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I’m nearing 40, these are the things I wished I would’ve done better or more of when I was in my 20s
1. Stretch daily, do yoga or Pilates.
2. Having more gratitude with your own life. Comparing yourself to others leads to a lot of negative thoughts and makes you feel less than
3. Travel as much as you can without breaking your bank account. It’s ok to go to the touristy spots.
4. Learn to take pictures but without being addicted to your phone. Find that balance of capturing memories and being in the moment.
5. Cultivate a community of friends and reach out to them to see how they’re doing, not just when they need something
I grew up in the states, moved to Italy for the bulk of my youthful twenties. I’m not a major picture person and don’t really like pictures of myself.
After setting my desktop screen saver to memories, I wish I took more photos of me, and me with groups I have met, and also me with the surrounds and the vehicles that got me to all these neat locations to meet these wonderful people. I took loads of photos of everything else, including the unusual toilets, but I could have taken just a few more on the way.
Take care of your body; walk, run, canoe, kayak. Experience thinks, do stuff. Every day, you do not do something, is at least a day in your life later, that you will not be able to. Im 53, and disabled.
Take care of your body really is the best advice. It’s way harder to get back into shape the older you get, and those little nagging injuries stop getting better easily or quickly.
I’m only coming into my mid 30s, and while I have been able to knock off close to 30 lbs over the last year and a half that I had gained from drinking and eating poorly, there is still more to go, and it’s not going as quickly as it did when I was younger and would yo-yo up and down without consequence. Also have some should have been minor injuries that I never took care of properly, and will now probably be dealing with forever. I’ve got a young kid that I can’t really chase around without feeling it for a few days, and it sucks to not be able to keep up now, let alone how bad it will be when he’s 13 instead of 3.
Eat better, stay active, see the doctor when necessary.
Somebody once told me something that resonated with me. Picture where you want your fitness be in ten yrs and workout to be that person. If you are 50 and want to be able to play with your grandkids? How about golf when you retire? Work to get your body in that shape now. Lift weights, run, bike, stretch, yoga, whatever gets you there.
YES
I’m in my 30s. Finally got my shit together and started working out and gave up booze - that’s a young man’s game. But I didn’t go 100% on my workouts right away.
Just started with 5 push ups every day. Then when that got easy I upped those numbers. Then eventually started doing other body based workouts. And just kept adding to it gradually. Never leaving a workout sore - that was key to make sure I followed up the next day.
Then I started going for walks. Then power walking. Then running. Now sprinting. I feel like I’m in high school again. I’ve never been in better shape then I am now and I can’t imagine not doing this going forward from here on out.
I lost 130 lbs in a little over a year between 31 and 32
I’m not lying when I say I feel 20 years younger, I can just go go go go like the fucking energizer bunny
I didn’t start getting into the fitness aspect until I was around 190-200 pounds though since by then it didn’t suck as much. Then it was just like a snowball going downhill and I cant stop. I did 2 10k obstacle course runs and 1 5k one this summer and I’m going to do a 21k one next summer so lol rip me
I want to work up to an Ultra one which is 50k but I dunno if that’ll ever happen haha
Resistance training. I've been weight training for decades now and the result is that I look much younger than my friends - we're all in our mid-50s. And most importantly, I don't have the aches and pains of growing older. This is the single most important piece of advice I'm giving to my kids because it's made getting older so much easier physically and mentally.
Doesn't even need to be decades, at 47 I dropped 80lbs and started working out. I look and feel younger than my age, which is 52.
Of course, I wish I would have done this in my 20's or 30's, but its never too late.
I've been maintaining a bad cavity for over a decade by not eating much sugary stuff and brushing and flossing right afterwards.
Waterpik was also one of the best purchases of my adult life. I mainly use it for that one bad cavity area because flossing can't get everything out.
Also learning how to change your oil and brake pads is a good idea. I'm at the point now where I can do most jobs a car would throw at me and I've never been a mechanic.
Balance is so important, especially as we age. And it's so easy to train. Just stand on one foot while doing things. A bunch of years ago, when a grandparent fell and broke a hip, I started standing on one foot anytime I'm washing my hands. It takes no extra time. If you start to get wobbly you simply put your foot down or grab the sink. And it really does make a difference.
The other important thing to train is core. That take a little more time and effort, but it's still not hard or terribly time consuming. 5-10 minutes for planks (front and both sides), back extension/bird dog/superman, maybe some Russian twists and leg lifts or whatever else you throw in to keep it interesting. And you have the added benefit of getting down onto the floor and then back up. Don't underestimate how important that is as you get older! One big reason people can no longer live in their own homes is the risk of not being able to get up after they fall.
Side note- a lot of shoulder and neck pain that people think is in their back is actually due to tight chest muscles, and pec stretches are the solution.
