1-1-1: thriving in your 20s
read about how to set a great foundation in your 20s (arguably your 'defining decade') and learn how to enjoy this time to the fullest.
january, 2025
edition 62.
writing this edition brought me so much peace. I’m 24 (turning 25 in a month and a half… but let’s not talk about it) and I feel like I’m finally finding my footing in this decade. it can be tough to carve your own path when it feels like your peers are moving a million miles an hour. but, if going to my 5 year high school reunion taught me anything, no one actually knows what they’re doing or what they want out of their life yet.
I turned 20 during my freshman year of college, right as the pandemic shut down the united states (and the rest of the world), so the beginning of my 20s was lived in a haze. I didn’t realise how valuable that period of my life was for setting the stage now: all of the time I got to spend with my parents in quarantine, the countless weeks where I had ‘emergency therapy sessions’ after something triggered me, and all of the times I had to learn how to pick up the pieces.
it’s true: what you do in this decade of your life will set you up for your 30s and beyond (I swear I’m not just regurgitating everything dr meg jay says in her book but if you haven’t read it yet, you must).
I’m lucky to have so much of my growth documented on the internet. I’d recommend past podcast episodes (the first ones being when I was 22/23 and a senior in high school) or just scrolling through the hundreds of posts on my instagram — everything from the ages of 20.5 and onwards has been dissected and analysed and presented in one format or another.
if you’re also in your 20s, welcome. welcome to a community of 20-something-year-olds who are really just trying to figure it out.
finally, this edition is free but some of my editions will not be. if you find my writing valuable and you want to support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber — a monthly subscription is $6, around a price of a coffee. you’ll get access to all of my previous editions, free and paid.
you can expect one email from me every week containing:
one quote that has been inspiring me
one journal prompt
one piece of advice*
* = if you want to submit a question for my upcoming emails, you can find the form here.
podcast
there are tons of guest episodes on the podcast from 2024 that are worth checking out — listen to them here <3
one quote
“an old drunk man told me to enjoy my life and have fun because I’m only 24 and I have so many years and so much life ahead of me and then he went “and you know what? in ten years, when you’re 34, you’ll still be young ad have your whole life ahead of you” and it was really comforting to me.”
—prisonhannibal via tumblr
one journal prompt
write down a list of 5 activities you’ve wanted to do for a while (near/around you) but haven’t made time for. try to do at least 3 of them in the month of february.
one piece of advice
“can i please get introvert-friendly tips on enjoying my 20s to the fullest as someone who struggles with seeking validation 🥲”
absolutely !! I’m also an introvert (60-40 split between introversion and extroversion) and I have struggled so much with seeking validation from others. if I’m being 100% honest, it’s still something I find myself doing, especially as a content creator online.
it’s too much to address how not to seek validation in this newsletter (but let me know if this should be a topic in future newsletters) so I’ll stick to making a list of actionable tips and reminders for this week <3 hope it helps at least somewhat! please know you are far from alone in this.
define success for yourself: what does ‘enjoying your 20s to the fullest’ look like for you? I’d suggest looking on pinterest (maybe creating a board called 20s and pinning the ‘vibe’ of your 20s) to get a feel for what you want this era of your life to look like. I often get caught up in what I think I should be doing as opposed to understanding what I actually want to be doing, so sitting with this question might help detangle your headspace
prioritize deep connections: we often hear the phrase “1-2 close friends are better than 10 surface level friends” and I find this to be especially true in our 20s. when all of your conversations with someone revolves around surface level topics or personal achievements, it’s hard to realise that everyone in their 20s feels lost and is trying to figure it out. having a few close friends you can talk to, especially when things aren’t going well, will help you feel less alone in this period
set boundaries around social media: we know that social media is a highlight reel. set time limits on instagram, tiktok, and (especially) linkedin — this post addresses how I’ve been trying to do that recently :)
embrace solo adventures: getting comfortable with my own company was one of the best things I did in my early 20s. I especially think this is important before you get into a serious adult relationship (i.e. you think this person could be a life partner); it’s important to be okay being alone.
invest in your personal growth: when I was in my early 20s, I was obsessed with reading self help books (here are my recs), going to therapy, and becoming the best version of myself. taking a few moments to really understand yourself early on can help you refine your direction in all aspects of your life
finally, create spaces for reflection: I talk so much about journaling because I believe that the act of slowing down every night has changed my life. if you read these newsletters and constantly scroll past the ‘journal prompt’ section, take this as your sign to go back and actually try it this week.
I could keep going on (let me know in the comments if you want a part 2!! and also if you want a newsletter about how to stop seeking validation/being a people pleaser as well) but a big ol wall of text can be daunting.
these are some things I’ve implemented in my early 20s (college years) which has allowed me to live a more mentally stable life this year. I know this time of your life is extremely tumultuous because everyone you know is literally doing anything. take it with stride. you are doing great.
reading updates
currently reading: dare to lead by brene brown, into thin air by john krakauer
finished this week:
the ministry of time by kaliane bradley
onyx storm by rebecca yarrow
how economics explains the world by andrew leigh
reading challenge: 6/50
if you want to keep up with my reading throughout the week, this is my goodreads :)
discount codes
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Runna: personalised running training plans — katieeu for 2 weeks free
lululemon: my current list of favourite things
enjoyed this edition?
until we meet again,
katie
Love this:)
Would absolutely love a part 2 :")
You are awesome ✨️🌞🦋