When you’re in your 20s, you have your entire life ahead of you. The world is your oyster, and your lack of experience and wisdom may make you feel naively invincible.
However, Father Time waits for no one. Before you know it, you’ll be in your 40s, remembering what you’ve taken for granted. You’ll also likely be one of those answering this Reddit question: “What’s something people in their 20s don’t realize will affect them when they get older?”
Commenters shared the mistakes they feel young people could avoid committing, from ignoring bad posture to poor financial planning and settling for second best.
If you’re part of the younger crowd, feel free to take some notes. But if you’re at least 30, hopefully, this list doesn’t make you feel too old or regretful.
#1
Know when to walk away. From buying something, to terrible jobs, to relationships.
You will look back at periods of time when you should have walked away.
Image source: CaptainBayouBilly, ALTEREDSNAPS
#2
Taking care of your teeth!
Dental pain is awful and treatment is expensive – and insurance coverage can be poor.
Brush and floss twice a day!
Image source: samizdat5, Miriam Alonso
#3
You are going to have to be responsible, clean, organize, and cook until the day you die. The earlier you learn how to do these things efficiently, the better off you will be later on.
Image source: bellabbr, Liliana Drew
#4
It’s important to find hobbies or interests outside of work. In your 20s, it might feel like you have all the time in the world, but those passions can keep you grounded as life gets hectic.
Image source: Current_Rock447, Greta Hoffman
#5
In your 20s, it can be easy to overlook how important it is to save and invest early. I wish I had started building my savings and understanding finances back then, as it makes a big difference in your 30s and beyond. Take some time to learn about financial planning; it really pays off later.
Image source: SwanApprehensive167, Pixabay
#6
Not using sunscreen. I have friends who use to spend their entire summer laid out in the sun with no kind of sun protection, and now they look ten years older than their age.
Image source: Disastrous-Bee-1557, Armin Rimoldi
#7
Spend money to get quality products for things that separate you from the floor. Mattress, shoes, desk chair, couch, etc.
Over time your body will thank you.
Image source: markdmb, Castorly Stock
#8
Racking up debt. It gets you into a cycle that can be hard to break, even if you have a high paying job.
Image source: lordpanda, Mohamed hamdi
#9
Being obese. You can deal with it in your 20’s. It’s like a frog in a pot of boiling water by the time you hit your 40’s. You’ll feel “normal”, but being obese puts CONSTANT physical strain on your body.
Image source: miles_dad, Artem Podrez
#10
Don’t mess with your eyebrows!
Because at least in my day we would tweeze the heck out of them and now that I’m older they’re spotty. If I could go back I’d leave them the hell alone.
Image source: Long_Buy9508, Nataliya Vaitkevich
#11
Always lift with your legs, absolutely always. You don’t want pain from just bending over slightly because “you’ve got it”.
Image source: Rhonnie_Dee, RDNE Stock project
#12
Something I wish I learned in my 20’s that I should have and it is this – you are in your 20’s. You can still f**k up and it doesn’t matter. You have time to try different things, live in different places, and take risks. When I was in my 20’s I was stressing over stupid s**t (work, relationships, being on track). I’m not in the career anymore, those relationships are long gone, and there is no track to life – just a general direction. Keep your compass at true north, but you can wander off the path. It’s okay.
Image source: HamHusky06
#13
Underestimating the addictive nature of tobacco.
Image source: _Ladysofie
#14
Many people in their 20s don’t realize that poor eating habits and lack of consistent exercise can lead to significant health issues in their 40s and beyond.
Image source: cypriann, Pavel Danilyuk
#15
Take care of your ears. Hearing loss is permanent and sometimes results in tinnitus. It can be bad for some people to the point they contemplate s*icide. See the tinnitus sub reddit if you want some depressing stories.
Image source: DustyMoo, Element5 Digital
#16
Posture.
I’m in my early 30s trying to correct downright abysmal posture and if it’s this bad now I can hardly imagine what 10 more years of this would do to me.
Image source: cotsy93, Anna Shvets
#17
Protect and stregthen your knees!
