There’s nothing worse than looking back on your life and feeling like you’ve wasted your best years.

Regret can be a heavy burden, especially when it feels like time has slipped away. And while everyone has moments they wish they could change, some regrets tend to show up more often—especially for women who feel like they didn’t make the most of their prime years.

Psychology gives us insight into the most common regrets women experience when they feel this way. Understanding them can help us make peace with the past—or even avoid these regrets altogether.

1) Ignoring their own dreams

Many women spend years prioritizing the needs of others—whether it’s family, relationships, or careers that weren’t truly their passion.

At the time, it might have felt like the right thing to do. But looking back, they often regret not chasing their own dreams sooner.

Psychologists say this regret is common among women who feel they’ve wasted their best years. They wonder what could have been if they had taken more risks, pursued their passions, or put themselves first more often.

The good news? It’s never too late to start. Recognizing this regret can be the first step toward making changes and reclaiming your dreams—no matter where you are in life.

2) Staying in the wrong relationship for too long

I spent years in a relationship that I knew, deep down, wasn’t right for me. At the time, I convinced myself that things would get better, that I just needed to be more patient, more understanding. But looking back, I realize I was just afraid of starting over.

Psychologists say this is a common regret for women who feel they’ve wasted their best years—staying too long in relationships that drained them instead of fulfilled them. Whether it was out of fear, comfort, or believing things would change, they wish they had walked away sooner.

For me, the turning point came when I asked myself: “If nothing ever changes, will I be happy here five years from now?” The answer was no. And while leaving was hard, I’ve never regretted choosing my own happiness.

3) Letting fear hold them back

Fear has a way of keeping people stuck. It convinces them that taking risks is too dangerous, that failure is too embarrassing, and that it’s safer to stay where they are—even if they’re unhappy.

Many women who feel they’ve wasted their best years regret not stepping out of their comfort zones sooner. They look back and wish they had been braver, taken more chances, and not let fear dictate their choices.

Studies show that people tend to regret the things they *didn’t* do more than the things they did—even if they failed. In the long run, missed opportunities weigh heavier than mistakes.

4) Not taking better care of their health

When life gets busy, health often takes a backseat. Skipping workouts, ignoring stress, eating poorly—these habits don’t seem like a big deal in the moment, but over time, they add up.

Many women who feel they’ve wasted their best years regret not prioritizing their physical and mental well-being sooner. They wish they had exercised more, managed stress better, and listened to their bodies instead of pushing through exhaustion.

Health isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling strong, energized, and capable. And for many, the realization comes only after years of neglecting themselves.

5) Caring too much about what others think

For years, many women shape their choices around the expectations of others—whether it’s family, society, or even strangers. They hold back from expressing themselves, making bold decisions, or pursuing what truly makes them happy out of fear of judgment.

Looking back, those who feel they’ve wasted their best years often regret how much time they spent worrying about opinions that ultimately didn’t matter. They realize that no matter what they did, someone would always have something to say.

The truth is, people are often too focused on their own lives to scrutinize yours as much as you think. And the sooner you stop seeking approval, the freer you become.

6) Losing themselves in motherhood

Motherhood is a beautiful, life-changing experience, but for many women, it also comes with an unexpected cost—the loss of their own identity.

They pour everything into their children, making sacrifices without a second thought. But years later, when the kids grow up and need them less, they look in the mirror and struggle to recognize the person staring back. Their dreams, passions, and sense of self have faded into the background.

Women who feel they’ve wasted their best years often regret not holding onto more of *themselves* while being mothers. Loving your children and loving yourself shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. And the best gift a mother can give her children is showing them what it means to live a full and authentic life.

7) Waiting for the “perfect” time

It’s easy to believe that the right time will eventually come—that when things settle down, when there’s more money, when the circumstances are just right, then it will finally be time to start.

But years pass, and that perfect moment never arrives. The timing is never ideal, and before you know it, the chance is gone.

Many women who feel they’ve wasted their best years regret waiting too long to take action. They wish they had traveled more, started that business, gone back to school, or taken chances when the opportunity was there.

The hardest lesson to learn is that life doesn’t wait. If you keep putting things off, you might wake up one day and realize you’ve run out of time.

8) Not setting boundaries

Saying yes when they wanted to say no. Taking on more than they could handle. Allowing others to dictate their time, energy, and emotions.

Many women who feel they’ve wasted their best years regret not setting stronger boundaries. They spent too much time people-pleasing, avoiding conflict, or feeling guilty for putting themselves first. But in the end, constantly giving without limits only led to exhaustion and resentment.

Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re necessary. And the sooner you learn to protect your own peace, the more fulfilling your life becomes.

9) Forgetting to enjoy the present

So much time is spent chasing the next goal, fixing the past, or waiting for a better future that the present moment slips away unnoticed.

Many women who feel they’ve wasted their best years regret not appreciating life as it was happening. They were too busy worrying, striving, or planning to truly live in the moments that mattered most.

Happiness isn’t something that comes later—it’s something that happens now, in the small, ordinary moments that are too easy to overlook.