Is it even possible to have regrets in your 20s? After all, every failure is just another lesson to be learned, right?
Turns out there are quite a few regrets you can have as a 20-something (although the list is much shorter than in your 30s).
Redditors recently voiced things that they regret not doing in their 20s. Read their answers to make sure you won’t have any regrets in some of the best years of your life.
1. Not getting fit
Your 20-something metabolism can make you complacent with your health, but start working on being fit and healthy earlier, and you definitely won’t regret it. After all, exercising and a healthy diet can increase your happiness and make all your experiences better.
For example, if you’re fit, you’ll be able to take on bucket list trips that require a lot of endurance and a certain fitness level, like climbing Machu Picchu.
2. Not taking risks
So you’re heading down the traditional path to play it safe. Think of your 20s as a time for new experiences and don’t let your fears hold you back. You’re only young once!
3. Rushing to be a grown-up
You’re eager to get started on life, but take the time to really enjoy the experience of being in your 20s. You have the rest of your life to act like a grown-up. Don’t feel obligated to follow a certain timeline.
“You don’t have to rush out and get a full-time career job at 21. You don’t have to shack up and marry the first person you meet at 24. You don’t have to buy a house or car and have babies by 27,” says Reddit user shewhogoesthere. “A lot of people I know who were in a hurry all through their 20s are now ending their 20s and feeling a bit depressed because they quickly extinguished their youth and hit all the goal posts and now they’re like, ‘What now?’ You can’t go back, you can’t be young again, why throw it away so quickly?”
4. Not starting a retirement fund
Every personal finance expert recommends starting putting money towards your retirement fund as early as possible. This is because the earlier you make your contributions, the greater the rewards with the magic of compounding. This means the more money you put in earlier, the faster it grows.
5. Wasting time on people who don’t deserve your time
Yup, the old toxic friend syndrome. It seems like we have this regret in every decade of our life. But in your 20s, friends seem to take up more time and effort than other decades just because many of us are still looking for our significant others and haven’t had kids yet. Make sure that the time you spend on your friends is well spent and that you’re cultivating friendships that will last a lifetime.
6. Not studying or moving abroad
You usually have fewer obligations in your 20s, so it’s a good time to pack up and actually live overseas for a while. It’s a completely different experience from travelling, and it’s worth doing if you can make it work. You’ll be out of your comfort zone culturally and in every other way possible, which is a tremendous learning experience that will open up your perspectives and world view.
7. Staying in bad relationships
This goes hand in hand with friends you shouldn’t waste time on. Your 20s will pass by in a flash, so make sure you’re spending it with the right people! Bad relationships — be they romantic or platonic — can really do a number on your self esteem, so don’t let them drag you down.
