Late 20s Survival Guide: Life’s Biggest Lessons No One Told You About

What is life? 

A culmination of memories and experiences, our living reality of the present moment, the nostalgia of days gone by, or the dreams we’re working towards. All of these are true, in their own way.

To quote BTS’s Kim Namjoon: 

“Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.”

What’s the fun of being in your late 20s?

You’re no longer in university, and you’ve learned that chugging and mixing are two bad decisions you can consciously make. But you also come to realize that stability is something you crave, and that it takes time to build the life you envision.

Yes, you may have more money now compared to your college days and can finally take that ZNMD trip to Spain, but you also realize you don’t quite have enough for a down payment on your ideal home. You still have the drive to build things from scratch, but you’re no longer as naïve as you were in your early 20s. Why? Because life happened.

Now, we prefer staying in pyjamas over a night out, building deep, meaningful friendships over one-on-one conversations, rather than heading out at 11 p.m. with a group of ten people.

But here’s the thing, even in your late 20s, the definition of achievement changes. Do you know what counts as a major achievement now? Waking up early, hitting the gym, eating healthy at home, finishing work by 6 p.m., socializing with friends in the evening, and ending the day with a good skincare routine. That, my friends, is hitting the jackpot. Most days, we might check off two things from that list—and that’s okay, too.

With these accomplishments come realizations, entering the latter half of your 20s means learning to accept that stress and anxiety are your constant companions, and they aren’t going anywhere. Over time, we develop a relationship with them, and though they aren’t necessarily bad, they’re a reminder that you care deeply about something. It’s about learning where to draw the line and how. The way we navigate these feelings is unique to each of us, but no one is exempt from them—if they say they are, they’re lying, no cap.

And then reality hits, picture someone fresh out of university, stepping into the adult world, trying to understand the corporate ladder, workplace politics, and the harsh reality that bills don’t pay themselves. We realize we’ll need to earn a living until the day we die, while still holding onto dreams. And all this while maintaining good mental health, a strong relationship with family and community, a social life, and working toward stability—a roof over our heads and a partner to share this thing called life with. Oh, and let’s not forget about physical health, aiming to work out at least four to five times a week. Now tell me, aren’t stress and anxiety your best friends? They definitely are!

At the same time, we all take different paths, I honestly believe we choose the battles we fight from this list. Some leave home, some move continents, some stay close to family. Some join the corporate race, some secure stable government jobs, and others become entrepreneurs. The world needs all of them. As Mel Robbins says, this phase is known as the “great scattering,” where everyone branches out, surrendering to fate and destiny. Is anyone’s path inherently better than another’s? Maybe in some logical or comparative way, when you break down each component. But is anyone truly “winning” or taking a “better” route? No. Absolutely not.

As Buddha said, ‘Life is nothing but suffering.’ We are here to balance our karma from past lifetimes. We all choose our battles, our pros and cons, and which journeys we can handle. No journey is free of roadblocks or perfectly smooth, but we get the privilege to choose our path. We all experience both the highs and lows of life. The foundation never changes—we all go through a balance of good and bad. No one can escape “life” because of a particular decision; we all experience it—just sometimes on our own terms.

And here’s the kicker,  don’t let anyone fool you with their picture-perfect life on social media, their wealth, or what they seem entitled to. Nothing is perfect, nor is it permanent.

Today may not be your day—and that’s good news! Tomorrow might be.  Today is your day? Amazing. Be grateful, because tomorrow it might not be. Change is the only permanent feature of life.

And remember, you’re never alone, you may feel like no one understands you, like you’re the only one going through a particular problem, feeling isolated—but you couldn’t be more wrong. We are all experiencing similar challenges, just at different stages in life. The timing may vary, which is why finding a community can sometimes be hard, but we’re all going through the same emotions. You’ll see this when you allow yourself to be vulnerable and create a space for others to be, too. Then, you’ll realize you are not alone.

As MJ would say, ‘Let’s make this world a little better place for you and for me and the entire human race.’ Treat everyone with kindness—you never know what battle they’ve chosen to fight, and what they’re currently fighting.

#KindnessNeverGoesOutOfFashion