Women In Their 30s, 40s, And 50s+ Shared 26 Key Pieces Of Advice For Women In Their 20s, And It's Refreshingly Honest
As a woman in her 30s, I have a deep nostalgia for the previous decade. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be in my 20s, and I often think about what I wish I'd done differently to set myself up for success. So I was excited to see the responses when I stumbled upon the question posed in this now-viral tweet from Isabel Unraveled, writer of Mind Mine:
question for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, etc: what are women in their twenties not considering that they should be considering?
— Isabel🌻 (@isabelunraveled) August 13, 2024
It was lovely to see support from all the women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s to help prepare women in their 20s for the future. The advice in these 26 responses was incredibly helpful and heartwarming:
1. Choosing your partner is a very important decision.
Don’t waste your time dating the wrong guy. Definitely don’t marry the wrong guy. Absolutely don’t have kids with the wrong guy. Ignore all your friends getting married for the wrong reasons - they’ll divorce in their 30s.
— Claire Kart (@clairekart) August 13, 2024
2. The sunk cost fallacy isn't real.
It’s okay to leave a career path you’ve already invested years of work/study in. It’s never too late to start over.
— N Λ T Λ S H Λ ✨ (@Natasha) August 13, 2024
3. Talk yourself up, not out!
Don’t talk yourself into relationships or out of opportunities.
— Teri Patrick (@tvpatrick) August 13, 2024
4. There is someone out there that'll match your freak.
Last one down the aisle actually wins. You don’t really know what kind of woman you want to be until you’re 28-30 yrs old. Take your time. Marrying the wrong man and having babies with said man can be detrimental. And for gods sake marry a man that can match your freak ✨
— victoria (@Vic_not_secret_) August 13, 2024
5. You've only got one body, so take care of it!
Their health routine! You have to live in this body for the rest of your life, the way you treat it in your 20’s will determine how well you can move around in your 30’s. Don’t take it for granted!
— “GIN & TONIC” OUT NOW! 🎶🪩💃🏾🥂 (@PorshaJay) August 13, 2024
6. Nothing really ever stays the same.
The world will change drastically in your lifetime — massive technological, economic, and political change. Learn to think on your feet and always know your values because they’ll be challenged. There are many things you can’t control, but you can control how you treat people.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) August 14, 2024
7. Right now, you have the most energy and the least aching joints you'll ever have.
You’re going to have a lot more energy in your twenties. It’s the best time to take classes, get an internship, or build your experience for your future career.
— CrystalH (@themnekochan) August 13, 2024
8. Your priorities will drastically change over time.
Whatever you think you are or want in your 20s, won’t matter twenty years later. Be true to yourself, don’t compromise & enjoy the good skin.
— Eleonora Balsano (@norami) August 13, 2024
9. Spend time exploring your interests while you can!
I'm 50 this year. Your 20s will be hard. You're learning who you are, who you want to be, what you want from life. Explore your options on your own. Don't tether yourself to anyone. Your family and friends will push you to settle down. Don't settle. Consider you, above all.
— Moonbeam⁷ #amwriting (@celesteavonne) August 14, 2024
10. It's never too late to make a change or too early to start saving.
1. Relationships: if you find out you got on the wrong bus, best get off the 1st stop. The longer you delay to get off is the more expensive your return trip will be. 2. Money: Women don’t plan for money as much. Have a 20 year plan for building wealth. Work on it daily.
— MadamChair (@freeingthembs) August 14, 2024
11. Again: the sooner you start caring for your body, the better.
Strength training and gut health. It impacts so many parts of your life as you get older.
— Jordan (@hunter0200) August 13, 2024
12. Having uncomfortable conversations now can save you a lot of heartache later.
Start talking with your parents about how they want to live, how they want to die, have them decide who gets what now. It's a lousy convo nobody wants to have, but the younger they are, the easier it is. When you face that loss, you don't want to also be buried in mental burdens.
— Kristi's Billy Goat (@Iwntmy2Dlrs) August 14, 2024
13. Take it easy on yourself — not just mentally, but physically.
Take care of your body. When I was in my 20s my grandma emphasized this. She said a lot of the ailments she has today was because of the wear and tear from her younger years. So, have fun but be gentle. https://t.co/20Rfg74gFt
— Charlie's Toolbox (@charliestoolbox) August 14, 2024
14. Once more — go ahead and start doing these things now.
1) leave the toxic friendships.2) skincare regimen.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 14, 2024
15. I'm sorry to be the one to say it: the next thing you know, you're a full-blown adult.
Save your money. The whole "You Only Live Once" schtick is not helpful. You don't want to be broke in your 30s; you need savings for when that unexpected bill arrives, the fridge breaks, the car needs work, the vet bill because you're pet gets sick etc.
— Sinèad Watson (@ImWatson91) August 13, 2024
16. Honestly, we love seeing you guys succeed.
We’re really NOT in competition with y’all.
— AuBr3 (@AubreyanaBree) August 13, 2024
17. Live life to the fullest while you can!
Travel and do all the stuff before you have kids! Also stretch your hips!
— FOXX (@msjennifoxx) August 13, 2024
18. Happiness is not about appearances.
The point of life is to feel happy, not look happy. https://t.co/cE3uzBadAv
— Sophie Vershbow (@svershbow) August 14, 2024
19. Body care. Now.
flossing and sunscreen and little walks every day to help your lower back and digestion
— Talia Jane ❤️🔥 (@taliaotg) August 14, 2024
20. Your finances are really important!
Retirement!!! Compound Interest!!! The earlier we start saving the sooner we can retire.
— Seven (@Se7enletters) August 13, 2024
21. Prioritize yourself and your needs.
A more serious one > Yourself. Yourself. Yourself. Please don’t let anyone turn you into their mule or workhorse. Think of the things you need to do to be the woman you want to become. Memorize them. Revisit them. Adjust them. But go do them. Seriously, please think of yourself. https://t.co/hEPg9Eq86i
— This Barbie Was Returned to the Store (@wstafrican) August 14, 2024
22. Hang on to your clothes! Even if you can't wear them, you'll make a killing on Depop (or whatever replaces Depop) in 20-ish years.
Life is cyclical 🙂 What was cool, then uncool, will become cool again. Cherish your things & take good care of them, because they will be worth a lot in the future when it becomes cool again.
— Mae-Anne Trinidad (@maeanneforreal) August 13, 2024
23. Don't put everything off until later.
Appreciate all your abilities. Don’t waste your agility. Don’t keep postponing your plans for new ventures. Go on an abundance of your own adventures. Don’t always wait til you’re older. You may run out of time. 🖤
— Angela Rachael (@ARCAngela0519) August 14, 2024
24. Life is only going to get better, and you'll never actually be too old for anything.
You don't really become comfortable in your skin until your 30s but by then society tells you you're past your prime. Don't listen, I felt like life improved immensely after 30. When you get older it's true that you still feel like you're young, which is weird bc you're also told…
— Shana Orczyk Sissel "Queen of Alternatives" (@shanas621) August 14, 2024
25. Try to live in the moment when you can.
let go of expectations and enjoy the present moment. spend time alone and listen to your intuition. follow your curiosity. allow yourself to be creative. sharing your creativity is a gift for all beings 💛
— kenia 🧘🏽♀️🌻 (@keniayoga) August 13, 2024
26. And finally, take care of your body!!
SUNSCREEN
— Fina (@FiFiDoYaLoveMi) August 13, 2024
Now I have to know: women in your 30s, 40s, or 50s — is anything missing? Give women in their 20s all your best tips in the comments.