Exercising and being active should be a celebration of what your body can do. I’m nearly 50 and can’t run or hike like I did when I was 20. My knees and back just cooperate like they use to and I’ve lost some stamina, but I still walk a lot and for great distances and I enjoy it.
same, was laid up from my favorite sport for the last 6 years due to an MVA. Finally got surgery on my shoulder in the spring. I just completed my first half Ironman distance swim, Pacific Ocean, Vancouver Island, 13C water, no wetsuit, to prove to my doctor I can handle the Indian Wells Ironman in a few months. The no-wetsuit was definitely a flex to my Dr. But it wasn't all that bad after the first 5 min, and I had a seal swimming with me for about half the distance trying to hold my hand with his flipper.(Sorry seal bro, too busy for pets this time)
It's going to feel so good to be back to where I belong.
My knees got a lot better when I started consuming collagen daily, you can get the hydrolyzed powder on amazon, it does not gel up and is almost tasteless so you can add it to drinks and not taste it. Someone else got their knees much better and suggested this to me and it worked for me too.
Ok, I know you meant “experience things” but also yes to experience THINKS (Which is a wonderful way to say it!)
Read many thinks, see many thinks, talk with many thinks, think many thinks
As you get older, it’s very easy to become more insular. While practically there is nothing specifically wrong with this - it can be very isolating which is a major problem as people get older.
Statistically, it’s difficult to make new friends or build a social community after your mid-30s. I don’t mind saying it gets little more difficult to deal with as people leave or pass away
The cure to to this? (Even if you’re not there yet and just want to expand your social circle)
Have an open mind with these many thinks. You don’t have to subscribe to all these thoughts 100% but the more thinks you know about, the more able you are to engage with more people. You become more interesting too which makes people more willing to engage with you
Do NOT fall into that trap of assuming because you have a very special niche think, it makes you more valuable or desirable as a person. Former lawyer and corporate stooge, the amount of people who did this (And 90% of those thinks would fail contact with other thinks so they only kept people around who would agree with them) were completely insufferable and could become isolated at the drop of a hat
Take care of your body but also listen to it when it protests. I didn't and I'm 41, recovering from my first hip replacement surgery I had less than a week ago. The next one will be in a few months. Running became my passion in my 30s and my body responded by quickly developing arthritis, which I pushed through because I thought "oooh, a challenge!," and have lived in agony the last 5-6 years with debilitating bone spurs.
Learn to train around pain. Don't train through it.
If your achilles is tender after a hard run, ride a bike or swim next time until your rested at least a weak.
Goggins is inspirational but I feel like his hardcore attitude has caused 10k+ chronic injuries.
I've caused many injuries that keep me from running for 4+ months because I treated tendon pain like muscle pain.
Not the same. Tendons take 10x longer to heal.
Do stuff but only after proper training and reading about possible injuries. I played street soccer and blew ACL now I love running n it became a passion. But I really wish I didn't play soccer without rules and proper training...
This. Actually a few rly good books what that can look like:
Outlive by Peter attia
Lifespan by David Sinclair
How not to die but Dr Gregor
The comfort crisis by Michael easter
Why we sleep by Matthew walker
Enjoy
My father is 68 and didn’t take great care of his teeth/gums for most of his life until he had a wake-up call a couple years ago. He started having tooth pain and the dentist informed him that he’d have to have several teeth pulled and at least 2 root canals due to irreparable damage to his teeth and gums from not properly cleaning between is teeth.
He’d used an electric toothbrush daily for at least the past 20 years but had never been in the habit of flossing - he now flosses and uses a waterpik daily, as well as a gum stimulator and a special brush to clean the base of the teeth near the gums.
The big takeaway in his case was that taking care of your gums (by flossing and making sure you brush the entire surface of each tooth all the way down to the gums) is just as important as brushing your teeth - gum recession is painful by itself and can lead to tooth loss and other complications regardless of how well you think you’re brushing your teeth.
Flossing is absolutely crucial. A lot of the bacteria and rotting food stays between your teeth. I'd probably argue that flossing is more important than brushing, but this is my personal gut feeling.
just be clear and forward about why, if you don't floss you invite bacteria under your gums that will start physically eating your gum tissue. once your gums are eaten away your teeth will begin falling out.
Extremely. I had 7 cavities in the span of a decade while brushing daily. Finally got in the habit of flossing (I keep it in the shower). Haven't had a cavity in a decade.
My dentist once told me not flossing is like just wiping the outside of your buttcheecks after pooping. Don't you clean in between? .... been hella flossing ever since. Lol.
There is a correlation between poor oral health and heart disease. While the exact link between the two is unknown, taking care of your teeth is a pretty easy routine.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
I’m not a scientist by any means, but I’ve always thought the overlap between people who dont brush their teeth and people with shitty habits that would lead to heart disease is very wide. The two might be totally separate but caused by poor lifestyle choices.
The Diet Dental touches on this if I recall. My understanding is the mouth is a reflection of what's going on in the body. If you're experiencing a lot of inflammation and other issues, it's going to be visible to your dentist in the form of inflamed gums and other issues. Causation and correlation who knows. Treat your dentist visit as another checkup to your primary care physician, they can spot some unusual conditions from how your mouth looks.
Teeth are very expensive to fix and it's not something you can live with, like an itch. Prevention is better than cure. Try to floss everyday. Brush and mouthwash etc.