Image source: jbcgop, cottonbro studio
#18
Not sleeping enough! You think you can get by on 4 hours now, but trust me, your 40-year-old self will be begging for naps like it’s a luxury.
Image source: ZariaLux, Ivan Oboleninov
#19
A lot of things that you find so important in your 20s will not be important at all in your 40s.
Image source: Sweet_Walrus_8188, Liza Bakay
#20
How important mental health is! In your 20s, it feels like you can bounce back from anything, but those habits and stressors can really catch up with you later.
Cannedseaslug:
Early mental health treatment. Some people spiral and will never be able to be pulled out from severe bipolar and schizophrenia. These diseases make it so they don’t believe they have problems and become resistant to getting help. Depression can prevent you from having a fulfilling life. Alcohol and d**g rehab before your organs and brain are destroyed. You can dial 211 on your phone and they can help. It’s anonymous and it can connect you or someone you know to resources near you.
Image source: miaaredd, cottonbro studio
#21
Learn to cook from scratch. Basic raw ingredients are healthier than processed. You can batch cook and meal prep and once you know how and get in the habit it’s as easy at heating up cr*ppy processed food.
Image source: ZweitenMal
#22
Coming from someone in a trade, don’t kneel on hard surfaces without some sort of protection. Be it pads or a chunk of foam or even a rolled up towel in a pinch. Osteoarthritis will find you…
On that note, also wear any other PPE required in your work environment.
Image source: ApoplecticAutoBody
#23
Marriage.
I’m not really being flippant. What you want in a partner when you’re 25, and what you want when you’re 45, are very different things. Now, it’s entirely possible your partner will, as they age and mature, grow in to whatyou need as you need. It’s also very possible they will change in ways that are very much not what you want, and now you’re got a house and 2 kids making things complicated.
I would never straight up say people shouldn’t get married in their 20’s. But I would say don’t rush anything, and don’t get married because you’ve been together for x months or years so it’s time. Go in with your eyes open, and having really talked with your partner about what they want and where they see themselves in 10 years. If that doesn’t align with where you see your self, and they are incompatible, it’s time for another serious talk.
Image source: DFWPunk, Irina Iriser
#24
Wear good shoes! Allthose cheap shoes with no support really come back to haunt you later in life!
Image source: Bibblegead1412, cottonbro studio
#25
Work your core! It will help strengthen your back and prevent a LOT of back problems when you’re older. Plank for 3 minutes a day is all it takes.
Image source: Losaj, Mike González
#26
Being happy with how you look because it all goes to s**t.
Image source: Bitter_Fox9224
#27
Stretching!!!!! Before everything !!!!! I stretch before I take a s**t now.
Image source: Huge-Restaurant-5283, Cliff Booth
#28
Do not sit around too much and never stop moving. Some of my coworkers, family and friends are already having problems with stairs, hills and such and frankly it’s kind of scaring me. There is a fine balance between rest and movement – you don’t need to overdo it but don’t sit down too long as it will catch up with you!!!
Image source: fletch101e, Liliana Drew
#29
Not paying attention to their back.
Image source: gabsramalho, cottonbro studio
#30
The obvious stuff:
1. Wear sunscreen
2. Don’t drink too much
3. Stop smoking
4. Exercise
5. Sleep
The less obvious stuff:
1. Socializing and making friends becomes harder as you get older, especially if your life revolves around going out to bars and hanging out. I hit 40 and my body just doesn’t want to do that anymore. Having hobbies that don’t center around drinking goes a long way.
2. If you haven’t learned how to budget money and put aside some for retirement, you’re going to be working late into your life. Start early and save yourself the heartache.
3. Protect your hearing. if you’re going out to shows and cranking up the volume on your headphones you’re going to have a hard time hearing in your 40s and 50s.
4. Travel, especially outdoors travel, becomes harder. I do a lot of hiking and backpacking, and trips I used to think about in my 20s aren’t trips I can do now. You also start having more obligations around family and kids so getting time to get away becomes harder. Do it now :).
Image source: pynchonian
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