You’re in your 20s and you feel like you have all the time and energy to do whatever you want – from partying ’til dawn with your friends down to eating whatever you like. But the 20s are just like any other life stage; they pass by and before you knew it, they are gone. Don’t let them pass by and leave you with regrets. Learn from these common mistakes people in their 20s make:

　　1. Staying in an unhealthy relationship

　　Your 20s will play an important role in shaping who you are. It is the stage that you get to know better what you want for yourself and from a partner. If the relationship is not making both of you into a better person, then maybe you should take a step back and ask yourself if it’s still worth it. Some people in their 20s make the common mistake of staying in an unhealthy relationship just because they’ve been with the person for so long. Keep in mind that it’s not the length of a relationship that counts most but the quality of your relationship.

　　2. Spending money carelessly

　　Buying whatever you want and eating out almost everyday may make you feel good at the moment but it will make you poor in the long run. Even if you have a salary that’s more than enough for your living expenses, you still won’t be able to make progress in your financial goals if you constantly spend more than what you earn. Remember that your financial choices today will make an impact on your future so choose where to spend your money on. Make sure that you spend them on things that will move you forward towards your financial goals.

　　3. Sticking to a dead-end job

　　With piles of student debt, you find it insane just to consider quitting your job. But have you also thought of the time and energy you’re wasting on a job that doesn’t suit your skills, strengths, and interests? If you haven’t figured out yet what your dream job is, then use this stage to find out what it is.

　　Start creating a list of career ideas that you think will suit your strengths and interests then get your feet wet. Ask people who are in these industries about the job and what needs to be done to take you there. These steps may not instantly take you to your dream job but it helps build the bridge to get you there.

　　4. Giving up dreams for fear of failure

　　Fear is a powerful emotion. You feel it especially if you’re chasing something that’s bigger than yourself. But don’t let it stop you. Whether you dream of traveling the world or starting your own business, don’t let the fear of failure keep you from taking action. There will always be mistakes and failure will be inevitable but giving it a try won’t do you harm. The most successful people have too felt the fear but what sets them apart from the rest is that they took action anyway.

　　5. Giving in to naysayers

　　In your journey towards your dreams, there will be people who will doubt your capacity and question your dreams. Don’t give in to their negativity and don’t argue with them. Just let them say what they have to say and do your own thing. Sometimes you need these kind of people to help you evaluate how badly you want your dream to happen. If you really want it that bad, then you will still pursue it even if no one believes you.

　　You won’t get into this life stage again. Make the most of it and make sure that it’s always worth looking back at.