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.
#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.
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26points
#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.
On that note, also wear any other PPE required in your work environment.
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26points
#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.
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.
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26points
#24
Wear good shoes! Allthose cheap shoes with no support really come back to haunt you later in life!
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25points
#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.
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25points
#27
Stretching!!!!! Before everything !!!!! I stretch before I take a s**t now.
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23points
#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!!!
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23points
#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 :).
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 :).
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20points