10 Things I Wish I Had Known in My Twenties

Your twenties feel endless—full of pressure, comparison, and the constant sense that you should already have everything figured out. Looking back, it’s clear that many of the worries that felt urgent were temporary, while the lessons that mattered most were quiet, slow, and easy to miss.

Here are 10 things I wish I had known in my twenties, lessons that would have saved time, stress, and unnecessary self-doubt.

1. You Don’t Have to Have a Master Plan

It’s okay not to know exactly where your life is going. Many people who look “settled” are still improvising behind the scenes.

Progress often comes from movement, not certainty. Taking imperfect action teaches you more than waiting for clarity that may never arrive.

2. Comparison Will Steal Your Joy

Social media creates the illusion that everyone else is ahead—financially, emotionally, or professionally.

You rarely see the full story. Comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel will only make you feel late in a race that doesn’t exist.

3. Your Health Is an Investment, Not a Phase

Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management don’t become important later—they matter now.

The habits you build in your twenties quietly shape your energy, confidence, and resilience for decades to come.

4. Not Everyone You Love Will Stay

Some friendships fade without drama. Others end suddenly. This doesn’t mean you failed or outgrew each other incorrectly.

People enter your life for different seasons. Letting go gracefully is part of growing up.

5. Boundaries Are a Skill You Must Learn

Saying yes to everything leads to burnout and resentment. Saying no doesn’t make you selfish—it makes you honest.

Clear boundaries protect your time, energy, and mental health, and they teach others how to treat you.

6. Money Stress Is Easier to Prevent Than Fix

You don’t need to be rich—but you do need awareness. Budgeting, saving, and avoiding lifestyle inflation matter more than your salary number.

Small financial habits compound quietly, just like debt does.

7. Confidence Comes From Action, Not Approval

Waiting for permission, validation, or reassurance delays growth.

Confidence builds when you try, fail, adjust, and keep going—regardless of who’s watching or approving.

8. You Are Allowed to Change Your Mind

Changing careers, values, or goals isn’t a weakness—it’s responsiveness to life.

Who you are at 22 doesn’t have to match who you are at 32. Growth often looks like redirection.

9. Loneliness Is Part of the Process

Even when surrounded by people, you may feel alone. This isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you.

Loneliness often appears during transition—and transitions are where growth happens.

10. Time Is Your Most Valuable Currency

Energy, focus, and time matter more than money early on.

How you spend your days shapes who you become. Protect your time like it’s already expensive—because it is.