You’ll face many decisions throughout life and while you can afford to make some bad decisions, there are some life-ruining ones you absolutely cannot. Let’s talk about the worst life decisions you can make.
What is rock bottom, really?
Perhaps it’s sitting outside alone, in the dark, broke, with no friends or family to call, feeling mentally and physically sick, with your addiction calling your name with no end in sight.
How does one get there?
It’s scary to think about it this way, but sometimes all it takes is one bad decision.
Pause.
Take a breath and think carefully about these decisions. Some of the choices we speak about today could change your life forever.
Here are 15 of the worst life decisions anyone can make.
Don’t worry if you don’t feel like reading; you can enjoy the video below or watch it on YouTube:
1
Studying or doing something you hate
Studying or doing something you hate can change the trajectory of your life and put you on a path plagued with misery.
A little dramatic, sure, but anyone who’s been in this position knows how hard it is to get out once you’ve started.
It’s your first foray into adulthood and getting it wrong can make it feel like the whole next chapter of your life is spoiled.
When you’re spending eight hours a day doing something you can’t stand, it’s easy to become jaded, complacent, and depressed.
Imagine spending years studying a subject that doesn’t spark any joy or interest in you.
It’s not just about the dreary lectures and endless exams; it’s about committing a big part of your life to something that doesn’t fulfill you.
Your choice can lead to a career you’re not passionate about and make every workday feel like a chore.
You stunt your professional growth and forget that you can be happy.
You don’t have to sacrifice your happiness for a paycheck.
2
To buy an expensive car you can’t afford
Who doesn’t love a little luxury? You know we do.
But one of the worst life decisions emerging entrepreneurs make is to buy a car that is far more expensive than what they can afford.
Unless you have a top-of-the-range car, the chances of someone being impressed with the car you have are rare.
Honestly, there are just too many people with nice cars now. You don’t stand out.
It’s a constantly depreciating asset when you’re using it and it can eat away at a large chunk of your salary.
It can send you into a debt hole that’s hard to climb back out of, even if you try to sell it.
If there’s any place you need to stay within your means, it’s a car.
3
To max out multiple credit cards
That first credit card feels like free money and annoyingly, no matter how many payments you make on it, what you owe never seems to go down.
You barely even make a dent.
That’s because banks and credit card companies give you a maximum amount slightly above what you can afford to pay.
That way, you always need to rely on your credit to get you over the line for that month.
Just because you have a maximum amount on your card doesn’t mean that you should max it out.
The stress and anxiety that come with maxing out one card to pay off another and then using another one to just pay rent, groceries, and other bills is just not worth it.
Don’t do it!
4
To skip out on paying your debt
The repercussions of not paying your debt for a few months can affect your life, your partner’s life, and your financial freedom for years.
You might think that it’s okay for just one or two months.
But once you become accustomed to having that little bit of extra disposable cash, it can be hard to scale back and start paying it again.
And it affects your credit score so banks are more wary of giving you a mortgage.
If you don’t have access to money, you can reach out quickly in an emergency.
5
To buy a house when a recession is hitting
It’s a bad idea to buy a house when a recession is looming.
Buying a house often comes with a certain timeline.
There’s saving, there are thoughts of raising your family in the home, and there’s finding just the place you want.
So you’re ready to go. Even though there are talks of a recession hitting, things seem good now.
Big mistake.
You may think you’ll be okay because you now own your place, but banks hit you with crazy interest rates and all the other hidden costs of buying property are creeping up too.
There’s the uncertainty with work and the rising costs of everything else.
Your monthly expenses could triple and even if you wanted to sell the house again, you’d make a loss because people can’t pay top dollar during a recession.
It’s so much better to wait.
Bide your time, be okay with renting for a while longer, and put your future self in a better financial position.
6
To cheat on your partner
It’s a terrible decision to cheat on your partner.
And yet so many people still do it.
It’s not a mistake; it’s an active choice.
It’s cruel and it brings on an unimaginable amount of pain and betrayal.
There’s no coming back from it, not for anyone.
No matter how hard you work to repair the relationship, that person is always going to know that if you had a choice between hurting them and not hurting them, you would choose the former if you thought it benefited you.
It’s ruined marriages, families, and futures.
And it’s one choice that you can walk away from and shut the door on.
7
To stay in a toxic relationship
Everyone thinks that they’re going to be the ones who run away from a toxic relationship.
You’ll know when it’s bad and you’ll end it. No issues.
Except that often it takes something extreme to realize that your partner is treating you badly, and by that time, you’re so traumatized by them that even though you know you should leave, you feel like you can’t.
The longer you delay leaving, the harder it becomes.
Your courage only dissipates as time goes on and so does your trust in yourself.
