10 Things I Thought I’d Have Figured Out By Now (But Absolutely Don’t)

Welcome to Life Unsorted – aka my corner of the internet where nothing is figured out, everything is mildly chaotic, and I overshare so you don’t have to feel like the only one winging adulthood.

Today’s topic? The 10 things I honestly thought I’d have nailed by now… but absolutely do not.

If 12-year-old me could see this, she’d probably ask why I still don’t understand skincare, why my bedroom looks like a laundry-themed crime scene, and why I still get stressed when having to do a phone call.

So if you also feel like an imposter posing as a functioning adult — this one’s for you.

1. My ‘Career Path’

I look around at my friends and family and they’re doctors, pharmacists, brokers and finance bros, which don’t get me wrong, I’m so proud of them for that, but, my path has looked nothing like that.

I went to university in Covid, made it out with a degree, great friends and some pretty questionable memories. And then the dreaded thought…. sh*t I need to get a job!

So I dusted off my childhood hobby of playing tennis and somehow ended up coaching abroad. Eight weeks in Sardinia? Incredible. But at the end of those eight weeks I had the same realisation: sh*t… I still need to get a job!

I then tried a finance role, which was an experience – mainly because it taught me I absolutely did not want to work in finance.

My dad always says: “You might not know what you want to do, but you should always know what you don’t want to do.”

Fair enough.

So back to coaching abroad I went, and kept doing that until November 2025.

Now I’m in a more stable tennis industry job (still remote, still chaotic), and navigating whatever “career” means in your 20s.

The truth? I’m still figuring it out. I have no idea where I’ll be in five years. I’m trying to be okay with that.

2. Friendships

I always imagined that my 20s would be filled with a huge friendship group, constant plans, brunches, parties, girls’ trips – the whole Pinterest-vibe community.

Yeah… no.

I have great friends, but a group? Not quite.

• My childhood best friend now lives in Australia.
• My school best friend works and lives in a boarding school.
• My uni friends have mostly drifted or live 150+ miles away.
• My seasonaire friends are usually abroad for more seasons.

This isn’t a sob story – I’m genuinely grateful for the friends I have (thank god for FaceTime).

But are friendships in my 20s what I imagined?
Not even slightly.

3. Understanding Finances

I really thought I’d be on the property ladder by 25.

Meanwhile I’m checking my Revolut balance to see if I can justify a croissant with my morning coffee.

I’m not broke, but when every podcast, article, and TikTok is screaming “invest in your 20s!” – it feels like you’re behind before you even start.

Also, why does nobody explain any of this in normal human English?

Learning about finances is a 2026 goal… but 12-year-old me definitely imagined a different financial reality.

4. Cooking Anything Beyond My Mum’s ‘Rotation’ Meals

Growing up, my mum always had homemade dinners – classics like chilli, spag bol, shepherd’s pie, casserole, ratatouille.

Now I understand why she rotated them. Because what else is there?

I love food, but trying to think of dishes beyond my usual repertoire? Nope.

If anyone has easy, nutritious meals that don’t require 17 ingredients and an existential crisis… send help.

5. Keeping My Space Tidy (Or Even Somewhat Presentable)

I wasn’t a messy child. Something changed.

My bedroom regularly looks like I’ve been burgled – mugs everywhere, towels in random places, makeup scattered like confetti.

I can deep-clean my room, light a candle, feel like “that girl,” get into bed feeling accomplished… and wake up to chaos. Every. Time.

6. Which Side of Fitness I Belong In

Now, let me explain this one.

Knowing Where I Fit in the Fitness World Fitness girlies seem to fall into categories:

• The runners who do a half marathon before 8am
• The soft-girl pilates/yoga queens
• The gym girlies lifting houses
• The Hyrox hybrids doing god knows what

Me? I’m… somewhere in the middle.

I like running, but only for headspace.

I like the idea of yoga and pilates, but the calmness gives my brain too much time to overthink.

I enjoy the gym, but consistency? Couldn’t be me.

Hyrox looks fun — but also terrifying.

Anyone else feel completely between categories?

7. Navigating New Social Scenes Without Panicking

I genuinely thought I’d be able to walk into any room with confidence by now. Yet here I am, terrified to go to a run club alone.

I’ve got my work Christmas party next week – new job, remote team, I know about 5 people. No idea what to wear. No idea who to talk to. No idea what the vibe is.

I want to make new friends – I really do. But making friends in your 20s is HARD. Do I smile at someone and hope we magically become besties?

Is it confidence? Introversion? Or just a universal experience?

Not sure. But it’s definitely something I need to work on.

8. Understanding Skincare and Makeup (At All)

I’ve been lucky with my skin (touch wood), but now… I don’t know what anything does.

Double cleanse? Serum? Toner? Retinol? Essence? Help.

And my makeup routine?

• Same blusher since I was 15.
• No foundation.
• Random products from birthday gifts.

I fully thought I’d be “that girl” with a skincare routine and flawless makeup by now. Nope.

9. Supplements – What? Why? How Much?

My supplement routine currently consists of:

• A Berocca when I’m run down/ hungover
• A multivitamin I find in the bathroom cupboard twice a year

I want to take more care of myself, but…

1. Why are supplements so expensive?
2. What do I actually need?
3. What is just marketing?

Maybe 2026 will be my supplement era… maybe not.

10. Feeling like an adult

When I was younger, people in their 20s seemed SO grown up.

Now here I am – paying bills, working full-time, having a favourite supermarket – and I still don’t feel qualified.

I manage people. I’ve lived abroad. I pay taxes. And yet I still need a 20-minute pep talk before making a phone call.

But I think that’s the whole point:

No one actually feels ready.

We’re all just pretending.

And that’s the list – or at least the version I’m brave enough to admit on the internet.

If your feeling like you’re in a constant cycle of “Am I doing this right?” and “Surely someone should be supervising me?” just know you’re very much not alone.

We’re all out here pretending, learning as we go, and Googling things we probably should’ve learned a decade ago.

If you enjoyed this chaotic little roundup, stick around – there’s plenty more where that came from.

Life is very much unsorted… and honestly? That’s kind of the fun part.

Lots of love xoxo