Having It All Together in Your 20s?
Ok, let’s start with a confession.
When I was younger, I thought “having it all together” in your 20s meant wearing a blazer, having a high-paying job, driving a car, drinking black coffee, and saying things like,
“Let’s circle back to that later.”
Now that I'm actually in my 20s?
I’m circling back to my room, trying to find the other side of my earbuds.
And the only thing I’ve got “together” is the 45 open tabs in my brain.
The Pressure is Real
People say, “Your 20s are the best years of your life!”
Yeah, maybe if you’re a Bollywood character who lives in a Mumbai flat with no rent and infinite friends.
For the rest of us, the 20s are just a mix of:
- Trying to act like an adult
- Feeling like a kid
- Paying for stuff we didn’t even know we used (like UPI charges)
- And saying “I’m figuring it out” with the confidence of a lost tourist.
What Even Is “Having It All Together”?
Society has some wild expectations:
- Career? Sorted.
- Relationships? Healthy.
- Skin? Glowing.
- Schedule? Productive.
- Mind? Calm.
But real life?
- Career? I’m still Googling “how to write a professional email without taking help from ChatGPT.”
- Relationships? Half my friends are committed. The other half are in therapy. I’m just trying to not forget birthdays.
- Skin? Oil factory.
- Schedule? I plan everything at 2 AM and forget it all by morning.
- Mind? Constant buffering.
Because the World is Way Ahead of You
Let’s start with Vaibhav Suryavanshi... India’s youngest cricketer to debut in IPL before 15.
He’s breaking records while half of us still get confused between “offside” and “onside.”
Or actors like Zaira Wasim, who won the National Award as a teenager.
Entrepreneurs like Tilak Mehta, who launched a courier startup at 13.
Even Instagram is full of 16-year-olds talking about stock markets like they’ve been in the game since Sensex was born.
And here we are, sitting with open books, open YouTube tabs, and open self-doubt.
It’s not jealousy. It’s just that little voice in your head saying:
“Am I already late?”
The Silent Expectations
As a guy, the expectations are often quiet but crushing.
You’re supposed to "figure things out," be "stable," be "strong."
No one expects you to feel lost or uncertain. No one gives you space to admit you're scared.
We nod. We smile. We say “haan yaar, sab badhiya” while inside, we’re just hoping something clicks soon.
Sometimes all you want is to tell someone,
“Bro, I don’t know. I’m trying.”
But that feels like weakness in a world obsessed with winners.
Some Days You’ll Feel Like a Genius, Other Days Like a Joke
And that’s okay.
One day, you’ll give amazing life advice to your friend.
The next day you’ll put shampoo on your toothbrush because you were sleepy.
One day, you’ll feel like you’re doing great.
Next, you’ll Google “can I change careers at 25?”
Both days are valid. That’s your 20s.
Life is Not a Race.
Some people get there early.
Some take longer.
Some keep restarting.
And some are still deciding where "there" even is.
You might not be Vaibhav Suryavanshi, scoring centuries before 15.
You might not be launching a million-dollar app in your hostel room.
But you are not behind.
You're exactly where you're supposed to be... even if that place looks like your sofa, surrounded by chai, chaos, and dreams half-typed in a Notes app.
The Deep Truth
If you feel like everyone else has it figured out and you’re just... floating! Welcome to the club.
Your 20s are not about “having it all together.”
They’re about holding it just enough so everything doesn’t fall apart.
You might not have the best job, a dream car, or flawless skin.
But if you’re being a decent person, paying your bills (or trying), laughing with friends, and showing up for yourself, you’re doing better than you think.
So next time someone asks, “How’s life?”
Just smile and say,
“It’s hanging. Like my towel on that chair since last week.”
Comments
Post a Comment