10 Things You Should Never Do in Your 20s (But Everyone Does)

Your 20s can be some of the most exciting, confusing, and defining years of your life. It’s a time of new freedoms, big dreams, wild mistakes, and slow discoveries. But while this decade is meant for growth, many of us unknowingly pick up habits and make choices that quietly set us back.

I’m not writing this from a place of judgment—I’ve done most of these things myself. But if you can become aware of these common traps early on, you’ll save yourself time, energy, and regret.

Here are 10 things you should never do in your 20s (but everyone does):




1. Trying to Please Everyone

In your 20s, it’s easy to seek approval—from friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers online. You might say yes when you mean no, stay quiet when you should speak up, or make choices just to fit in.

But here’s the truth: You can’t live your life trying to keep everyone happy. The more you try, the more you'll lose yourself. Learn to value your voice, even if it shakes. The people who matter will respect it.



2. Thinking You Have to "Have It All Figured Out"

There’s pressure to have a clear career path, stable income, perfect relationship, and solid plan for the next 10 years. Newsflash: almost nobody does.

Your 20s are for exploring, not settling. You’ll grow by trying, failing, learning, and trying again. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward.



3. Comparing Your Life to Others

Social media makes it incredibly easy to compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. You see people getting married, traveling the world, launching startups—and suddenly, your own life feels… average.

But comparison is a thief. Everyone’s timeline is different. Focus on building a life that’s meaningful to you, not one that just looks good online.



4. Neglecting Your Health

You might feel invincible now. You can pull all-nighters, live off energy drinks, and skip workouts without consequences—for now. But your habits today build the foundation for your 30s and beyond.

Start small. Get sleep. Drink water. Move your body. Eat real food. Your future self will thank you for it.



5. Staying in Toxic Relationships

Whether it’s a friend, partner, or even a job—if something consistently drains you, disrespects you, or makes you feel less than, it’s toxic.

Don’t stay out of fear or comfort. You deserve relationships that help you grow, not ones that keep you stuck. Let go with love, and make space for better.



6. Avoiding Responsibility

It’s tempting to blame others, make excuses, or wait for life to fix itself. But growth starts when you take ownership of your choices, actions, and mindset.

The sooner you stop saying “It’s not my fault,” and start asking “What can I learn from this?”, the faster you’ll evolve.



7. Ignoring Your Finances

Money isn’t everything—but managing it wisely gives you freedom. Too many people in their 20s ignore budgeting, rack up debt, or live paycheck to paycheck without a plan.

You don’t need to be rich. You just need to be intentional. Learn about saving, investing, and building credit. Financial literacy now will change your life later.



8. Saying “Yes” to Everything

Opportunities are great—but your time and energy are limited. Saying “yes” to everything means saying “no” to your peace, your priorities, and your personal growth.

Learn the power of a respectful no. You don’t owe anyone access to your time if it costs your well-being.



9. Chasing Someone Else’s Definition of Success

Society loves to define success: a high-paying job, a big house, a certain lifestyle. But what if your version looks different?

Your 20s are the time to ask yourself big questions: What actually makes me feel alive? What does success feel like to me? Don’t chase someone else’s dream. Build your own.



10. Waiting for the “Perfect Time”

You want to start a business? Write a book? Move to a new city? The biggest lie is thinking you need more time, more money, more experience, or more confidence first.

Here’s the truth: There’s no perfect time. Start messy. Start scared. Start anyway. Most of the magic happens after you begin—not before.

Final Thoughts

Your 20s are not about perfection. They’re about becoming. You’ll make mistakes, lose people, change directions, and sometimes feel completely lost. That’s okay. That’s part of it.

But if you can become just a little more aware of the things that don’t serve you—these quiet, common mistakes—you’ll move through this decade with more clarity, confidence, and courage.

Because at the end of the day, your 20s aren’t about doing everything right.
They’re about learning what’s right for you.