Growing up comes with a whole lot of unexpected twists, and of course, nobody gets it 100% right.
Most adults have at least a few moments they look back on and think, “Why did I do that?” or “If only I’d known better.” Adulting doesn’t come with a manual, and it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re just trying to figure it all out. Here are some of the most common adulting missteps that so many people wish they could undo. We’re not trying to beat ourselves up about them, but maybe to save someone else from learning the hard way.
1. Not taking care of your teeth earlier
Flossing sounds boring when you’re young and healthy, but fast-forward a few years, and you realise that dental bills aren’t. A lot of adults kick themselves for not being more serious about their teeth in their twenties. It’s not just about the occasional cavity, either. You could end up facing expensive root canals, gum issues, and other painful problems that sneak up when you’re not paying attention. Turns out, your parents nagging you about flossing was the real deal.
2. Ignoring retirement savings because it felt too far away
When you’re just starting out, putting money into a retirement fund feels almost laughable. You’re barely making rent, so who’s thinking about turning 67 (or whatever the retirement age will be when you get there)? However, a lot of people look back and wish they’d started with even tiny amounts. The magic of compound interest doesn’t hit you until it’s too late to catch up easily. Starting small early would’ve made a world of difference, even if it was just a few pounds or dollars a month.
3. Racking up credit card debt for “wants” instead of “needs”
New clothes, fancy dinners, spontaneous weekends away—credit cards make it all seem easy and harmless. But those bills don’t stay cute for long once the interest piles up, and you’re still paying off that one brunch two years later. Many adults wish they’d understood that using credit wisely isn’t about depriving yourself; it’s about not sabotaging your future self for the sake of a fleeting moment of fun.
4. Staying too long in a bad job because it felt safe
There’s a fine line between being loyal and being stuck. Plenty of people stay in toxic, stagnant jobs way too long because they’re scared of rocking the boat or starting over. Later, they realise that while stability is important, wasting years being miserable isn’t the kind of “security” that’s really worth holding onto. Taking the risk to move on often brings better opportunities, and better mental health.
5. Not prioritising health because you still “felt fine”
When you’re young and nothing really hurts yet, it’s easy to assume you’ll always bounce back. Skipping doctor appointments, surviving on junk food, never exercising—it doesn’t seem urgent until it does. So many people look back wishing they’d built better habits earlier, before their bodies started issuing not-so-subtle reminders that maintenance really is easier than repair.
6. Letting friendships fade without trying harder
Life gets busy—careers, families, moves —and before you know it, years pass without talking to people who once meant the world to you. It’s not always anyone’s fault, but it still stings later. A lot of adults wish they’d sent that text, made that phone call, or planned that coffee date instead of assuming there would always be more time. Some relationships are worth fighting to keep.
7. Thinking self-worth had to be tied to career success
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing your value is tied to your job title, your salary, or how fast you climb the ladder. But for many, that mindset ends up feeling hollow and exhausting. Real self-worth has way more to do with who you are as a person, not what you achieve. Lots of adults wish they’d figured that out earlier instead of chasing external validation so hard.
8. Putting off travel because there would “always be time later”
In theory, there’s always time to travel later. In reality, responsibilities pile up fast—mortgages, kids, ageing parents—and spontaneity becomes a rare luxury. Many people look back wishing they’d booked that trip when it was easier, cheaper, and didn’t require six months of planning. Adventures don’t get less magical just because they happen early in life.
9. Comparing life paths too much to everyone else’s
It’s so tempting to look around and wonder why you’re not as far along as someone else. Social media only fuels that constant measuring game, but it’s almost always misleading and pointless. Adults often realise too late that nobody’s journey is truly linear, and that measuring your life by someone else’s timeline is a guaranteed recipe for unnecessary stress and missed joy.
10. Settling in relationships out of fear or loneliness
Staying in a relationship that doesn’t feel quite right because it’s comfortable, familiar, or just better than being alone is something a lot of people wish they could undo. It’s not that every relationship has to be perfect, but choosing partners (or friends) based on fear rather than love almost always backfires in the long run. Trusting yourself enough to wait for something real matters.
11. Believing you had to have everything figured out by 30
There’s a weird pressure to hit every milestone by a certain age, like marriage, career, house, kids. But in reality, life unfolds at all kinds of speeds, and rushing it often leads to regrets. Many people wish they’d given themselves more permission to grow at their own pace instead of scrambling to hit someone else’s invisible checklist by an arbitrary birthday.
12. Not asking for help when they needed it
There’s a stubborn pride that comes with adulthood—the idea that you’re supposed to have it all together all the time. But nobody actually does, and trying to handle everything alone is exhausting and unnecessary. Adults often look back wishing they’d asked for support earlier, whether it was therapy, mentorship, friendship, or just a little help moving flats. Needing help doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.
13. Thinking happiness was something to “earn” instead of something to choose
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’ll be happy “when”—when you get the job, find the relationship, buy the house. But real happiness isn’t some prize you unlock at the end of a checklist. Most adults eventually realise that choosing joy, peace, and gratitude right now, even when things are messy, is what makes life better. Waiting for perfection only delays the good stuff you could already have.