One of the worst life decisions you can make is to stay in this type of relationship.
It’s not going to change and you’re not going to get braver as time goes on.
Your best time to leave is now.
8
To drink and drive
To put the bad decision to drink and drive between terrible financial and relationship decisions seems morally lopsided.
This one has far more dire consequences than anything else we mentioned.
But it has to be spoken about. Far too many people still do it thinking that unlike the drunk drivers who have hurt people, they’re fine.
They’re not “that” intoxicated.
The truth is that it’s not worth finding out.
Get an Uber, don’t drink.
Do anything else but stay in that car after a few drinks.
9
To avoid visiting a sick or dying loved one
It’s a bad decision to not visit a sick or dying loved one.
And some might ask, “Why on Earth wouldn’t you?”
Well, for many people who come from difficult families, the decision to cut someone off isn’t easy, but it is necessary.
And for other people, sometimes other priorities just seem more important at the time.
Work and family commitments, distance, and just… life.
A study revealed that for a lot of people, one of their biggest regrets is not taking the chance to say goodbye.
Even if the relationship wasn’t the greatest, our minds crave closure, and when someone leaves before we can get it, it’s like an unfinished book.
Something that you’re never going to be able to fully read.
10
To force yourself to forgive someone
Now, having said that it’s also a bad decision to force yourself to forgive someone when they’ve hurt you.
You can’t just get over the hurt and hope that, by moving on, it will go away.
If you force yourself to forgive someone before you’re ready, if they end up hurting you again, you’re going to lose all trust and faith in yourself.
You’ll blame yourself for ignoring your intuition and you’re always going to be questioning who else might hurt you too.
It will be hard for you to let people close to you again.
So you have to give it time. When you’re ready, you’ll know.
11
To not take an emerging addiction seriously
Next, it’s a terrible decision to not take an emerging addiction seriously.
Addiction can creep up on you.
One minute you’re having fun with your friends and the next minute they’ve moved but you’re still stuck there.
It’s hard to know where the line is between having fun and being a slave to an addiction.
When people start telling you that they’re worried about you, the knee-jerk reaction is to brush it off.
But by the time people start noticing that you’ve changed, you know that it’s even worse than what they’re seeing.
That’s your cue to get out and get help.
12
Not seeking treatment for your mental or physical health
A move like this never makes you stronger.
We have this “push through” mentality where we think that pushing past mental exhaustion and physical sickness will mean that maybe at the end we’ll feel better—because at least you’ve accomplished something, right?
But do you ever feel better at the end?
You only feel worse and you create this expectation for everyone around you that no matter how bad you feel, you can do what you need to, so nobody feels the need to step up and help.
The more you do this, the more you’re telling yourself and other people that it’s okay.
It’s not. It can lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, and full-on collapse.
You need rest and you need help.
13
Living life as if you’re 18 when you’re not
Living life as if you’re 18—when you’re not – might seem like the dream life, but all you’re doing is delaying responsibility.
You can’t avoid it forever and when it eventually catches up to you, you’re going to feel like you’re caught in the trenches.
Clinging to the carefree days of youth may seem tempting, but it’s a trap that can stifle your growth and potential.
Living as if you’re forever 18 means missing out on the depth and satisfaction that come with maturity and it’s one of the worst life decisions anyone can make.
Embracing responsibilities—in your personal life or your business ventures—is what separates the dreamers from the doers, the players from the spectators.
It’s about evolving, adapting, and rising to the challenges that life throws your way.
14
Living without clear goals and ambitions
Living without clear goals and ambitions leaves you feeling like you have no purpose.
In fact, it makes life boring, stagnant, and disappointing.
Imagine setting sail without a destination; where exactly are you going?
And what are you doing? That’s life without clear goals.
With clear, defined goals, every effort you make is a calculated step towards your version of success.
Whether it’s financial milestones, personal achievements, or the impact you wish to leave on the world, goals are the magnetic north of your compass.
They keep you focused in a world filled with distractions, making sure that every move you make is a step closer to your true potential.
15
Not saving for retirement
Last but not least, the worst decision you can make is not investing for your retirement.
Building an empire is only part of the journey; sustaining it into the twilight years is where the real challenge lies.
Retirement planning is about scripting the second act of your life, keeping things as golden and fulfilling as the first.
It’s about securing your legacy, indulging in passions you’ve shelved, and enjoying your time—the ultimate currency.
Retirement shouldn’t be an afterthought; it’s a key chapter in the story of your life, one that deserves careful planning and anticipation.
If you want to make some changes in your life, you can do that right now.
Even if you’ve made more than one of the worst life decisions on this list, there’s always time for you to turn back. See you next time!
