25 and Thriving (or Just Surviving): Lessons from a Quarter-Life Milestone

I’m 20 days late on this post, but hey—better late than never! Day 20 of being 25, and here are a few things I’ve realised along the way:

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

I turned 25 recently, and with this milestone comes a sudden barrage of expectations, realizations, and the occasional back pain. It’s the age where people assume you have a five-year plan, a “respectable” wardrobe, and, ideally, a growing savings account. But, reality check: I still Google how to cook soup right and track every discount code like it’s my full-time job. Turning 25 feels like being thrust into adulthood without a manual — a blend of triumphs, awkward learning curves, and the unmistakable urge to nap by 9 p.m.

Let’s break down what it really means to be 25, from the thrill of small wins to the growing list of things nobody warned us about. Because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that hitting a quarter-century is a lot less about “having it all together” and a lot more about figuring out which parts matter most.

Real Talk: We’re Still Wingin’ It

For some reason, 25 is seen as the unofficial “you’ve got it together” age. People assume you’ve nailed down a career path, know what you want from life, and have a decent credit score. But let’s be real: most of us are still finding our footing. We might have full-time jobs or even our own side hustles, but there’s a good chance we’re just as clueless as we were at 22 — only now, we’re better at faking it.

Half the time, we’re on autopilot, trying to remember if there’s still milk in the fridge and if our internet bill is set to autopay. Yes, we’re capable adults who handle responsibilities, but there’s also a constant underlying wonder: Does anyone really know what they’re doing, or is everyone else pretending too? If there’s one universal truth at 25, it’s that the majority of us are winging it — with varying degrees of success.

At the tender age of 12, adulthood looked like the ultimate dream—by 25, I was sure I'd have it all: a dream wardrobe, a house with a craft room, a library straight out of Beauty and the Beast, a cozy office, a movie-perfect husband, my own studio/shop to create in… the works! Fast-forward to 25, and here I am, not with my dream life, but with a full-blown quarter-life crisis instead.

One of the perks of 25? There’s a new level of self-assurance that I didn’t see coming. It’s not that I have all the answers, but I do feel less compelled to please everyone around me. You stop worrying so much about what people think, and start focusing on what makes you happy. It’s a game-changer, honestly. Whether it’s quitting a job that doesn’t bring joy or saying “no” to plans that don’t excite you, 25 gives you permission to be a little more selfish in the best possible way.

Remember when your mom’s “no” really meant you’re not going? Well, welcome to your 20s, where “My mom said no” is now the perfect excuse to dodge plans (or people, let’s be real). Funny how much our choices and priorities shift as we grow up. Sometimes, you just wish time would pause—or at least slow down—long enough to catch your breath. But nope, it just keeps speeding along.

However, with this newfound confidence comes a few surprises. First, back pain. Yes, back pain. Out of nowhere, sitting at a desk for too long or standing for an extra hour sends weird aches all over. Apparently, there’s some fine print that turning 25 gives you an exclusive preview of aging. Suddenly, you’re thinking about “ergonomic” chairs and making stretching routines part of your daily life. The irony? Even though I feel wiser and more grounded, my body clearly missed that memo.

The times we thought, "this is my best friend in the whole wide world", yeah probably not. In your 20's, you will meet new people, you will lose some old ones, you will get distant with a few, and you will become so close to someone you never imagined being close to. Your 20s are all about shedding what doesn’t vibe with your future and picking up what fuels you forward. Your perspectives, opinions, and priorities will flip, meaning you might no longer agree on 90% of what your “best friend” believes—whether it’s movies, shows, books, or bigger stuff like politics and basic decency.

Gone are the days when hanging out with friends meant endless hours on weekdays and weekend nights, where time was an afterthought. Now, I get why adults schedule social gatherings weeks in advance and RSVP like it’s a sacred commitment. At 25, friendships shift. It’s no longer about quantity; it’s about depth. Those weekend-long social marathons have been traded for intentional meet-ups, usually revolving around coffee, deep conversations, and quiet support for each other’s latest Netflix binge.

