No, I Don’t Want to Achieve Everything in My 20s

Yes, I am only 23.

As I sat down to work this morning, sipping chai during office meetings and reading about AI, I felt a familiar sense of uncertainty—a concern about my future and agitation over not having it all figured out. But then I reminded myself: it’s okay not to have everything sorted right now.

My thoughts soon drifted to my great-grandmother, who’s 94—71 years older than me. She’s had a long, fulfilling life, and if I make it to 70, I’d consider myself lucky. It made me question: why do we feel so much pressure to achieve everything in our 20s or even 30s? Is it because of the hustle culture ingrained in us in recent years?

Is trying to achieve everything in our 20s, at the expense of health and comfort, really worth it? Is becoming a millionaire by 30 worth burning out? Are we sacrificing our well-being to hit arbitrary milestones?

Let’s face it—your 20s aren’t as glamorous as social media would have you believe. They’re messy, unpredictable, and filled with learning curves. Sure, some people may achieve early success, make big money, and even retire young, but for most of us, it’s okay to take a slower pace. You don’t need to buy a house or a luxury car in your 20s. Feel free to hit those goals by 30 or 40! You can still create a rich, fulfilling life on your terms.

People might say, “You’re only 23, what do you know?” And sure, I don’t know everything. But I do know that I don’t want to achieve success by sacrificing my well-being or stepping on others. When I think about my career or building a business, I want to focus on creating value, not just chasing money.

So it’s okay to take a break, to slow down, to follow a different path. You’re human—not AI or a machine. You’re allowed to take things at your own pace. I’m not saying you should procrastinate or delay your goals, but it’s okay if your priorities shift. You don’t need to achieve everything in your 20s. Let go of that pressure—it’s just a societal myth we’ve been conditioned to believe.

With the current job market and the intense effort it takes to succeed, achieving everything by a certain age is simply unrealistic for most people. That doesn’t mean your goals aren’t achievable; it’s just fine if you reach them later in life. Stop putting arbitrary deadlines on yourself.

A close friend of mine once told me, “You end up accelerating yourself so much that it damages your engine.” In simpler terms, if you push yourself too hard, you risk burning out—and that can have lasting consequences.

So, if you’re reading this, take this as a reminder: slow down. It’s okay to take things at your own pace. Your time will come. - Written by Vanshika Patil

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