Your 20s are a decade that’s supposed to be filled with opportunities, growth, and memorable experiences. Unfortunately, these years can also be a time of missteps and missed chances. In this article, we’ll explore the top 17 things people would do if they had a chance to redo their 20s.
Pursue a Passion
Many regret not following their true interests when they were younger and had the chance instead of pursuing a career for the money. As people get older, they realize the importance of aligning their career choices with their personal passions and the benefits of job satisfaction and personal fulfillment.
Exhibit Financial Prudence
Lots of people spend their 20s partying, shopping, traveling, and eating out—all of which are great fun but can be a drain on the bank account. Later in life, they realize how important saving and investing early can be. They come to regret overspending and accumulating debt in their younger years.
Make Better Educational Choices
According to News Nation, “Nearly 40% of adults who went to college regret their choice of major.” Many wish they’d spent their twenties on a different path of study. Those who didn’t pursue further education also often have regrets as they later realize the value of lifelong learning and skill development.
Take More Risks
Some people spend their 20s playing it safe, letting the fear of failure hold them back. Later in life, they come to regret this, recognizing the benefits of embracing failures as growth opportunities. They wish they could redo their 20s and take more risks, wondering what unexpected opportunities may have arisen if they had.
Travel More
Others have regrets about not exploring the world when free of heavier responsibilities, like spouses, children, and demanding careers. They wish they’d seen more of the world when they had the chance and would have enjoyed the increased cultural awareness and personal growth that came with it. Of course, there are always ways to integrate travel into your lifestyle!
Build Stronger Relationships
Many people only realize the importance of cultivating deep, meaningful relationships in their 30s and beyond. A common regret is not spending enough time with loved ones or developing strong relationships in their younger years. If there was a way to redo your 20s, you can bet many people would do this!
Improve Health and Fitness
“People in their early 20s are more likely to be not working due to ill health than those in their early 40s,” as per the BBC. Neglecting health and fitness can lead to long-term regrets and having to make a lot of changes in your thirties and beyond. Lots of people wish they’d realized the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle earlier.
Live Abroad
Certain people feel they missed opportunities for their personal and professional growth by not spending any time living abroad and wish they could go back to their twenties when it was easier to pick up and move to do this. There are tons of benefits to experiencing different cultures and work environments, but too many people miss out on this.
Stay True to Themselves
If you ask most people what they wish they could go back to their twenties and do, they’ll say they wish they had lived more authentically. They now realize the importance of aligning actions with personal values and beliefs and the consequences of living to meet others’ expectations.
Start a Business
The fear of failure deters many from entrepreneurial ventures. They wait and wait for the right time and end up stuck in a career they don’t like instead. Lots of people who now see the rewards of pursuing entrepreneurial dreams wish they could go back to their younger years and just go for it.
Prioritize Mental Health
As shared by the Cleveland Clinic, “Having good mental health can help you develop positive and meaningful relationships with others.” Unfortunately, many in their 20s often overlook this, leading to long-term consequences. They later realize the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health issues and wish they could go back to change things.
Let Go of Grudges
The burden of holding onto past conflicts can have a big influence on a person’s life, though they often don’t see the benefits of forgiveness and moving forward until later on. As people learn techniques for resolving conflicts and healing relationships, they wish they could go back in time to do so in their 20s.
Express Their Feelings
Many look back with regret on not sharing their true emotions with those around them. Open communication can profoundly impact relationships, enhancing closeness and understanding. Embracing emotional honesty and encouraging vulnerability can also prevent misunderstandings and strengthen bonds between individuals.
Be More Adventurous
Another common regret people have is not engaging in more spontaneous and exciting activities during their 20s. Embracing adventure can significantly enhance life’s enjoyment and create lasting memories, but lots of people only realize this when they’re older and have less time to spare.
Learn New Skills
Many regret not broadening their skill set during their 20s. According to Vault, learning new skills opens doors, keeps you healthy, increases your adaptability, and more. In terms of work, a versatile skill set is also impressive. If we could go back in time, many would work harder on improving skills in their younger years.
Maintain Friendships
It’s common to regret losing touch with friends as life gets busier. Friendships need nurturing to endure the tests of time and distance, though people in their 20s often don’t make the effort, as they’re so wrapped up in their lives.
Take More Photographs
Photographs are priceless memories, and many in their later years look back on their twenties and regret not having captured more moments from the past. Lots of people wish they could go back in time to take more pictures!
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