Don’t make the mistakes that I made

It’s hard to believe, but I’m officially in my 50s now. Where did all that time go? While I don’t regret anything about my 20s (except maybe the times I got drunk and made an idiot of myself), there are a few things I would do differently if I could go back. In this post, I’ll go over the seven biggest regrets from my 20s — and how you can avoid them!

Regret #1 — Not traveling enough

One of my biggest regrets from my 20s is not traveling enough. I was so focused on partying and work that I didn’t take the time to explore the world. Now that I’m in my 50s, I realize how important it is to get out there and see new things early in life. If you’re in your 20s and have the opportunity to travel, do it! You’ll never regret it.

I should add that I have traveled extensively since then, especially in the last 10 years or so. I’m making up for lost time.

Regret #2 — Not taking enough risks

In my 20s, I was so focused on playing it safe that I didn’t take nearly enough risks. As a result, I missed out on a lot of opportunities. If I could go back, I would take more risks and seize every opportunity that came my way.

I can remember acquaintances pointing out opportunities that I thought were a little too risky for me. But it’s when you’re young that you can afford to take risks. You have plenty of time to recover if things go wrong.

Regret #3 — Not being more financially savvy

Another regret from my 20s is not being more financially savvy. I was so bad with money that I was still in debt by the time I was 29. It seems pretty shocking when I look back now because I’m very good with money these days. If I could go back, I would be much more mindful of my spending and make sure to save for a rainy day.

I would make saving and investing a priority. The earlier in life you start, the easier it is to build wealth. I could have built much more wealth if I’d started sooner.

Regret 4 — Not staying in touch with old friends

Another regret is not staying in touch with old friends. Maybe this is partly because I’m an introvert, but I was so busy with work and my social life that I didn’t make the effort to keep in touch with people from my past. As a result, I lost touch with a lot of great people.

I still look back now and wonder where they are and what they’re up to. I’d love to be able to meet up with them again. If you’re in your 20s, make sure to stay in touch with your old friends — you’ll be glad you did!

Regret #5 — Not buying a house sooner

I waited until I was 32 to buy my first home, and by then the market was way ahead of where it was when I was in my 20s. If I could go back, I would have bought a house in my mid-20s so that I could have built equity earlier. That would have helped when I moved to London. I would have been able to afford a nicer property than I ended up buying.

I know that property is less affordable these days but I still think it’s worth making the effort to buy at a younger age if you can.

Regret #6 — Not taking care of my health

I partied and drank way too much in my 20s. Yes, it was fun but it left me with some problems that took me a few years to recover from. I’m quite healthy these days, but it could so easily have ended in disaster. I know a few people that I partied with back then that are now in very bad health.

Regret #7 — Not following my dreams

The final regret from my 20s is not following my dreams. I was so focused on other things that I didn’t pursue my passion. And as a result, I ended up in jobs that I didn’t really like.

This was mainly because I didn’t want to move away from my party friends. A great career took a back seat.

These are just a few of the biggest regrets from my 20s. I’m sure there are others that I’m not even aware of. But the takeaway here is that you should live your life with no regrets. Seize every opportunity that comes your way, take risks, and follow your dreams. You’ll be glad you did!

What are some of your biggest regrets from your 20s? Let me know in the comments below!