There’s also the realization that friends are at all kinds of different stages. Some are getting engaged or buying houses; others are chasing promotions or bouncing between jobs. A few are traveling across the world, while others are in the midst of postgraduate degrees. This beautiful mess of timelines means brunches look more like an intersection of wildly different life experiences, with everyone bringing something new to the table.

By your mid-twenties, all you want is to be in bed by 10, happily doing your own thing until sleep kicks in. Going out after 10 p.m.? Just the thought exhausts me! If I’m already out, you bet I’m angling to be home by 10:30 so I can still get my solo wind-down time. Meanwhile, friends my age are out pre-gaming, clubbing, and living for late-night chaos, and honestly? I just don’t get it. Maybe it’s the introvert in me, but that whole scene just makes me want my pajamas even more.

As someone who never really got the whole “getting drunk” appeal, I have to say, I downright despise it now—especially after trying it once (dear parents, if you’re reading this, please scroll on!). I’ve tried alcohol a few times, and it’s become my go-to joke (a lame one, but it’s my lame joke): “I’d rather chug Benadryl than have a drink.” Seriously, cough syrup tastes way better. I’ve sampled a variety of drinks, and there are a few I can tolerate, but that’s as far as it goes. Fellow migraine sufferers know the nightmare of migraine hangovers, and trust me, that’s hangover enough. Adding a deliberate, alcohol-induced headache on top? No, thank you!

Here’s something no one tells you about 25: budgeting is no longer a concept, it’s a lifestyle. A night out requires strategic planning, grocery shopping means navigating “fresh produce or that extra coffee,” and splurging becomes less about impulse and more about rewarding yourself when you can. Also, remember those Pinterest boards filled with chic, expensive outfits you thought you’d have by now? Turns out, “affordable” means “saving up for a month.”

At 25, my wardrobe expectations collided with reality. Fancy tops and designer handbags? Maybe someday. For now, the goal is quality over quantity. You start buying things you actually want to wear and investing in pieces that don’t fall apart after two washes. It’s a far cry from the fast fashion phase, and honestly, even though it feels grown-up, it’s oddly satisfying to invest in fewer, better pieces.

Remember when you were 18, bright-eyed and convinced you’d have everything figured out by 25? Well, plot twist: life doesn’t care about five-year plans. Half the things I envisioned are still on the “work in progress” list, and that’s perfectly fine. In fact, I’m learning to embrace the unpredictability. Sure, I have goals, but they’re flexible. My 25-year-old self knows now that life isn’t about rushing to check boxes — it’s about enjoying the process.

I thought I’d be in my dream job, maybe even on my way to owning a place. But instead, I’m on a more winding, unexpected path. I’ve learned that our early dreams often get refined over time, and the reality isn’t a straight line. Some of the best things in life come from the detours — the side gigs that turn into passions, the friendships that become family, and the jobs that teach you exactly what you don’t want.

At 25, you start to notice patterns — things that really bring you joy and those that drain you. You realize who you are, not just as someone striving toward goals, but as a person in the here and now. For me, it’s been a time of introspection, of figuring out what I value and what no longer deserves my energy. You stop saying “yes” to everything and start protecting your time and energy like it’s a precious resource.

There’s also an appreciation for the small wins. Finding a recipe you love, finishing that book you’ve been meaning to read, learning to make a killer pasta — the things that used to seem minor now feel like victories. Each of these moments becomes a part of the bigger picture of who I am, reminding me that sometimes life is less about where you’re going and more about the steps that lead you there.

Turning 25 is a blend of contradictions. It’s equal parts knowing what you want and still figuring it out. It’s understanding the value of saving while occasionally splurging because you deserve it. It’s about feeling grown up and, at the same time, barely having a clue.

This age isn’t about reaching an endpoint; it’s about making peace with the journey and laughing off the quirks along the way. If anything, turning 25 taught me to trust that I don’t need to have everything perfect. Life’s a work in progress, and I’m finally okay with that. So here’s to all of us winging it through the quarter-century mark, figuring it out one step at a time, and hopefully, finding joy in the beautiful mess. Cheers to another 25 years — because let’s be honest, we’re just getting started.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

P.S. Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll be diving deep into the lessons I’ve learned about love life — from heartaches to happiness, it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride of realizations.