Now, that I’ve picked my Buzzfeed-worthy costume, I am all in for the Halloween holiday. Maybe that’s why I named the title as such, or maybe I’m hoping that for once, the fear tactic will work in affecting positive change (they kind of beat the hope into us in advertising school). Whichever way, they say our twenties are for making mistakes, but I believe the sooner we realize them and fix them, the better. Neglecting these things can lead to scary results, but the good news is, there are some tips to break the bad habit and replace with good.
1. Your 401k
It’s hard to plan for the future when you’re barely making it in the present. Ideally, we’d all love to invest handsomely in order to make allowances for the growing expenses of merely existing in the future, but entry level jobs aren’t paying the six figures like they used to (heh). However, something is always better than nothing. Start small, if you need to, and increase as you begin to earn more in your career or decrease your expenses.
2. Monthly self breast exams
On average, women over fifty have a higher chance of getting breast cancer, but more younger women are being diagnosed in the recent years. Though the risk is only 1 of 2500 women in their twenties, being in the habit of regularly checking for breast cancer can save your life through early detection. Click here for a printable guide on how to administer an exam.
3. Regular dentist visits
No one really loves going to the dentist, but do you know just how much your oral health affects your overall well-being? Untreated periodontal disease can get into your facial bones and affect your physical appearance (and I for one, like to protect my “woke up like this” flawless). Additionally, it has been linked to heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Finally, your immune system could be operating at a lower capacity if it is constantly fighting oral disease. Like we say in Mississippi, it’s time we put our big girl britches on and just go to the dentist.
4. Financial health
How is your financial acumen? Are you still skipping meals or eating PBJ because of those shoes you just had to have last week? Are you a fad budget dieter with cheat spending binges? You might be making it now (but for the grace of God), but it’s not a financially or emotionally healthy way for you to exist. Take a moment to look at your spending and find your typical budget culprits. Save for the “must-have” items you want and reward yourself every now and then. You’ll thank yourself for it. I promise.
5. Fitness/Eating Right
Unless if you are a freak of nature (just kidding, kinda), metabolism is naturally trending against you as you get older. It’s no secret that sitting is really, really bad for you, but until you can convince your boss to purchase all new sitting desks (and if you do, please let me know how you did that) it’s vital that you make it a priority to inject some level of activity into your life. But just working out will not suffice without eating well with it. I’m not saying no to the occasional brownie or cake, I’m just saying the Taco Bell employees shouldn’t know your name after the age of 19 (one of those sort of but not kidding things again).
All hope is not lost. If you’re guilty of neglecting any of these, awareness is the first step. Tomorrow is a new month, so choose a goal to tackle one of these (or any other) pain points and make a good habit. If you care to do so, share it in the comments so we can root for you, too!