Have you ever just wanted to pack up your belongings, move to a new city and start a new life? Yeah, me too. Going through constant phases of “I love my life” to “ugh, I’m so over this daily rut” is something I struggle with every day. We’re all searching for some bigger purpose in life to make us feel fulfilled, whether it’s a switch in career, a change of scenery, a new set of friends or even a new boo. But hey, aren’t your 20’s about figuring out who you are and what makes you happy? This transformative age is all about self-discovery because let’s be real, the world is our freakin’ oyster and it’s time we take advantage of it.

Instead of feeling down about all the things you have yet to achieve, think about the endless possibilities waiting to be explored. A new type of life begins in your 20’s, one filled with excitement and uncertainty. A calm, settled life is far into the future, so now is the time to be selfish and do things for yourself. Take that Greece trip with your best girl friends, go get your bartending license, apply for your dream job even if you don’t think you’re qualified, what the hell, even text that person who didn’t text you back…just kidding, let’s not get TOO WILD. Do what you want, be smart, take risks and learn from them.

I get a lot of DM’s from people telling me that my life looks “so fun” and they “wish” they could do the same things…guys, this life is easily replicable. You just have to let adventure feed your soul and let the thrill of life consume you! In other words, carpe diem.

1. Believe in Spontaneity

I’m a planner, like adding stuff to my iCal gives me this weird rush of excitement. But not everything in life should be planned; spontaneity and adventure go hand in hand. Spontaneous people have a flair of the unknown, they are seekers, adventurers, explorers and the ones with the fewest regrets. I’m not saying be crazy and ignore all your responsibilities, but once in a while indulge in impulsive decisions when the opportunity arises. So, next time your friend texts you at 10 PM on a weekday asking you to be his or her wing person, it’s time to kiss your 10:30 PM bedtime good night and just go with it. Finally have enough money to take that trip you’ve been wanting to take? Book it now! Just try saying “yes” to a few things you would usually say “no” to. You don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie or crave the center of attention to be spontaneous. You need to take chances, to remember that life isn’t about plans and expectations, it’s about fleeting moments and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

2. Stop Caring What People Think

For some reason, we’re all consumed with the opinions of others. I mean, it’s inevitable to talk about the latest drama happening or who hooked up with whom. You can’t stop people from gossiping but what you can do is stop giving a shit about what they say. If you’re freaking living your life and happy with the decisions you make, then who the hell cares what people think. Sometimes it baffles me how people are so deeply invested in other people’s lives…like dude, take up a hobby or something instead of just talking about someone else’s relationship. Who cares what people think about that scandy Insta pic of yours? If you look hot af, own it. Did someone say you were too drunk at a party last weekend? Um excuse me, isn’t that what parties are for? The day you stop caring about what people think, your self-confidence will shoot through the roof.

3. Make Time For Your Passion

Not to get all senti, but my parents, much like many of yours, moved here to provide us with a better life so we could achieve our dreams and take risks without worrying about having nothing to fall back on. So take some time out of your day to work on something you’re passionate about even if it doesn’t pay the bills. Maybe it’s the business plan for a startup you had in mind or in my case, blogging. Who knows, maybe one day, the passion will become the career?

4. Friends: Quality Over Quantity

The days are gone when popularity is measured by number of Facebook friends, it’s time for you to reevaluate the people in your life and think which ones play a key role in your life. Having a huge social circle is great but, learn to differentiate between a party friend and a real friend, like does this person actually care about your life or do you just have a great time when you go out? It’s totally ok to not be friends with everyone, I would label a lot of people in my life as acquaintances, because at the end of the day, quality over quantity. Figure out your inner circle and only tell those people intimate details of your life.

5. Listen To Your Wanderlust

Experiencing a different country’s food, culture and way of living really sheds a whole new light on life. Think about how different our day to day is compared to someone in Barcelona or Thailand. Traveling abroad has definitely taught me patience, I mean how many times have we tried to help someone out in America that didn’t speak the same language? And how many times have we gotten pretty frustrated? Yeah, now imagine if the roles were reversed. Immerse yourself in another culture and it’ll inject your conscience with new perspectives.

6. Let Bygones Be Bygones

LET IT GOOOO, LET IT GOOOOO (sing in Elsa’s voice), okay but seriously, let that shit go. The past is in the past, and the more you dwell on it, the less you’re experiencing the present. Everyone forgives at different paces, but it’s time you forgive your ex-boyfriend for cheating on you, it’s time to forgive your ex-roommate for being the worst, it’s time to forgive your sibling for always stealing your clothes, and even your co-worker for never doing their share of work. No grudges 2018.

At the end of the day, you’re only living for yourself, so do whatever makes you happy and don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of that. Do you want to live a life filled with “what if’s” and “could have been’s”? The choice is yours. #LivingMy20s