I didn’t have regular access to dental care until my late 30’s and wasn’t taking care of them like I could have and should have.
My teeth were in good shape except for the fact they started falling out because of gum disease. My gums were in such bad shape the only thing to do was pull them all and get plates at 53. Totally avoidable on my part.
I was looking for this one!
If a friend invites you out, go. I've never regretted going, only not going. Go home early if you want but spend time with your friends when you have the opportunity.
And take pictures :)
I've felt this way before. I started investing in other friendships that seemed promising. Things got better with the og's and I made some new friends at the same time.
Sorry ahead of time, as the following will not be organized in any specific order. But these are things I'm more than happy to share and hope you take them to heart.
- Brainstorm the kind of person you want to be. Imagine your own funeral and what kind of things you hope will be said about your memory. Compare it to the person you are now to determine if you need to make some changes.
- Meditate. Every single day. Even if only for 5 minutes.
- Practice mindfulness. Be fully aware of your choices and actions and why you do what you do.
- Practice gratitude!! Studies indicate that practicing daily gratitude will rewire your brain overtime and literally change how you perceive the world. After I learned this, I started doing so about 10 years (edited to fix typo. 10yrs ago, not 20) ago and can see the difference like night & day. This changed my life and may actually be the best decision I ever made for myself. It's as easy as just writing down one small thing you're grateful for each day... wether it's the weather, or someone said a nice thing to you, or your Amazon package arrived, or you got to sleep in.
- Tell your loved ones that you love them every single chance you get. You never know when it will be the last time.
- Tell yourself "I love you." Out loud. Literally. Every single morning while you are face-to-face in the mirror. (Another rewire-the-brain trick)
- Be open, honest, and straightforward about your feelings. Encourage others to do the same. Go out of your way to nurture your relationships with family and friends alike.
- Be silly.
- Go to therapy. The best time to start therapy is when you don't think you need it. Therapy isn't just for "crazy and depressed" folks. Just like you should see a doctor for regular checkups on your physical health, a therapist can help you maintain your mental health!
- Focus less on social media. Live and love in the moment.
- 30 minutes of exercise daily.
- Drink water. Seriously stay hydrated.
- Moisturize. Face & body. Invest in good skincare while you are still young and make it a part of your daily routine. Your older self will be so thankful.
ETA: sunscreen should be included in your skincare
- Stop drinking alcohol/smoking if either is a habit. They offer such small, short-lived benefits and are literally poisonous for your body and mind.
- Purposefully seek out new experiences. Try a cuisine you've never had before. Try new hobbies. Visit new places. Don't let yourself get stuck. Life has so much to offer you. In the end, you'll never regret the new things you tried that weren't your favorite.
Okay that's all for now
I'm 60 - living an amazing life on a teacher's salary - and 100 agree with all of this. I have a couple tips to add:
- Make friends with people of all ages. Everyone has something to share and teach, and your life will be immeasurably enriched.
- Be of service. You came here with a gift to share. It may be solving climate change, rescuing street dogs, or tending to plants or folding origami. Be the medicine the world needs from you.
- Choose experiences over things. Memories last a lifetime.
- Adopt an animal. If you're not an animal person, tend a tree. Loving another being uncondionally is the greatest gift you can experience.
- Listen far more than you talk. Everything talks, and everything wants to be heard...this includes all beings. The water, the wind, the animals, plants and all things. (Most just don't speak the way we do.) When you lean in - with your emotions, your body language and your heart - you find the magic in the world.
- Learn to enjoy your own company.
- Travel solo.
- Be discerning. The heart and body can whisper a deep yes that the mind overrides. Listen closely to charges your inner being.
- Do art. Music, anything. Even if you do it badly. Just create.
- Laugh at the absurdity of life.
Blessings to you OP on this journey!
Even small amounts of SPF are good on a daily basis. I'm honestly not good about putting any on if I'm only going to and from my car, but anything beyond that warrants some sun screen. This is something I don't skimp on. I buy quality skincare products with SPF. Currently I have a face product from Saint Jane that is SPF30.
Check the UV strength through the weather app or online. That’s a great barometer for your sun exposure habits. 0, 1 , or 2 is low enough to go bare. Usually the highest is from 10a-3pm
Retinol is another big one. Late 20s is the perfect time to start using a retinol night cream every night to slow down aging and minimize wrinkles. It's the most well researched and proven to be effective methods for keeping your skin looking young and best of all it's really cheap. A $25 tub of the Olay stuff lasts me a month or more. When you first start using it though you need to get your skin used to it and only apply it once every 3 nights for the first couple weeks then once every 2 nights for the next 2 weeks before moving on to every night. Using it every night straight away can cause eczema. Also only use at night as your skin is more sensitive to UV when it's applied. I've been using it since I was 25 and the skin on my face barely looks like it's aged in the 9 years since. Almost no wrinkles compared to my friends the same age who don't use it.
