Clinical psychologist Meg Jay has a bold message for twentysomethings: Contrary to popular belief, your 20s are not a throwaway decade. In this provocative talk, Jay says that just because marriage, work and kids are happening later in life, doesn’t mean you can’t start planning now. She gives 3 pieces of advice for how twentysomethings can re-claim adulthood in the defining decade of their lives.

Meg Jay: Why 30 is not the new 20

Why 30 is not the new 20

Meg Jay highlights 80% of life's defining moments occur by 35, urging 20s to be a period of meaningful exploration and decision-making.

Identity capital, leveraging weak ties, and mindful choice in relationships are key strategies for twentysomethings to shape their future.

A slight course correction in your 20s, like a meaningful break or conversation, can vastly influence your life's trajectory and legacy.

The choices made during one's twenties set the foundation for work, relationships, and happiness. Eighty percent of life’s most defining moments occur by age 35, yet society often downplays the importance of this decade. Delaying decisions can create stressful bottlenecks later, making it harder to build the life one truly wants. Treating these years as a critical period, not a waiting room, can transform decades to come.