush of dopamine that makes it exciting. Go take that pottery class you always wanted to or and learn a foreign language. I started small – got myself a Kalimba and I play it occasionally. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I am learning something new and the melodious tunes – Cherry on the cake.
6. Having a skincare routine: No, I am not a beauty blogger but yes, I have realized the importance of pampering the largest organ of the body i.e., our skin. Let’s face it, our skin needs care as we age. I am not someone who would apply layers of makeup every day, but I like to have my fav shade of lipstick tucked in my purse for impromptu dinner plans. Understand the changes that are going through your biggest sensory organ – skin. Your skin will thank you by giving you that honey-dipped glow. I make it a habit to eat one fruit (or more) a day which helps me stick to my goal. As they say, eat your skincare!
7. Parents are your new BFFs: Parents are suddenly cool (in most situations) and understand your decisions. You no longer needed to lie and hide your goof-ups from them. They seem to know it all anyway! Understand that as we are growing, our parents are aging too. Let’s take care of them the way they have been taking care of us all these years.
8. Save it up: Savings and investments are for real. There will be a time when the golden age of 60 is not too far and you don’t want to regret your decision of saving up when it was the correct time. I may not need the money today but building it up for tomorrow. Savings account, Fixed Deposits, 401k, etc. There are plenty of ways to invest. Explore the options, understand the pros/cons and work towards your future.
9. Fall in and out of love: What is life without some blunders and heartbreaks. All of us have fallen for a person we knew we would not end up with. It is equally challenging to fall out of love. Pat your back because you have made some tough choices (with extra tissue boxes) and conquered them. You are a stronger and better person today.
10. Count my steps: I have started taking my step count goal of 12k steps each day seriously. No more agile metabolism to cover for that cheese burst pizza with extra cheese topping. You have got to sweat it out! I enjoy long walks more than ever now. An evening stroll after a busy day at work or an early weekend hike excites me and helps me burn calories too. Find your fav workout from tons of videos on YouTube and get moving!
11. You won’t be asked for ID proof anymore: Take this one with a pinch of salt! It is awesome how you do not have to convince you are ‘old’ anymore. However, somewhere in my subconscious mind, I used to like that I was being asked to present an ID card while hitting bars. I used to think “They still think I am young!” My illusion that people think I am 21 is blurred, rather vanished! Hits hard, right?
12. Enjoy the process of cooking: We live to eat. Might as well do it in a good way on our own. Prep a whole meal right from getting groceries from the store to doing the dishes after dinner. I cook my dinner every day and am very proud of it.
13. Living alone is blissful: I learned so many things for the first time – setting up my furniture, getting a car loan, paying taxes, etc. It feels independent when you are solely responsible for every decision of your life. Get ready to learn some life hacks because they will be pretty handy.
14. Brush. Floss. Repeat: I started brushing my teeth twice a day for a year and I can see the changes already. It curbs the urge to snack on a bite of dessert at night. Flossing 2-3 times a week in the correct manner has helped me immensely. Listen to your dentist and practice oral hygiene. Prevention is better than cure.
15. It is okay to still get excited about your birthday: I am always looking forward to my birthday since I have always thought of it as my special day. It is my day to get a snazzy haircut and have lunch at the Cheesecake factory while the waitress sends a cute cake my way! I have learned to enjoy my own company and looks like I am super fun to be with!
16. Invest in Relationships: It is true that your friend circle decreases as you grow older. However, I have a slightly different opinion. Building and maintaining relationships is a two-way thing. You have got to make that first phone call to your school friend someday instead of cribbing about seeing his/her ‘gram full of marriage photos and getting shocked. I have learned to check in on my family and my inner circle every now and then. Choose your tribe and stick with them till the end!
17. Taking my Vitamin game seriously: I have crossed 25 and I know very well about the benefits of vitamins and minerals. I usually go for gummies that have vitamins A, B, C, and Zinc. Gotta give the body that extra dose to boost immunity. Women must also keep an eye on their bone density and include calcium in their diet directly or indirectly.
18. True Friends will never leave you: As we grow, we are bound to get busy in our daily life. It is truly an art to strike a work-life balance. We will not have time to physically meet or call friends all the time. This might feel like growing apart. But trust me on this one, we are GROWING together (not apart) I have learned that true friends will never leave your side and will always remember you in their hearts. One call after 5-6 months and you are still the same! Now that is beautiful!
19. Embrace mindful drinking: Let me break it to you – once you are at the edge of your 20s’– the hangover is for real! Head throbbing after 2 shots of tequila now is way worse than gulping down bottles of cheap rum during college days and doing fine. I now watch how many cocktails I am having on a Friday night so that I enjoy and do not end up wasted. I have developed a taste for wine recently and love to mix my own creative cocktails. Wanna-be Mixologist in the house! Drink classy and be sassy!
20. Keep Learning: I admit it is challenging to be on our toes and at the top of our game every day. So, I take a break, rest, rewind, and motivate myself to shrug off that laziness. Our mind needs oiling too as our body needs exercise. Always be inquisitive.
21. Importance of Sleep: I had never thought in my wildest dreams that I would give sleep a priority over late-night plans. That’s growing up I guess. It is true what all the healthy living magazines say – 7 to 8 hours of sleep is necessary for a good day. I have observed that I am grumpy when I do not catch up on my sleep and feel genuinely energetic after a good ZZZ time. My favorite feature of my smartwatch is “Sleep score” which defines how productive my day will unfold. I still struggle to hit the sack on time at night. But hey! At least I am trying my best!
22. Practice gratitude: I had always heard about the power of writing what you are grateful for. My resolution for 2022 is to write 3 things I am grateful for every day. It is still going strong, and I am amazed at how much we are thankful for in this life. Being 26 gives you a mature perspective towards life.
23. Compare yourself with YOU: I have stopped comparing myself with how X person is traveling the world or how Y person getting married so early. Everyone has their own journeys and stories. Judging them is a waste of time. I have learned to focus on myself and be the spotlight of my life. Main apne life ki heroine hu (I am the star of my own movie)
24. Stargaze often: Oh the brilliant magical night sky and its gigantic beauty! I have downloaded an app that helps locate the milky way, constellations, etc in the night sky. You may or may not be an Astro-geek but you MUST Stargaze at least once. There is a famous movie dialogue from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: “The one who has never slept under stars has not seen the world”. The feeling of seeing a billion shining objects in a dark sky and wondering how small a fraction you are of this big big big universe…and beyond!
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25. Speak up for what you believe: I have a broader perspective towards life and people than what I had during my earlier twenties. I have learned to stand up for what I believe in. If you cannot take casual sexism like “Don’t cry like a girl” or “Girls should get married by 25” then let it be known to others. Speaking up for what you believe in is NOT being impudent! There is always a civil way of putting out your thoughts to the world instead of rebelling. I have been pursuing this and have gained more respect for myself in my own eyes (which is most important)
26. Count your experiences, not age: Here is an offbeat thought – How about celebrating every new experience instead of age to measure your growth. Make that career move to a different role altogether, blow a candle! Learn ice-skating, cut a cake! Appreciating new experiences and confronting all problems in this sine wave of life is what I have learned in these 27 years!
Reflect over what have you learned in your life so far. You will be amazed to see how many things pop out of your mind. Happy living and keep spreading smiles 🙂
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