What every woman should do . . .

Fall madly in love

Your first love probably won’t last, but that’s OK. Savor the experience. Falling in love will open your heart and prepare you for the moment when you finally meet your soul mate.

For years, you’ve told your parents that your body is yours to do with as you please, so take charge and make a bold statement with the piercing of your choice. Whether you just pierce your ears or go for something more dramatic, the great thing about piercing versus something like a tattoo is that it doesn’t have to be permanent. If you decide later that you made a mistake, just remove the jewelry and let the hole close up.

Be smart about money from day one of your first job. Every time you get paid, deposit 10 percent of your paycheck in a savings account and start building a nest egg. As soon as your savings equal three months of your living expenses, start investing for higher returns. Keep this up throughout your life and chances are you’ll never have to worry about money.

Women fought hard to win the right to vote, so don’t take it for granted. Register as soon as you turn 18 and make sure you cast your ballot in every election, large or small. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about the government. And who wants that?

Sometime between high school graduation and your early 20s, you should stop wasting time reliving high school, rebelling against your parents, and pretending that the world owes you anything more than the chance to shape your own life. You’re a grownup now. Start acting like it.

Buy a really good piece of jewelry

This may sound frivolous, but it isn’t. Costume jewelry can be fun, but there’s nothing like a really fine piece of heirloom-quality jewelry to make you feel beautiful, elegant and confident. Whether it’s a string of pearls or a diamond pendant, something new or an estate piece with a long history, the real story of your first piece of good jewelry begins with you.

It’s never too early to start taking care of yourself. It may seem like the body you have now is the body you’ll always have, but age and the stress of living will change the way you look and feel over time, not to mention the way your body works. Starting yoga while you’re young will lay the foundation for a lifetime of fitness and stress reduction.

It’s always fun to reinvent ourselves and try a new look, and what better time than right now? Is it true blondes have more fun? Find out. Do you envy redheads’ steamy and sultry look? Try it on for size. You’re still finding yourself and developing your personal style during your twenties, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but it’s not true. If you want to know the true meaning of friendship, adopt a dog or cat from your local shelter. Pets give unconditional love every minute of every day, and they’ll stand by you through whatever comes.

Nurture your adventurous side by throwing off convention along with your clothes. Scientists have found that breaking routines and doing things that push us beyond our usual boundaries can fuel creativity and help us think outside the box, traits that can pay big dividends in every part of our lives.