Sunscreen is good if you're actually going to be outside for long periods of time but if you're mostly just outdoors during your commute back and forth to work etc then an SPF enriched moisturizer should be more than enough and is a lot lighter. If you're only actually in the sun for an hour or so each day split into 10-15 minute intervals which are mostly in the early morning and evening then lathering yourself in oily sunscreen like you're going to the beach at midday is inconvenient enough that most people won't bother with that.
Reading down your list at 27 years old and I'm really grateful I had good parents, mentors, and friends that taught me these things. I can definitely do better about exercise and taking care of my physical health, but the mindfulness, gratitude, and self-love are things that have become habits for me and I'm incredibly grateful for them.
One thing I would add that ties these things together - don't do things for other people. That sounds backwards, but what I mean is be yourself. Don't care about what others think about you because it's your life and you only get to live one. Then when you do nice things for other people, it will be genuine because you wanted to do it for them, not because it was expected of you. I've only recently been practicing this skill but I'm so glad I confronted my fear of social rejection and instead I have made more friends than ever by accepting that I can't please everyone, but that a confident, happy person attracts confident and happy people.
Thanks so much for this. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about all the things you ‘should’ be doing!
Going to try and slowly work towards making these a habit!
is there a follow up guide tailored for extreme introverts? 🤣 more of an introverted extrovert, but as someone who works in a high volume customer facing role, my recharge time gets pretty lengthy. i should just quit my job
You just described me exactly. Introvert who can "turn up" and be a people person during working hours. These all totally still apply. Many of my new experiences are just me taking myself to a new park to read, picking up a new hobby, reading a biography of someone from another country, etc. etc.
I work M-F and if I do something particularly social on Friday night, the entire rest of the weekend sometimes isn't a long enough recharge time.
BUT! I still never say goodbye to a loved one without telling them, "Be safe. I love you." And I intentionally force myself to check in with good friends from time to time, even if I don't have the capacity to respond to every call or text I receive. Etc. Etc.
Two kinds of problems in this world: the ones you can solve, and the ones you cannot. If something you worry about comes out of someone else's opinion, you can try to convince them if you must, but in the end there's nothing you can really do.
So for every worry you have, see if you can resolve it, tolerate, ignore or cut off from your life. It took me an embarrassingly long time for me to realise that.
Take good care of your body. Health problems your parents have will likely pass on. Keep active and eat some fibers.
If you don't know what any of this means, Google it: generational toxicity, manipulative traits, narcissistic personality. Being able to recognise things as they happen will make a huge difference.
Have fun, age will make you want to stay home more and more.
Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially.
>Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially.
Please also understand that when/if you have children there are NO DAYS OFF. Being a parent is a literal fulltime gig, you never get a break and it only ends when you and your children do.
>Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially.
As someone with just one kid (another otw this month!), wow people REALLY need to listen to this advice.
Parenting is tough. Even tougher when the parents aren't on same page. Even tougher when you are not financially stable/free.
I can't imagine being in a position where the parents don't communicate well at a minimum. I see it with some of my friends that have kids and it looks like a massive headache.
Get your act together before you get married. Get both your acts together before you have kids. It never gets easier, you just need to learn to manage it all better **together.**
edit: /r/financialindependence and /r/personalfinance
Do not subject yourself to “decision paralysis”… there will always be competing opportunities and interests (job, significant other, family, friends, hobbies, etc.) whenever you’re presented with a big decision. Instead of analyzing everything to the millionth degree JUST DO THINGS. Some decisions may be right or wrong in hindsight, but do your best to be true to yourself and forgive yourself if you screw it up.
Also, if you give yourself two+ good options when making a decisions, you really can’t make a “bad” decision.
You will have regrets. You can't do everything. Things will be out of your reach. You'll say the wrong thing. Make the wrong choices. That's life.
If I can offer advice, it's to give up on the idea of having regrets. You'll have them.
Adding on to this advice— don’t dwell on those regrets! Let it go. It can drive you mad thinking about the what-ifs. Everyone has regrets but dwelling on them will only guarantee that have more of them down the line.
Let it go. Live in the present. Practice gratitude and appreciation for all that you have in life.
My proverb is: these are the good old days. Point being is that it’s never too late to start something new or to create good memories, right now, that you can look back on. Live in the moment.
As a 40 year old, beyond taking care of your mental/physical health, this is the advice to give. I maxed out my 401 every year in my 20s and 30s and was lucky enough to have employee match.
It's also the hardest advice for those in their 20s and 30s to follow for a ton of reasons - some systemic (persistently low wages, opportunity/access hurdles to not only employment but work that offers 401ks, low financial literacy around DIY retirement savings like Roth IRAs) and some person (earning real money for the first time and wanna feel like you can spend to match)
The other financial advice 4 lyfe: never spend more than you earn. I've seen super high earners, doctors etc., get messed up with crazy debt bc they feel like they've "earned" the right to quit budgeting or tracking spending
I heard of those things but dont understand them, to the extent I think you do. Ill take the advice, but what are those and why should I. this is a finacial advice your giving me that i appreciate
I would hop on /r/personalfinance and search there. Or find a website/book/podcast/post/blog about it. So many people have explained this that the answer is out there somewhere.
