10 things every woman should do before they turn 25

Being a June baby (and a classic Gemini), the start of any new year signals the downhill slope to my next birthday. Which means (deep breath) that I am now officially closer to 25 than 24. Eugh. While the cruel mistress of ageing does her work, I thought I'd take this time to share with you guys some things that I think every woman should do before she turns 25. And if, like me, you still have some time before that happens then why not challenge yourself to tick them all off?

Get to grips with money

I don't for one second mean that you need to have money. Or own a house. Or a savings account. Or anything at all really. But there's no reason that you shouldn't understand how all of those things work for when you hopefully do have them in the future. Unfortunately, they don't really teach it in school, so if you find mortgages and taxes and things like that confusing then I would highly recommend reading up on it all - there's loads of helpful stuff online (like MSE). When I bought my first house, I was beyond confused about how all of it worked and it was only through the wise words of my Dad that I even knew where to start. By the time I sold my first house, I had got to grips with all of it and I'm so glad I did.

Find the perfect everyday lipstick

Perfect can be a dangerous term when used about a person or a job or something like that but I do believe that perfection in the world of lipstick exists; you just have to find it. For me (and many others), the perfect everyday lipstick is velvet teddy (MAC). I never go on holiday without it, it's perfect for my skin tone and there's no outfit it doesn't go with. You may have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince, but here's hoping you do it in the right shade.

Learn to enjoy solo time

Enjoying your own company is something that I think some people grow into. I personally have always loved time on my own (reflected by my love of reading and keeping this blog) but some people take time to get there. I think that by the time you hit 25, you should've found a way to enjoy time alone with your thoughts (something that's handy to enjoy given the year we've all had).

Ask for a pay rise

This one might be trickier for those of you on flat hourly rates or in the public sector, but if you're in the kind of job where you could ask for a pay rise then you should. The gender pay gap is real girls, and it's largely chalked down to women being less confident in sharing ideas or less likely to be the loudest, most ambitious person in the room. When I asked for a pay rise before (which I got btw), I made sure to put together a document of some key projects I'd done, some success stories, some research into other salaries that informed the amount I asked for etc. Make sure that if you do ask for a pay rise, you make it about the value that you add to the company you work for and not about why you need the extra money. And if you're still unsure about asking for one then remember that if you don't ask then you don't get. The worst they can say is no!

Walk away

With age comes wisdom and by the age of 25, I think every woman knows herself a little better than she did when she entered her twenties. What she enjoys, what she wants, what she's willing to tolerate. But even when you know yourself, sometimes the hardest thing to do is put that knowledge into action. If there's anything that's not working for you anymore, whether it's a relationship, a job, or a friendship, there comes a time when it's important to learn to walk away.

Realise that hangovers get worse

When I was 19 and at the peak of my party hard phase (out every night from thursday to sunday and normally at work inbetween), I had friends who were only a few years older and they used to say they felt so old being out. I obviously brushed it off with the whole you're not old! but now I'm there myself, I realise exactly what they meant! Not only do I not have the stamina for drinking that my former self had, but my god the hangovers hit me like a train now! I used to bounce back in time for my 8am shift at work after a night out and now I get 2 day hangovers after a few too many glasses of wine. Life really comes at you fast. And while I may not have the same thirst for the party life anymore, that doesn't mean I'm not desperately counting down the days until I can have a proper night out with the girls again! I'll just have to make sure to have all the hangover supplies on hand for the next day...

Own a toolbox (and know what to do with it)

I'm a fierce feminist so naturally I hate gender norms that suggest that women can't do certain things. I say that I can do anything a man can do and I can even do it in high heels (and usually better). And going are the days that women relied on men for everything - but not without us learning to do the things typically left to them first! By the age of 25, I think that women should be self sufficient enough in the DIY department to build flatpack furniture and put stuff up and do bits and bobs like that. And naturally, they should also be wise enough to have the number of a professional (or your Dad if he's anything like mine) to fix it if it goes wrong. Just because we shouldn't be told we can't do certain things, doesn't mean we can be perfect at everything!

Cook atleast one signature dish

For your health, for saving you money on Deliveroo and for surviving-on-a-desert-island reasons, I think everyone should be able to cook. You don't have to be the next Gordon Ramsey, but having even a few meals that you can cook well is good! Lots of dishes are easy to adapt too so if you can make a great chicken noodle dish, chances are that you can make a great prawn noodle dish or tofu noodle dish too. And if you don't know where to start then things like Hello Fresh are a good idea!

Educate yourself

There's nothing wrong with not knowing things. None of us know everything. But I can't understand anyone who comes across a subject they know nothing about and then just blissfully lets it stay that way. I think that by your mid twenties, you should have the ability and drive to educate yourself so that you can better understand the world around you, inform your voting decisions and shape you as a person. Especially in this day and age where knowledge and information is more at our fingertips than ever before, it's always exciting to learn something new. Plus, the more you learn, the more questions you get right when you play along with The Chase.

Get your smear test

Do you ever wish that you could get a full body scan that told you anything that was wrong with you (like in the film Passengers)? Well I do, and I worry about hidden illnesses so you best believe that if a check up for something is offered, I'm taking it. The smear test is first offered in England to all women 6 months before they turn 25 for regular screening for cervical cancer. So when I received my letter after Christmas, I was straight on the phone to my GP in the New Year to book in. I won't pretend it was the most fun thing I've ever done. We all know it's invasive and a bit uncomfortable and maybe a bit embarrassing (I personally don't bother too much from that aspect but I know a lot of people do), but it's probably comparable to going to the dentist. Not my favourite thing and not totally enjoyable but not something to put off either. And over faster than you could even imagine! If you take anything from this blog post then take this; get your smear test girls! It could just save your life.