With major life events like marriage happening later and later, people are wondering, is 30 the new 20? Clinical psychologist Meg Jay says it is not.
In a recent TED talk, Meg highlights why being a 20-something is the defining decade in life. Here are the three most significant tips every 20-something needs to hear.
1. Get some “identity capital.”
Do something to invest in who you are and in the person you might want to become. Take a risk, learn a new skill, make a big move, pursue a challenging new job or internship.
2. The urban tribe is overrated.
Best friends are great and in some situations invaluable. But by limiting your community to a tight-knit peer group with identical beliefs and values, you will rob yourself of new experiences, ideas, and opportunities. New things come out of our weak ties, Jay says, so pay attention to those friends of friends of friends.
3. The time to start picking your family is now.
Even if you don’t “settle down” until you’re 30, the pressure to do it all at once may lead you to make less than optimal decisions. The time to work on your marriage is before you’re married. Be as intentional with love, Jay urges, as you are with work!
You can watch the full TED Talk video, Meg Jay: Why 30 is not the new 20, below.
As Meg says, “Claim your adulthood. Don’t be defined by what you didn’t know or didn’t do. You’re deciding your life right now.”
Want to read more? Meg Jay released a book: The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter–And How to Make the Most of Them Now
