7 Of The Worst Mistakes Women Make In Their 20s

1. Not saving money

You’re at the start of your career and are probably feeling underpaid, like you don’t have a dollar to spare after rent and internet is paid. But saving money is going to be one of the very best habits you can create. Articles that tell you to skip your morning latte so you can save a deposit for a house are bullshit, but your spending habits should be reviewed, and you should always spend less than you earn.

2. Having too much fun

Fresh out of college, you’re experiencing real freedom for the first time in your life and it can be so heady. But life isn’t always about fun – it’s about building something that lasts (a career, a family, whatever.) While you should enjoy your twenties, spare some thought to the future, and work toward it because it will be here sooner than you think.

3. Not having enough fun

Some women have the problem of taking life too seriously. You’re gung-ho to conquer every peak, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing to allow yourself to be surprised or swept away by a fun hobby once in a while. Life should be enjoyed.

4. Not exploring enough

After college, you might feel like your whole life is planned out – but it doesn’t have to be. You should allow enough breathing space in your life to venture outside of your carefully drawn map to see what else life holds. For instance, your degree might be in a STEM subject but if you’re suddenly obsessed with art, allow yourself to follow that obsession a bit. You might not think of yourself as a yoga person, but maybe try a class, just once, just so you know for sure whether your own picture of yourself is true.

5. Falling in love too easily

Your first relationships in your 20s are heady – and they can be wonderful. But before you let your heart gallop away with your brain, try to remember that this decade is for you. It’s to explore yourself and your capacity to build a world you’ll enjoy. Fall in love if you want to, but don’t forget the entire rest of your life because of it.

6. Believing that anything you do now is permanent

The mistakes you make in your 20s feel permanent. You can get married, you can declare bankruptcy, you can become a zillionaire overnight with your new app or book or movie. But none of that is necessarily permanent. People change all the time, so no matter how amazing you feel, or how low you feel, know that life is long and this is just one small part of it. You’re never really “set”.

7. Being too accommodating

In your 20s it’s easy to feel like a naïf, which can make you feel like you have to go along with those in authority – whether that person has control of your heart, your paycheck or something else you value. Your 20s is when you learn to stand your ground. Make up your own mind, don’t be afraid to disagree, and follow your own directives, even if nobody else understands them.