10 Things I Wish I Started in My Early 20s (But Had to Learn in My Late 20s)
10 things for a healthy and fun life
Your early 20s are a bit like a free trial of life — unlimited energy, bad decisions included, and no pop-up warning that says: “This will come back to haunt you in five years.”
By your late 20s, the body, the mind, and even your calendar start charging interest. Suddenly, you’re negotiating with your knees, sugar is your sworn enemy, and coffee has become your therapist.
Here are ten habits I really wish I had started earlier — because starting them late was like showing up to class after the exam has started.
1. Coffee before work
I used to think coffee was a scam. “Why pay for energy when I can just… exist?” But late-20s me discovered the truth: coffee is not a drink, it’s a ritual. It’s not about caffeine — it’s about the transition from caveman brain to civilized human who can open email without crying.
2. Creatine every day
For years I thought creatine was only for guys at the gym yelling “lightweight, baby!” But here’s the secret: creatine is the universal cheat code. It’s the extra RAM your body didn’t know it needed. Early-20s me could’ve been stronger, sharper, faster. Instead, I was just sore.
3. Sugarless days
I once believed sugar was harmless — after all, dessert is joy, right? Wrong. Sugar is the ex who seems fun at first but drains you, ruins your health, and leaves you with regrets (and cavities). Cutting sugar, even for a day, feels like giving your body a peace treaty.
4. Movement snacks
You know those quick stretches or short walks? Yeah, I ignored them. I used to sit like a statue for hours. By the time I stood up, my spine would file for divorce. Movement snacks aren’t exercise — they’re like rebooting your system before you crash.
5. Running
Running in my early 20s felt like punishment. Why would anyone voluntarily suffer? Now I get it. Running is meditation in disguise. Somewhere between gasping for air and sweating through my T-shirt, I find answers — or at least excuses to order biryani guilt-free.
6. Writing
In college, writing was just assignments. Painful, forced, soulless. But real writing? It’s how you untangle the mess in your head. Every sentence feels like clearing digital clutter — like closing 47 Chrome tabs in your brain.
7. Coding
Coding used to look like witchcraft. I’d see those lines of code and think: “This is not for humans.” But learning to code taught me it’s just another language — one that speaks to machines. And unlike humans, machines don’t ghost you, they just throw errors. Which, honestly, is more respectful.
8. Focus time for work
In my early 20s, I thought multitasking made me efficient. Spoiler: it just made me bad at three things at once. Now I block time, shut the world out, and actually finish tasks. Focus time is like a force field — once you get it, you don’t want to live without it.
9. Tracking steps
I used to laugh at people counting steps. “What’s the point?” Then I found myself at 11:45 PM in my late 20s, pacing around the living room to hit 10k steps. It’s ridiculous, but also magical. Tiny numbers on a screen trick you into taking care of your health. Genius.
10. Endurance training
In my early 20s, I cared only about looking fit — six-pack, biceps, vibes. But life isn’t about lifting weights once. It’s about lasting. Endurance training is what lets you climb stairs, run for a bus, or survive a wedding dance floor without dying. Turns out stamina isn’t boring — it’s survival.
Final thought
The funny part? None of these things are revolutionary. They’re all boring, small, almost invisible habits. But boring things compound. And suddenly, your late 20s don’t feel like a constant apology tour to your younger self.
If you’re in your early 20s reading this, start now. If you’re in your late 20s, welcome — the water’s warm, the knees are creaky, but we’re figuring it out together.