Dear Young Dreamer,
Your 20s can be the most powerful decade of your life—or the most wasted. This is the season where energy, ambition, and time meet in one place. But it is also the age where distraction, peer pressure, and comfort can quietly destroy your future before it even starts. Many people wake up at 35 and realize that their biggest regrets are not the mistakes they made—but the things they never did. Let me share with you ten things you will regret not doing in your twenties.
1. Not Investing in Yourself
Your twenties are your building years. Every course you take, every book you read, and every skill you learn becomes the foundation of your earning power. Most people waste these years chasing fun instead of building value. They spend money on clothes, alcohol, and weekends, yet struggle to invest in education that could transform their future. Your brain is your greatest asset. What you master in your twenties can feed you for decades.
2. Not Starting a Business
Your twenties are the best time to take entrepreneurial risks. You have fewer obligations, more energy, and the freedom to experiment. Even if your first idea fails, the lessons become priceless. Too many young people wait for perfect conditions—more money, more confidence, more clarity. But business rewards courage, not comfort. Start small. Sell something. Offer a service. Test your ideas. Waiting for the “right time” is how dreams die quietly.
3. Not Cutting Off the Wrong People
Your circle can either multiply your potential or murder it. Many young people waste years trying to please friends who do not care about growth. Some friends drain your energy with partying, gossip, and negativity. You need circles that challenge you, sharpen you, and push you forward. Do not be afraid to outgrow people who refuse to grow. Your destiny cannot be built around those who are comfortable being stuck.
4. Not Taking Risks While You Can
Your twenties are the perfect time to take bold steps. You can fail, recover, and try again without the weight of heavy responsibilities. Start that venture. Change careers. Try new fields. Study something different. Move to a new city. Explore opportunities. Fear is cheaper in your twenties—regret is expensive in your forties. If you win, you build a foundation for life. If you fail, you gain wisdom that builds your future.
5. Not Taking Care of Your Health
Bad habits do not show their damage immediately—but they collect interest. Poor diet, no exercise, and sleepless routines will catch up. Start early. Move your body. Eat with intention. Drink water. Rest properly. Your body is the machine that carries your future success. Wealth means nothing if you are too sick to enjoy it later.
6. Not Ignoring the Need to Impress People
Many young people burn years and money trying to look successful instead of becoming successful. Clothes, gadgets, cars, and appearances become traps that drain financial growth. Real success is quiet. It grows while you are working, not showing off. Impress no one. Build yourself. Let your results speak when the time comes.
7. Not Learning How to Manage Money
Financial literacy determines the quality of your life more than your degree. If you do not control money, money will control you. Learn how to budget, how to save, how to avoid debt traps, and how to grow your income. Many people earn enough but stay broke because they do not know where their money goes. A disciplined wallet in your twenties prevents financial stress in your thirties.
8. Not Saving and Investing Early
You will regret every dollar wasted on temporary pleasure once you understand the power of time. A person who starts saving and investing small amounts early will always beat someone who starts late with larger amounts. Wealth is built by consistency and time, not by sporadic effort. Start early. Even small amounts grow when given years to compound. Your future self will thank you.
9. Not Taking Responsibility Early
Some young people hide behind the phrase “I am still young” and avoid responsibility. But adulthood begins when you take ownership of your life. Responsibility builds confidence, focus, and direction. It teaches you that your future depends on your actions—not your parents, not your employer, and not your government. Taking responsibility early accelerates growth.
10. Not Planning for the Long Term
Your twenties feel endless, but they are not. Time moves faster than you expect. One day you will look back and wonder how you moved from 22 to 35 so quickly. Do not drift through life. Create a vision. Set goals. Plan your path. Dreams without timelines become regrets. The world rewards execution, not intention.
Final Thoughts
Your twenties are your foundation. Every habit you develop now will shape the next decades of your life. This is not the time to be careless with time, money, or purpose. Use this decade to build—quietly, consistently, and intentionally. When you build well now, your thirties will be a season of harvest. When you waste your twenties, life becomes a cycle of catching up. The power to change your future is in your hands today.
With hope for your growth and discipline,
ZimLedger Admin
ZimLedger
ZimLedger is the all in one business and finance platform for Zimbabwe. It generates quotes, invoices, payslips and financial statements, manages business ledgers, tracks income and expenses, and builds shopping lists. ZimLedger offers a simple yet powerful solution tailored to local needs. Whether you are budgeting in ZiG or USD, managing business accounts, converting Ecocash statements, or tracking household expenses, ZimLedger empowers you to stay organised, make informed financial decisions, and grow your wealth—right from your phone or computer.
