Many things have been done that people have come to regret later in life. The bulk of these things were done while they were in their 20s and lacked the simple concept of taking on responsibilities. They also wish they could turn back the hands of time and do things differently, or at least better. Time and tide, though, do not wait for anyone. So, now that it has happened, the only option, if there is one, is to either find a way to undo the aftermath of their decisions or live with the consequences for the rest of their lives. As a consequence, I've assembled a list of 21 mistakes you can stop right there if you're in your twenties in order to start living the good life…

21. Failure to look after yourself

Everyone knows that health is wealth. Your wellbeing must take precedence. Most people in their twenties, on the other hand, neglect their wellbeing and concentrate on eating whatever they want, believing they are living life to the fullest. They go to the bar, smoke, drink excessively, and prefer hanging out. They consume foods that are high in fat, sugars, and protein. They are unconcerned about the effects of continuing to exercise in order to stay fit and burn excess fat and sugar. Hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other health problems are often the result of these factors. And who says these diseases can't impact you in your thirties?

20. Making the wrong friends

Some twenties assume that everyone can be their mate. One thing we must remember is that our friends are among the people at the very top of the influence ladder. They have an impact on us in ways we never imagined and have an impact on the choices we make. If one gets interested in the wrong company, his friends are likely to influence him. This has a life-altering impact and will remain on his record for the rest of his life. In their 20s, some people become hardened criminals, drug addicts, alcoholics, smokers, and so on. They may think they can improve when the time is right, but they may not be able to control the consequences of their decisions.

I used to have a friend, he was a high achiever, he had big things going for him, All ‘A grades’, he was a top student, but at some point he got involved with the wrong crowd, made the wrong friends, they did drugs, so did he, they went to crime, and so did he, and that ruined his life. Jim Rohn said “You are the average of the 5 people that you hang around with”. So remember choose your friends wisely.

19. Rushing to get married

Don't get us wrong: We think it's fantastic! Everyone wishes to marry and is on the lookout for a suitable life partner. When you're in your 20s, you might think that if you don't get married right away, people will abandon you. And, seemingly out of nowhere, a promising young man or woman with your basic qualities appears and begins talking about marriage. Nothing else matters at the moment, and you aren't ready to consider the possibility that your career will end after you marry. Then you get married, only to discover that it was one of the most costly decisions you've ever made. Don’t rush, play it steady.

18. Families being overlooked

Just your family will be there for you when everyone else has left. They've been your closest friends since you were born, and they'll always be there for you, no matter what. They can be irritating at times, especially if they start prying into your personal affairs and impose restrictions on your liberty. They were, however, well-intentioned. In your twenties, you're busy with school events, attempting to concentrate on love, keeping a social life, and so on. Your goals should not be set without considering your family, but it seems that people in their twenties devote more time and energy to other aspects of their lives while neglecting their families. Here’s what we learnt - People in their forties and fifties when asked about one of their biggest regrets: many told us it was not spending enough time with their families and loved ones when in their twenties. Spend those precious moments with your family. You will appreciate this advice.

17. Impulsive buying

The word "impulsive buying" refers to the act of purchasing something you see. You may feel like the best thing to do in your 20s is to spend every penny that comes into your hand because you have few or no financial obligations. You want to buy the most up-to-date items, have the most up-to-date smart phones or gadgets, go to clubs, eat out, and have a good time. It does not occur to you that saving is a must and can be extremely beneficial in the most bothersome times of your life. It is highly recommended that you should start saving and investing in your twenties. What's more, guess what? When you're in your thirties, you'll look back and be thankful. The book ‘The Richest Man In Babylon by George Clason’ is a great read about saving money and accumulating wealth in your 20s.

16. Doing a job you despise

It is sometimes unavoidable to work in a position that is a carbon copy of your ideal job. With the current state of the economy everywhere, finding a dream career can be daunting at times. When you get your first job, which you may or may not like, you may be afraid of not being able to discover another. As a result, you get trapped and continue to do a job that stresses you out, drains your energy, or prevents you from enjoying other facets of your life. Don't stay in a position you despise because you fear you won't be able to find something better. The faster you make the correct decision, the better because you do not have the same freedom to seek better opportunities in your 30s or 40s or 50s and so on.

15. Burning bridges

It is not a good idea to burn all of your bridges. Some individuals in their twenties leave their former lives and move on as soon as they receive a better offer in life. Some people abandon their friends, families, and those who stood by them when times were tough. It's likely that they obtained a better job offer and hopped into the moving train, saying goodbye to their former position without having to quit professionally. You can send them a few days, weeks, or months' notices so that they can find a replacement. Often, since you can't see into the future, you could run into these people again when you're in a tight spot. So, what are your options? Don’t burn bridges.

14. Believing that talent and education are sufficient for success

High intellect, natural talent, and degrees from prestigious universities are all desirable qualities, but they don't guarantee that you'll land a great job — and they're worthless if they're not accompanied by hard work. Acting with others and how you portray yourself can be much more critical in advancing your career. Whatever you do, having social skills, soft skills, understanding who to ask for what, and seeing the big picture are all useful assets.

13. Associating pleasure with wealth

Although prestige and a big paycheck can make you happy, there's a lot more to success than that. If you prioritize a paycheck over your passion, you're setting yourself up for a long time of regret.

