The Pressure to Keep Up

We live in a world obsessed with timelines; graduate by 22, land a dream job by 25, own a home by 30, and have life figured out by 35. And if we’re not ticking those boxes fast enough? It’s easy to feel like we’re falling behind. But here’s the truth: you are not behind, you’re building something meaningful, and you’re doing it on your own timeline.

Who Decided the Timeline Anyway?

From a young age, many of us internalise the expectations of what success “should” look like. Whether it comes from family, culture, or the carefully curated highlight reels of social media, we’re told there’s a specific path to follow. But real life isn’t linear. It’s complex, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Your timeline doesn’t have to mirror anyone else’s. You’re not meant to live someone else’s version of success, you’re here to define your own.

Milestones Are Made Up

Here’s the perspective shift that changed everything for me: milestones are made up. The idea that we’re supposed to have a certain career, lifestyle, or relationship status by a certain age is an illusion. The average person changes careers around age 39. Most small business owners don’t start until they’re 47. Financial stability? Many people don’t reach it until their 50s. And yet, we continue comparing ourselves to 30-under-30 lists and influencer timelines that only show the highlight reel.

Redefining Progress

If you’ve taken longer to heal, longer to start over, or longer to figure out who you are, guess what? That’s not failure. That’s growth. Sometimes, the most important progress happens quietly, beneath the surface. Taking care of your mental health, starting again after a setback, or choosing a slower pace is just as valid—if not more—than any visible achievement.

It’s Okay to Be Somewhere Different

Maybe you’re not where you thought you’d be by now. That’s okay. Life isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about living in alignment with your values, your joy, and your own rhythm. Sometimes that means letting go of timelines that were never yours to begin with. Every detour, delay, or restart has shaped you. Every step, even the ones that felt like setbacks, has built resilience, wisdom, and clarity.

Measure What Truly Matters

If you’re questioning your progress, ask yourself this: Am I growing in a way that feels true to me? Am I building a life that reflects who I am, not who I’m expected to be? That’s what real success looks like.

You don’t have to rush. There is no final destination, only evolution. And progress can look different at every stage of life. Some seasons are about planting seeds. Others are about resting. And when it’s time, things bloom in ways you couldn’t have imagined.

Final Thoughts: You’re Exactly Where You Need to Be

So take a deep breath. Let go of the pressure to “catch up.” You are not late. You are becoming. You are building, steadily, intentionally, and with a depth that’s hard to see from the outside. But one day, you’ll look back and realise that everything unfolded exactly as it was meant to.

Your timeline is valid. Your journey is powerful. And what you’re building? It’s going to be worth the wait.