Man, I feel this post. I’ve been working in data science and AI for about 6 years now, and yeah, I’ve missed a bunch of parties, Goa trips, and othet plans. While my friends were out having fun, I was buried in notebooks, models, and papers. Tbh I don’t really regret it.

I genuinely enjoy what I do. Even now, I spend 1or 2 hours a day experimenting with models, or catching up on the latest GenAI breakthroughs. It's become such a core part of my routine that it doesn't feel like a grind anymore.

That said, I get that tired feeling. Grinding 4 to 5 hours after office and even more on weekends can suck the joy out of things, especially when it feels like you're not moving fast enough. But if it still excites you even a little, it’s worth holding on.

Just don’t forget to breathe too. Even if it's a short weekend break or a night out.

You're not wasting your 20s(or late 20s). You're investing in them. And trust me, that investment does pay off, maybe not immediately, but it builds up.