lifestyle

"6 reasons I’m glad I’m not in my 20s in 2015".

I’m glad that I am not in my twenties now.

Here are six reasons why.

  1. Entering the housing market.

Is it actually worth it? To get into $500,000 debt just to buy a home and then be stuck paying it off for the next 30 years?

For more than a hundred years, the median house price in Australia was three times the median income, meaning first homes were not just accessible to more people, they were manageable on one income.

Now, the median house price is nine times the median household income. Young people facing this dilemma are justifiably concerned.

  1. Career expectations.

“Do you think travelling for a year will be bad for my career?”

Questions re travel vs career weren’t as relevant in my early twenties, because overseas travel wasn’t as common as it is now. But it’s also securing an entry-level job that seems to be a challenge for Gen Y-ers.

I hear from a lot of young people in my industry (advertising) that a huge percentage of graduates are struggling to get a foot in the door. Apparently a lot of companies posting “entry-level” jobs are really looking for people who’ve had between one and three years’ work experience. I certainly don’t remember things being so tough when I was a graduate.

  1. Too many amazing role models.

Something that must be overwhelming for young people today: the constant parade of precocious success stories.

Miley Cyrus had a total image makeover – and launched her second career – at age twenty. Mark Zuckerberg became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at age twenty-three.

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Taylor Swift practically rules the entire universe – and she’s just turned twenty-five. New Zealand songstress Lorde rocketed to fame at age sixteen. And to top it off, Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize. At age seventeen. Feeling stressed yet?

  1. Body image madness.

Two words: protein balls. These were not a ‘thing’ ten years ago. Nor was #fitspo, thigh gap, or the Paleo, 80-20, 5:2, green smoothie/cacao/kale diet. Oh the pressure! It’s enough to make me reach for a Tim Tam.

  1. Social media madness.

This generation is well and truly in the era of social media. A big part of my work is social media and I love it, don’t get me wrong, but it must be quite a task to ensure YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

Imagine having to Instagram almost every meal you’ve ever had? And recognizing the exact moment you should create a Pinterest board for your bedroom makeover. So tricky! So demanding! How do you know when to cull those superfluous Facebook ‘friends’?

  1. Uber scares the crap out of me.

Put simply, these twenty-somethings are risking their life and safety just to trial a new cab system for the rest of us. We salute you. So whilst I dipped in and out of my novel on the beach, safe in the knowledge I knew what I would be wearing tonight (comfy shorts and a loose t-shirt) I did feel grateful that my twenties were done and dusted in the previous decade. #blessed.