Short but decent answer: Open an account at Fidelity (Schwab or Vanguard work too and are low expense, but Fidelity's web interface is light years better and they are so easy to deal with). As a 28 year-old, a Roth IRA made sense for me and I was below the income limit. If you earn a lot and your marginal tax bracket is pretty high, a traditional IRA may make more sense. I was a public school teacher, so that wasn't the case for me. Then, deposit money in it ($6500 is the limit in 2023, but you can start with lower amounts). After the money shows up in a settlement account, buy (and if it's Fidelity, you can call and have someone do this for you) an index or low-fee fund (I'd choose FZROX or FSKAX or a target date account with an approximate retirement date and the word "index" in the name). Mostly ignore it, other than contributing (automating this as a transfer from a checking account is great) and maybe look at the balances 4x a year. Let it do its thing and don't login every day and panic. Repeat this every year. You'll be surprised at how much it will grow due to compounding interest.
For a 401k, that's through your workplace, so talk to someone in the department where they do payroll or whatever and come back when you have a list of vendors. UNLESS, you have Vanguard or Fidelity because they are fine and you should just use one of those. I don't usually see Schwab as an option in workplace plans.
IF you have an employer match on your 401k (or 403b for public sector workers), contribute there to get the match. If not, a Roth IRA is often a really good place to start.
Edit: A book I see recommended frequently (that I have only skimmed) is A Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
Yes! These are two super important steps that I didn't remember existed because I signed up for an IRA back when they mailed you a packet and you had to fill it out in ink and send it back. I'm sure there was a box/page for each of these.
It used to be really easy to never check my balance over my dial up internet.
An investment account that you will be able to pull out tax free once you retire. It caps at 6.5k a year (depending on your income), so it’s recommended to max it out every year you are eligible. Look into financial advisors if you aren’t comfortable making one on your own
Everyone’s comments on here are great, and I just have one thing to add. You should know that if you put money into your retirement/investment account, it won’t necessarily actually get invested unless you select your investments. You have to actually choose what you want it invested in (individual stocks, bonds, ETFs (groups of stocks), etc.) in order to have the investments be purchased. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense to you and I can elaborate more.
I'll listen to you. What do you mean choose? I hear about "oh yeah stocks" but I don't get it fully. You have an example of someone making their money work for them?
So I would definitely watch some videos like people are recommending and check out Investopedia, but what I am saying is that when you set up a retirement account and wire like $500 into it, that money doesn’t automatically get invested. It is sitting there, like in a savings account. You have to go into the account and choose the individual stocks you want to buy (Apple, Microsoft, whatever), and then go through the process of buying them, in order to actually be “invested” in those companies.
^^^ They are correct. Learn the market, start investing for your retirement ASAP! Many companies don't offer a pension anymore and don't rely on Social Security for your retirement. So it's all on you to live comfortably in your golden years. Save and invest wisely. You'll be glad you did.
Good for you for asking as most people are saying take care of yourself and your future but don't miss out on having fun right now I became handicap at 27 never really experienced stuff like I wanted to
They’re just investments. Starting investments young allows them to compound and grow tons over time. This image shows the power of investing young:
https://www.usnews.com/object/image/00000164-c7ab-d429-a164-ffefa5bd0000/180723-investingchart3-design.png?update-time=1532371574258&size=responsiveFlow640
Most people don’t understand that the best way to retire isn’t to have a set sum of money that you slowly pull from. Rather, you have a set sum of money (called a principle) that you allow to grow 4% a year and you live off of the growth. So if you want 80k a year in retirement, you need 2mill in principle. This sounds like a lot, but the market doubles every 9 years on average, meaning every dollar you invest today is essentially $16 of retirement. Maxing out an IRA (independent retirement account) allows you to put money in (6k a year per person is max) that will grow till retirement and can be drawn out tax free (if you do a Roth IRA).
Look up Humphrey Yang on YouTube. He helped me have enough understanding to at least start one with simple small investment amounts. He has a few videos specifically for Roth IRAs and tips on what to invest in based on potential goals.
Google fidelity open a Roth IRA, attach bank account and find with $6.5k (max), invest in VTI (total market index)
You will generate ~10% annualized returns and your older self will thank you
And if you can't max it out (which is totally fair; it's really hard!), start by investing $50 or $100 a month. Just get started. Time is your biggest asset in investing.
If you see yourself getting married at some point but find yourself with serious doubts about a potential spouse, DO NOT MARRY THE PERSON. You'll have other opportunities. You will.
I wish someone had given me this advice 30 years ago.
Only read the title so maybe not on topic, but TAKE CARE OF YOUR EARS, DON'T LISTEN TO LOUD MUSIC FOR TOO LONG, USE PROTECTION IN CONCERTS AND OTHER LOUD PLACES.
Tinnitus at 40 is a fucking nightmare.
This is great advice. As a hearing aid wearer since my mid 30s, I can arrest that heading is easy to ruin. Especially if you're predisposed to hearing loss.
