“They Look Ten Years Older”: 30 Things About Aging That Folks In Their 20s Never Think About

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Racking up debt. It gets you into a cycle that can be hard to break, even if you have a high paying job.

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.

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.

Always lift with your legs, absolutely always. You don't want pain from just bending over slightly because "you've got it".

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.

Underestimating the addictive nature of tobacco.

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.

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.

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.

Protect and stregthen your knees!

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.

A lot of things that you find so important in your 20s will not be important at all in your 40s.

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.