Nobody Could Have Prepared Me for 27

Zahra Khan
Nov 10, 2025
3 min read

I swear the day I turned 27, life hit me like a bus I didn’t even see coming.

My last blog was posted exactly on my 27th birthday. You’d think I’d keep up the consistency I built throughout this year but nope, one turn around the sun later, and my entire rhythm fell apart. Who knew 27 would be this brutal?

It’s like the universe said, “No more rotting on the couch for you, ma’am.” Suddenly, time became a luxury. I can’t even remember the last time I had an hour to just breathe with my thoughts.

Hair?

Lashes?

Shower?

Proper meals?

Gone.

Now it’s just a constant cycle of anxiety, caffeine, and “I’m so behind” pep talks.

27 So Far: Responsibility Meets IDGAF

Almost three months in, and I’ve realized two things:

The sense of responsibility has skyrocketed
The number of fucks given has plummeted (LMAO)

Couldn't have said it any better. Sure, some things feel urgent like work deadlines, goals, life plans but deep down, nothing truly is. I catch myself asking, “If I died tomorrow, would any of this even matter?” And the answer? Always a big, fat no. So I stop caring… at least for a little while.

Dating at 27: The Math Ain’t Mathing

There’s this constant pressure now to be productive, to “settle down,” to do something adult-y. As my 30s peek around the corner, the whispers of marriage get louder. But here’s the plot twist: I’ve also accepted that marriage might not be my path.

I value freedom and partnership too much to end up drained by someone who doesn’t match my energy. Even the “nice” guys can be exhausting and that’s me being generous.

I promised myself one date per quarter this year, and let’s just say… the market’s trash. Finding a man who’s God-fearing, doesn’t drink or smoke, is disciplined, works out, emotionally aware, tall, maybe into cars, and loves partnership feels like applying for a job at NASA.

So yeah, to my 26-year-old self who thought she’d be engaged by the next FIFA, girl, that ain’t happening. Move on.

Career: The Corporate Circus

If you’ve been anywhere near LinkedIn lately, you know the job market is a mess. Layoffs everywhere. Job hunting feels like a professional sport and you’ve got to train like a job athlete just to survive.

My job has been squeezing every ounce of energy out of me. Ever since I switched projects, my “9 to 6” has turned into a 15-hour marathon. Oh, and for anyone wondering, the grass is not greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.

Meetings all day. Catch-up work all night. Meals skipped. Sanity? Pending review.

Balancing the Business: Baby on Board (Barely)

Being a part-time business owner on top of all this? Rough. My business aka my baby, Plant IT Digital has taken some hits. When you’re already stretched thin by your day job, finding time to pour into your passion feels impossible.

Watching my business suffer hurts twice as much because it’s not just financial, it’s emotional. So weekends, which should be for rest, turn into work marathons. Sometimes even that gets hijacked by my 9–5.

Life + Health: Chaos with a Side of Gratitude

On the bright side, my parents moved in with me and honestly, it’s been amazing. They respect my space, feed me during meetings (iconic), and keep the house warm and full of love.

But my health? She’s not thriving.

Since this new project started, I’ve fallen off the gym wagon, barely eat or sleep, and the breakouts are back with a vengeance. Add in the debt payments and overdrafts, and it’s giving main character in a financial crisis energy.

Fun? Never Heard of Her

There’s been little to no fun this year. No international travel. Just one domestic trip that left my wallet gasping for air. I miss the chaos of last year, the spontaneity, the roommate who split bills (and stress).

Owning a home is a blessing, but also… being house poor is painfully real.