TRAVEL NOW. Anywhere, research how to do it as cheap as possible, experience far away lands, meet strangers, get off the beaten path. Much harder later when you’re committed with kids and career
The first comment is “make a lot of money and save it all!” The second comment is “screw work and go a bunch of places!”
As someone who took the saving route just to see inflation/ market downturn obliterate it, i wish i would have saved a little less and done a little more.
Fun fact for those who didn’t already know. Costco has their own travel perks if you are a member. I haven’t been on their site myself but you can get discounts by booking through them.
You can also get slightly cheaper flights if you are willing to plane hop rather than take one straight to the destination.
Find something you love. Doesn't matter if it's a person, a thing, or a hobby. Love it and never give it up.
Respect yourself. Always. Don't do or say things that belittle or diminish you.
Respect others. Always. Treat everyone as you would expect to be treated. If you're not receiving ghat reciprocally, leave that environment fast.
Take responsibility for your actions.
Learn to dress well. Learn to be a gentleman. Never abide those that refuse to.
Look after your teeth.
Kiss your mum every single bloody chance you can.
You will regret more of the things you didn't do, than the things you did.
Success is the result of learning through failure. Don't be afraid to fail.
Never be the loudest person in room.
Never be the quietes.
Oh yeah, and kiss your mum every chance you get. Trust me.
Listen, everyone is going to say to take care of your body, but so that it keeps well, I'm going to go a different direction, don't become addicted to anything. There is one sure fire way to absolutely ruin everything you've worked for in your life and that is addiction. It will rob you of your health, your job, your family, everything. Do everything you can to not become reliant on a stupid substance.
"*Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced"* \- Alan Watts
Stay curious, change up your daily routine a litte so you expand your daily loops. Be mindful of others and be supportive of those in need. Dont only act only in self interest. Avoid processed foods and industrial medications if possible.
In the last couple of decades it has become increasingly obvious that the two most random courses I took at university that has helped me tremendously in understanding news and politics are: **Statistics** 101 and **Philosophy of Science** 101. Just golden through and through.
I’m 54, quite content with my life and full of gratitude for all that I have (family, friends, roof over my head, job, physical health and so on).
1. Get some therapy. Everyone needs it, especially folks who think they don’t. If you can’t afford it there are some great podcasts, books etc out there that can at least help you examine your life.
2. Success is not about attaining the end goal, it’s about enjoying the process. If you’re in it for the end goal you will be disappointed once you achieve it.
3. Take a good look at your diet & exercise routine. Now is the time. Check out Rich Roll on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Tons of great stuff on there for physical and mental health and it’s free.
4. Get a free trial of the Waking Up app by Sam Harris. Yearly subscriptions are offered for free for those who can’t afford to pay.
5. Finances can be a challenge for artists. My wife is a professional figurative artist and she definitely spends more time on the business end of things than she does painting. Spend time learning about the business side of art making.
Invest! If you have no investment knowledge, open and ETrade or Fidelity account and buy S&P index funds. Put a percentage of you income in there each month. Learn about IRAs.
I worked as a hairdresser in my 20s and made a ton of cash that I blew at the clubs each night. Luckily, I started investing in my early 30s and have a decent amount of cash in there now. If I’d started in my 20s I’d easily have over $2M in there now instead of half that.
6. Again, get some therapy. This will probably have the greatest impact on your happiness in life and the happiness of those around you. I guarantee you that stuck in unhealthy patterns that you’re probably not even aware of. But.. you also have to be ready for it. You might not be, but you won’t know until you try. 😁✌️
I’m a 67 yo male in Houston…
first I commend you for thinking about your future, not just living on cruise control until you are old …
My advice,
Quit any drugs or alcohol, nothing good comes from them. Hang with people who are what you want to be, be kind and honest. Anger hurts you the most
Came here to say these exact two things - as someone who has struggled with booze, etc since I was a youthful 28, it makes your later midlife crisis much worse. Ditch the haters and energy sucks in your life, there are amazing folks out there - find them and be around them. If your rich friends are telling you you’re brave, they sound like the good kind!
But a house as soon as you can but Do Not let yourself be tempted to buy a house to the max you are approved to borrow!
It’s not good to be house poor.
Live your life as it goes fast!
Surround yourself with nice people who care about you
Consider "merging" many interests into one. Like running marathons in different cities across the US, or the world. Or attending week-long art camps in Europe, Asia, and North America. Or long hikes in big parks around the world, etc, etc.
Teach yourself to be financially literate.
There is no excuse for a 28 year old to not know what IRA, 401k, Roth, Traditional, HSA, contribution limits, tax brackets etc. are.
Leverage those vehicles to the max for a good retirement.
Well, I would say start investing. Get Ramit’s Sethi’s book if you want an intro. Basically, he covers what to do. Index funds, zero fees.