12. Giving up when things get Tough

When it happens for the first time, ending a serious relationship, being fired from a job, and making your startup fail can all seem life-changing. Instead of giving up or setting a lower goal for the next time, you should consider setbacks as opportunities to improve you and develop you. Remember every hardship can be a blessing hidden in disguise. Remember to look for the blessing and the lesson learnt.

11. Putting off things

There's a theory that says if you're 30 years old, you'll be extremely successful and have it all figured out. It's all too easy to put off your most cherished ambitions, assuming that you'll have time for them eventually. However, you can reach an age when it is too late to change occupations, attend graduate school, or start a family. Our advice is to create a ‘Life list’ with all your goals and set action steps for what you will do to achieve those, and tick them off your ‘life list’. Remember Arya Stark had a list too, and she ticked names off her list too. Now we don’t suggest you have a ‘kill list’ like Arya Stark did in Game of Thrones, but having a ‘life list’ helps you keep you keep focused on the goals you want in life.

10. Making an attempt to satisfy everybody

It is instinctive to want to get along with your boss, customers, and almost all of your colleagues when you're first starting out in your career. Embrace it, and don't get upset when you know some of them really don't like you. You will always find someone in your office, family, or school who dislikes you. So, don't get stressed and don't try to please everyone. This way, things will work well for you.

9. Believing that all friendships will last forever

Do you think your college friends will be your lifelong friends? Some will always be there at 40, but the majority will be busying in their lives doing what they do. When your mates are really not altogether in the same town or in the same school, you will know which ones are perhaps the most important to you and which ones are worth the time of keeping in touch with.

8. They're on the lookout for their soul mate

Some people want to spend the majority of their twenties single and emotionally detached. Others are on the lookout for the right partner. The latter category is prone to fantasizing about meeting someone with whom everything just works, and the relationship is uncomplicated. However, in fact, the most successful long-term relationships necessitate effort and commitment. Here's some helpful advice: You must constantly make compromises, changes, embrace and justify your failures, but know what? This is what makes it interesting!

7. Believing that relocating to a new place would fix their problems

Traveling and living in a new place can both be culturally enriching experiences, and your twenties are the ideal time to do both. But, heading to the opposite coast does not guarantee that you can immediately find sense and purpose.

6. Seeing things in black and white

Many people in their twenties are fixated on absolutes. For example, some people believe they must choose between a future career that benefits them and one that benefits others, despite the fact that self-interest does not have to be synonymous with doing good for the community.

5. Planning years ahead of time

One of the major mistakes that you probably made in your twenties was that you tried hard to plan years in advance. We know that it is good to plan and sort things out, but long-term planning may result in failure. It isn't easy to guess where you will end up and what you will do. So, instead of obsessing over five-year plans, concentrate on achievable and doable short-term objectives.

4. They assume they are the only one of their mates who is having difficulties

It may seem that your peers or colleagues are more competitive and optimistic as you navigate the world, assessing who you are as an adult and pursuing a career. However, regardless of income, jobs, or living conditions, every 20-something is still finding things out as they go.

3. Adhering to bad advice

Bad advice will sneak up on you. You may want to check it out to see if it really works. When it doesn't, you feel compelled to give it another shot just to be sure. That's how bad advice will devastate your career and personal relationships. It's likely that your mentors and friends were providing you with bad advice. You thought it was wrong the second it crossed their lips. It would be best if you had not listened to them in the first place. Instead, you continued to act as though they were fully aware of their actions. You continued to give them money for further advice, despite the fact that it had failed to help them. It failed each and every time.

2. Believing you must be the best at one thing

There could always be someone better than you, no matter how good you are at something. Choose one thing, and you'll find 100 more talented people who have been doing it professionally for a long time. Right now, you need to be exceptional at four to five things, figure out where your strengths overlap and then create a business around them. You can build your own personal brand and have something completely special that only a few people in the world can match. We need to master a few before coming up with something completely different because creativity is the new secret to success.

1.     Accusing others of being responsible for your plight

Our present situation is not the fault of our parents. Accepting responsibility for being the authors of our own lives and beginning to write a story that we want to read is important. Stop blaming others for your issues and start taking responsibility for your choices; the more you know that you are solely responsible for your actions, the sooner you will get behind the wheel and drive. Here is a quote here at MM we love: “You are the captain of your ship, and the master of your fate”.

Bonus One!

Thinking that money is the answer to all life’s problems

Many people in their 20s think money is the answer to life’s problems. But it’s not. I’ll share with you a story of someone I knew once who thought this, he was a greedy person, and also a lonely person. He thought money would solve his loneliness; and so he hustled hard, and had a successful breakthrough with his business. It made him millions. He got married, even had a few kids, yet he still felt lonely. He had millions, but he felt it wasn’t enough, he felt he needed more money to solve his loneliness. So he hustled more, several more businesses, long days, long nights, it cost him his wife, a divorce, he lost his kids, but he made his money into a Billion. He had so much more money. Yet he still felt lonely. He now feels that if he makes more billions his life problem will be solved.

The truth is, it won’t. Money is an amplifier, like a magnifying glass it only amplifies your true self. This man was greedy and lonely and money only made him greedier and lonelier. It amplified him. What this person should have done was solved the loneliness part first and the greed first by finding happiness in the little things in life. Only when he found happiness, should he have sought the secondary goal of making money. Only then would he have been happy.

Comment below about your thoughts on this! 

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