The Single Most Important Thing to Think About in Your 20s

The Single Most Important Thing to Think About in Your 20s

The Single Most Important Thing to Think About in Your 20s

Hello, everyone. I’m Fumin, a frugal guy from Sapporo.

I’m currently 29 and a half years old, which means my 20s are about to wrap up in just over six months. Right now, I’m focusing on being as frugal as possible and saving money.

I want to share something I started doing when I was 28 that has made my life feel much easier and more purposeful. This advice is especially for people in their 20s and early 30s, but it’s really useful for anyone, no matter your age. The earlier you start thinking about this, the better off you’ll be.

The one thing you should seriously consider in your 20s is:

What truly makes you happy?

You might find that a bit anticlimactic, but can you answer that question immediately? I asked about a dozen friends and acquaintances, and almost none of them could.

Why I Started Thinking About This

I started asking this question because I finally accepted that I’m just an ordinary person. For a long time, I had big dreams—like traveling the world, living abroad, or becoming a comedian. But I eventually realized it would be difficult to achieve all of them.

So, I asked myself: “What are the bare minimum things I need to achieve in my life to feel happy?”

For me, the answer was simple: a house, a car, and a family. It feels a bit mundane to admit, but I’m confident that if I can live in a house with my family and occasionally go on fun trips in a car, I’ll feel like my life was a happy one, even if my other dreams don’t come true.

The Benefits of Defining Your Happiness

Thinking about this has had a huge impact on my life. Here are two of the biggest benefits:

1. It Sets Your Life’s Direction

Once you know what makes you happy, you’re less likely to be swayed by other people’s happiness. These days, we’re constantly bombarded with other people’s “perfect” lives on social media. I used to compare myself to others and get discouraged, but that happens far less now.

When you have your own personal definition of happiness, you carry your own yardstick. You stop feeling jealous of other people’s lives and can finally focus on your own. Comparing your happiness to someone else’s is like a pro golfer getting depressed because they’re not Shohei Ohtani.

2. It Leads to Concrete Actions

A clear direction makes it easier to take action. If your goal is a vague “I just want to be happy,” you’ll likely stay stuck in a negative place. You need to act.

Once you have a specific definition of happiness, the actions you need to take become clear. For me, because my happiness meant “a house, a car, and a family,” my to-do list became:

Research what’s needed to buy a house.
Start looking for a house and land.
Decide which car I want to get.

This transformed my lazy weekends into purposeful ones. The process of working toward my goals became incredibly fulfilling. Now that I have my house and car, I’m focused on saving and learning about money to ensure I can maintain them.

Steps to Find Your Own Happiness

So, how do you find your own definition of happiness? Here are a few steps to guide you.

Step 1: Look at Your Past

What activities or moments in your life made you feel the happiest?
What are you passionate about, without comparing yourself to others?

Step 2: Envision Your Future

What are your long-held or current dreams?
Where, with whom, and how do you want to live in the future?
What kind of life would make you unhappy? (This is just as important!)

Step 3: Define the Elements of Your Happiness

Based on the first two steps, write down the specific elements that are essential for your happiness. This will be different for everyone. For example:

Live in a single-family home with my family.
Own a family-friendly car.
Enjoy parenting while working remotely.
Have enough financial freedom to travel internationally.
Avoid a job that requires so much overtime that I have no time for my family.

Step 4: Prioritize

From your list, narrow down the elements that are most important to you. Use these non-negotiable dreams as the foundation for your life’s goals. This can be a tough process, as it may mean letting go of some dreams that aren’t a high priority.

In Conclusion

Thinking deeply about what makes you happy is important for everyone. I titled this article “in your 20s” because the sooner you do this, the more time you’ll have to act on your goals.

Your definition of happiness can and should change as you grow. The key is to constantly ask yourself if your actions are leading you toward your own happiness.

I hope this article helps inspire you to take action.

Thank you for reading, and may you find happiness in your life!