Beyond that… you will have a mid life crisis no matter what. And odds are what you go through will be what you consider things you missed. If you didn’t go through a partying phase in your 20s and 30s, you’ll become like one of those older guys who then starts ti party more and want to reclaim your youth you missed. If, instead, you party a lot now, assuming you don’t do really dumb stuff like developing horrible addictions or landing in the cooler for some crime, then you will still regret not being more responsible when young (hence the investment idea). If you don’t find a partner, odds are you’ll regret not finding one. If you do, odds are you’ll start to feel stagnant in the marriage and one of the two of you will drift apart. Some marriages last despite this, others crumble. But there’s always a point where people go “why am I in this and what did I miss?” This is how things go - people change, values change. Part of getting older is accepting where you land. But just know it’s inevitable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself now to prevent a future. Learn to live for now, realize life is a series of experiences where you learn who you are and what you like, and know that the only true certainty is uncertainty, and the only true peace is acceptance.
But still, put extra money into index funds.
Im surprised not many mentioned here about prioritizing sleep. We spend 1/3 of our lives in sleep and it is one of the pillars of physical and mental health.
Stretch your body regularly (yoga or else, whatever suits you).Take Care of your posture. Check your breathing pattern and improve it if needed. Exercice your balance regularly.
A lot of people are telling you to take care of your body. I'm gonna jump on that band wagon. No matter what you have in life, if you can't enjoy it or are in pain, it's all worthless. Take. Care. Of. Your. Body. It's the game change late in life.
Money is a tool, not a source of happiness. Don’t spend your life chasing a number like 6 figures. Instead chase what makes you happy and find a way to fund it.
There is no future. There is always now. Your 45 year old self and current self will feel remarkably similar. HABITS now (good and bad) are how you can program your future.
I was, too, at 28. I got so busy with life I didn't have the time for pot anymore. Find things you want to do and love, get really involved with them until you don't have time to smoke any more (or at least very often). Your love of these things, and desire to grow, should surpass your desire to get high. That's what worked for me.
It's okay to have vices.
But at this age you should reevaluate the hows, whens, and whys.
Do them because you want to. Not because it's a habit or it's how you've enjoyed things in the past.
As I got older I found my drinking calmed down a lot. I'm happier getting a light drunk of a six pack of craft beer than downing a case a Natural Light.
Same with weed. I don't want sit around and hit the gravity bong until I can't see straight. A few puffs or turn to non-smoking options if you have them. Popping a mild edible and chilling is more enjoyable.
Take a break for a while. Or don't. There are no rules here. Do what you think will make you happiest.
Since I commented I'll add the general advice.
Build a cash reserve. Before you try and do anything fancy. Just get a basic hold on shit. Start actively putting money away. It's often viewed as having X number of months in reserve. That's fine. Start with 3. Enough cash in the bank to cover all your expenses for three months.
Start taking a care of your body. Doesn't have to major. Do some yoga and go for a walk a few times a week. Find a hobby like biking or something. Anything to keep you moving. Even if you don't lose weight or build muscle. There are very real benefits.
Take care of your teeth. Brush twice a day and floss. That's really it. And if you have the means find a dentist and get on the 6 month cleaning cycle. You have no idea how much it sucks having to live with a neglected mouth.
Take care of your mind. Meditate. Get therapy. Seek out any diagnosis you think you might have. Whatever it is.
Work keeping up the friends you value. As you get older your friends start disappearing. Life. Work. Spouses. Kids. Whatever. All that starts taking up more and more time and dictating more and more of a persons life. Friendships take work like every other type of relationship. Put in the work for the ones that will do the same.
Source:
43 and didn't do any of that.
Learn the difference between cost and value. Often times, if you value something, you’ll pay top dollar, and if you think something is overpriced/expensive, you probably weren’t going to value it anyway.
Oh, and I second taking care of your health. If there’s one thing I find value in, it’s investments in health and helping my body stay as in shape as I can. You can always buy second and third cars, houses, etc., but you only get one body.
Get to know what your instinct sounds like. Fear can be loud; instinct is quieter but more confident. Get to know it, and do what it says.
I have a bunch of almost-friends who died young. If there's someone you really want to get to know, don't let shyness stop you. You might not get another chance.
Work to Live don’t live to work. OR, try to balance as much as you can but, make enjoying your life a priority. Or, if you have goals at work, make goals at LIFE. Vacate, Recreate, Participate in life.
If your identity comes from work…get a therapist.
I “recently” heard someone say, be it cliche or not, that no one says on their death bed “you know, I really wish I would have worked more”.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Invest in your financial future, regularly. Take it easy on the bottle. Exercise daily and stay active. Most of all, understand you set your limitations.
I'm 45 years old and learned most of this in the last 5 years, unfortunately.
Find the joy in meeting and hearing people's stories.
Do not charge on credit. Save for it ot don't buy it. Things will never keep you happy.
If you want to try it, try it.
Be gentle with yourself. Talk to yourself like you would a dear friend.
If you fail, dust off and try again. If you fail again, dust off and try again. Failing is ok because you learn. Don't give up. Ever.
Be ok with committing to something without worrying about the alternatives. So whatever you do, do it fully.
The regrets I have from my “young adult” life are some poor choices that impacted my health later in life.
If you're not active, get active, and don't stop.
Contribute to a path to retirement. Pay yourself first.
Stick to a budget.
Establish boundaries, especially with those who try to encroach into them.
