10 Mistakes You’ll Regret by 35 (Fix #3 Before Friday)

Introduction: The Midnight Wake-Up Call

Three years ago, I woke up at 2 AM with my face stuck to my keyboard. I'd dozed off (again) while preparing a presentation. My neck hurt, my coffee was lukewarm, and my dog was side eyeing me. I scrolled through Instagram and came across a friend's post: "Celebrating my 35th with a month in Bali! #Freedom."

I cried.

At 32, I was spent, overworked, and deep in credit card debt. I was constantly thinking, "I'll get around to it later." But "later" was a trap. By 35, I was burned out, isolated, and miserable in a job I disliked.

Ring any bells? We all make blunders, but some decisions sting more when time gets away. Let's discuss the 10 regrets you can prevent—and how to correct Mistake #3 before Friday.

Mistake #1: "I'll Save Money Later"

Why It Hurts:

Compound interest is magic… but only if you begin early. Save $100 per month beginning at 25, and you'll have $300,000+ by the time you're 65 (with interest). Wait until 35? You'll get half that amount.

Emergencies do occur. Your car breaks down, your pet is ill—without savings, you'll turn to credit cards (hi, debt!).

How to Fix It (Today):

Open a "Don't Touch" savings account with $20. Use Chime or Ally apps—they're free and 5 minutes long.

Automate $10/week. $40 a month may not sound like much, but it will be $500+ in a year.

Celebrate small victories. Did you avoid a latte today? That's $5 towards your future!

Mistake #2: "My Health Can Wait"

Why It Hurts:

Your body remembers. Missing sleep, subsisting on fast food, and neglecting exercise results in burnout, chronic pain, or worse.

Energy = Opportunity. You can't pursue dreams if you're too exhausted to think.

How to Fix It (Today):

Walk for 15 minutes. No gym? No worries. Walk around your house or dance in your living room.

Replace one junk snack with fruit or nuts. Baby steps beat doing nothing.

Set an alarm for bedtime. Even 30 extra minutes of sleep improve things.

Mistake #3: "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (Fix This Before Friday!)

Why It Hurts:

Burnout is not a badge of honor. I once boasted about putting in 80-hour weeks. Then I missed my niece's birthday party to work on a "critical" project. The project bombed. My niece still asks, "Why didn't you come?"

Your brain requires rest. No sleep = poor choices, forgetfulness, and mood swings.

How to Fix It (Before Friday):

Call someone now: "Can you take one thing off my plate? I'm drowning." (Example: Ask a colleague to take one meeting off your schedule.)

Schedule 1 hour on your calendar as "Nothing Time." Use it to nap, gaze at clouds, or call your mom.

Write this mantra: "Rest is not lazy. Rest is fuel." Place it on your fridge.

Why Friday? Because "someday" is a myth. Your future self will thank you.

Mistake #4: "My Friends Will Understand If I Cancel"

Why It Hurts:

Friendships fade fast. By 35, people get busy with careers, kids, or moving away. Rebuilding connections gets harder.

Loneliness hurts. Studies show loneliness is as deadly as smoking.

How to Fix It (Today):

Send a 10-second voice note: "Hey! Miss you. Let's grab coffee next week?"

Organize a low-effort hangout: "Netflix and pizza at my place Friday?" No need to get dressed up.

Mistake #5: "I Need to Please Everyone"

Why It Hurts:

You lose yourself. Constantly saying "yes" to everyone leaves no room for your own dreams.

Resentment builds. Ever agree to help a friend move… while secretly despising them? Yep.

How to Fix It (Today):

Practice saying: "Let me check my schedule and get back to you." (Give yourself time to think.)

Say "no" to something this week. Begin small: "Sorry, I can't attend that Zoom meeting."

The Rest of the List (Don't Skip!)

Mistake #6: Skirting Difficult Conversations

Why: Unspoken feelings, become anger or regret.

Fix: Use this template: "I feel [emotion] when [situation]. Can we talk?"

Mistake #7: Not Paying Attention to Money Fundamentals

Why: Debt spreads like weeds.

Fix: Take a 10-minute YouTube video on budgeting. Try "Budgeting for Beginners" by Graham Stephan.

Mistake #8: Allowing Fear to Make Decisions

Why: Dreams remain trapped in your mind.

Fix: Do something frightening this month. Examples: Request a salary increase, make a LinkedIn post, or attend a dance class.

Mistake #9: Omitting Adventures

Why: Life is dull.

Fix: Buy a $30 bus ticket to a town not far from home. Discover a park, sample a new dish, or get goofy photos taken.

Mistake #10: Neglecting Happiness

Why: You turn into a robot.

Do one goofy song dance every day. "Baby Shark" is included.

Fix: It's Not Too Late (I Fixed 7/10!)

I'm 37 and still a work in progress. I owe money, I don't call friends back, and I work late sometimes. But I've corrected 7/10 errors—and my life is 100% improved.

Your 35-year-old self is not judging you. They're saying: "Begin now. I've got your back."

Your Action Plan: Let's Build a Future You'll Love

Choose 1 error that frightens you most.

Complete the "fix" by Friday. (Example: Open that savings account TODAY.)

Send a text to a friend: "Want to be accountability friends? Let's correct mistake #___ together!"

Key reminder: Small steps > no steps. Progress beats perfection.