It has been a year, and it's not over yet.
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a unique challenge for a lot of people out there, for a lot of different reasons. As the year comes to an end, it's hard to really recap what we've learned from this year.
Most of us are totally exhausted. Our personal and professional obligations have left us with a serious case of mental whiplash. Everyone from kids to adults has struggled through this trying time.
Young people have a unique challenge. Put yourself in their shoes. They're trying to figure out all kinds of things about life, love, education, and careers. They're doing that in one of the most tumultuous environments in history.
Yet there is a lot you can learn from the dumpster fire that's been 2020. For young women, in particular, it's been a transformative year that shows anything is possible. Here are some lessons that you can help the young women in your life learn from 2020.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
If there's one lesson we can all take away from 2020, it's that we're more adaptable than we believe. In the face of unprecedented times, we've found ways to keep life going. There's beauty in our resilience, and young women should learn to own it in all areas of their lives.
Fight for what you need.
The systems we rely on to get by in life aren't always reliable. That doesn't mean you should take no for an answer. If you need something, whether it's a workplace accommodation, a health screening, or anything else, you may have to fight for it. If you know in your heart it's what you need, the fight will always be well worth it.
It's OK to ask for help.
We all get overwhelmed. This year, it's been easy to feel like getting overwhelmed is a unique feeling. Some people have worked every twist and turn from this year effortlessly, or at least they made it look that way.
When the facades disappear and you step away from your Instagram feed, you'll see plenty of people having a hard time. They're getting by, in large part, because of help from their inner circle and their community. No matter how often you're heralded as the person in your circle who has it together, it's OK to ask for help. We all need it sometime or another.
Never let a man speak over you.
Too often people in positions of power equate the loudest voice in the room with being right or self-assured when in reality it's just plain rude. Don't take nonsense from anyone, and make sure to reclaim your time when it's trampled on.
Leadership doesn't have an age requirement.
This year, we saw teenage activists put together some of the largest demonstrations of our time in the fight for racial justice. We've seen kids who are just learning their ABCs making a difference in their communities. It proves that things like age, economic circumstances, and more don't hold you back from making a difference.
You have to take care of your health.
We've all spent a lot of time thinking about our health this year. A lot of us have realized we aren't as healthy as we want to be. We've got the power to change it. It's important to advocate for yourself, especially where your health is concerned. Do what you need to do to stay on top of your health.
Science is important.
This seems like an obvious one, but the science and medical fields have not always been hospitable to women. They're important fields, and we all know women belong in all important fields. It's never too late to develop a love for STEM.
We all need to slow down once in a while.
We live in a nonstop news cycle in a nonstop world, and it's been this way for quite a while. For so many people, 2020 has been the year of realizing the importance of slowing down. You can't always do it all and take care of yourself. When it all falls apart, it's OK to put yourself first.
Mental health is just as important as physical health.
Our society has a nasty habit of dismissing mental health. You might express a feeling, just to be reminded it's not unique to you. It can make you feel guilty for worrying about your mental health. Just like you wouldn't keep walking around on a broken leg, you shouldn't keep living your day-to-day when you feel something's wrong within.
Be grateful.
Life can change in a heartbeat. We all experienced that on a large scale this year, but it's possible you've experienced the more personal version of this phenomenon. Because of that, it's really important to be grateful and demonstrate that gratitude better in our everyday lives.
There's still so much we don't know.
From learning about a new, deadly virus to learning about systemic racism, this year taught us that we're far from having it all figured out. You need to be humbled by that fact and carry it into all the areas of your life. It's OK to not always have an answer, but it's also important to utilize everything at your disposal to figure out what you haven't already.
