As an independent twenty-something, I am constantly searching for ways to be a competent and well-adjusted member of the adult world. This past week in particular, I have been considering some traits that seem to be common among successful adults. In my conversations with other people who I think fit this category, I’ve learned that they possess some habits that hint at shared character qualities.

First, well-adjusted, successful adults read, and they read on their own time. Chances are they were voracious readers as children who carried their love of reading and learning over into adulthood. Regardless of any reading requirements – or lack thereof – in their professional lives, these adults always make sure to spend some time at the end of the day unwinding with novels, biographies, newspaper articles, etc. for their own pleasure and self-fulfillment. These adults find genuine enjoyment in reading and value the self-improvement and self-education it affords.

Another custom that seems to be common among well-adjusted, successful adults is volunteering. This surprised me a bit. While reading seems like an obvious habit, volunteering seems less so. Nevertheless, I am increasingly discovering that this is a prevalent practice among successful adults. Maybe they simply like giving back to the community, or perhaps they want to provide opportunities for advancement for people who find themselves in less-fortunate circumstances. No matter the reason, volunteering is perhaps more prevalent among this demographic than you would think.

While there are certainly more habits shared by well-adjusted, successful adults, these two in particular suggest some interesting underlying character qualities. Someone who reads and volunteers, for example, cares about staying informed and fostering the well-being of others in the community. These are arguably two of the biggest pillars of being a successful and productive member of any society. In addition, someone who reads and volunteers inherently tends to be someone who spends free time productively.

How does all of this apply to college students who have different demands on their time, schedules and resources than settled adults? I can certainly empathize with students who say they have no free time to read for pleasure during the school year; I experience the same dilemma every semester. Nevertheless, though I may not dare to attempt to read a lengthy Charles Dickens novel during the course of the semester, I try to read in my free time in other ways. For me, this includes reading the newspaper and articles online about various subjects that I find interesting.

Volunteering can also be tricky to do when you’re a student; you may have limited time or difficulty arranging transportation if you don’t have a car. Volunteering does not have to be time consuming, though—an hour or two a week should be sufficient—and it is undeniably rewarding.