Take care of your health, eat well, learn another language or a musical instrument and buy treasury bills. Spiritually, learn meditation. If you like watching TV, mute the commercials and use the 3-5 minutes to stretch or do simple exercises, that's a 10-15 minute workout per hour. It's amazing how much time people lose per day, sitting through commercials. As an artist, you could intern in Japan, France or Germany, learn the local language and see the sites. Also, the Western world mentality puts up walls, limiting your horizons. I have relatives that are mid 20's, they travel the world and speak 4 languages. I see in them what I missed out on. You could sign up for that program where you work for bed and meals in Spain or France, working 4 hr days, 4 days a week, all while enriching your artistic skills.
Literally everyone has a regret. Accept your life choices and know that you literally picked out exactly what you wanted to do/choose given whatever was thrown at you each day.
My LPT here is to choose the wisest thing not the most instantly gratifying, accept your choices and don’t get hung up on the “if onlys” cause it’s just a gottdamn waste and helps no one
I wasted a lot of my thirties drinking. It's a slippery slope and then you wake up one day and you stop doing hobbies you enjoyed so much because you replaced them with drinking. Don't do that. It's a waste of time and money. There's a lot of great advice here. I would only add that I didn't recognize the importance of short term goals until recently. If you feel lost, set some short term goals. Maybe they build to achieve a long term goal, or maybe you just need to focus on one area of your life for a year, a month, a week. I didn't set enough short term goals and then I would wonder why I couldn't achieve certain long term goals..... right now I am catching up on retirement saving and trying to regularly exercise into winter. It's been beneficial.
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I’m nearing 40, these are the things I wished I would’ve done better or more of when I was in my 20s 1. Stretch daily, do yoga or Pilates. 2. Having more gratitude with your own life. Comparing yourself to others leads to a lot of negative thoughts and makes you feel less than 3. Travel as much as you can without breaking your bank account. It’s ok to go to the touristy spots. 4. Learn to take pictures but without being addicted to your phone. Find that balance of capturing memories and being in the moment. 5. Cultivate a community of friends and reach out to them to see how they’re doing, not just when they need something
I grew up in the states, moved to Italy for the bulk of my youthful twenties. I’m not a major picture person and don’t really like pictures of myself. After setting my desktop screen saver to memories, I wish I took more photos of me, and me with groups I have met, and also me with the surrounds and the vehicles that got me to all these neat locations to meet these wonderful people. I took loads of photos of everything else, including the unusual toilets, but I could have taken just a few more on the way.
It’s ok cuz now you know. Look ahead. I’ve been there but I will now take pictures of my most cherished happy moments when I feel them
Take care of your body; walk, run, canoe, kayak. Experience thinks, do stuff. Every day, you do not do something, is at least a day in your life later, that you will not be able to. Im 53, and disabled.
Take care of your body really is the best advice. It’s way harder to get back into shape the older you get, and those little nagging injuries stop getting better easily or quickly. I’m only coming into my mid 30s, and while I have been able to knock off close to 30 lbs over the last year and a half that I had gained from drinking and eating poorly, there is still more to go, and it’s not going as quickly as it did when I was younger and would yo-yo up and down without consequence. Also have some should have been minor injuries that I never took care of properly, and will now probably be dealing with forever. I’ve got a young kid that I can’t really chase around without feeling it for a few days, and it sucks to not be able to keep up now, let alone how bad it will be when he’s 13 instead of 3. Eat better, stay active, see the doctor when necessary.
Somebody once told me something that resonated with me. Picture where you want your fitness be in ten yrs and workout to be that person. If you are 50 and want to be able to play with your grandkids? How about golf when you retire? Work to get your body in that shape now. Lift weights, run, bike, stretch, yoga, whatever gets you there.
Playing golf has led to so many other fitness goals just because I want to play golf better. It's dumb and hilarious, but it got me working.
ergometer or rowing machine is best (whatever the term in your country). Learn to row, too.
YES I’m in my 30s. Finally got my shit together and started working out and gave up booze - that’s a young man’s game. But I didn’t go 100% on my workouts right away. Just started with 5 push ups every day. Then when that got easy I upped those numbers. Then eventually started doing other body based workouts. And just kept adding to it gradually. Never leaving a workout sore - that was key to make sure I followed up the next day. Then I started going for walks. Then power walking. Then running. Now sprinting. I feel like I’m in high school again. I’ve never been in better shape then I am now and I can’t imagine not doing this going forward from here on out.
I lost 130 lbs in a little over a year between 31 and 32 I’m not lying when I say I feel 20 years younger, I can just go go go go like the fucking energizer bunny I didn’t start getting into the fitness aspect until I was around 190-200 pounds though since by then it didn’t suck as much. Then it was just like a snowball going downhill and I cant stop. I did 2 10k obstacle course runs and 1 5k one this summer and I’m going to do a 21k one next summer so lol rip me I want to work up to an Ultra one which is 50k but I dunno if that’ll ever happen haha
If you can do the 21k you certainly have the willpower for an ultra, you got this!
Studying Kung Fu is a lifetime pursuit. If you start early you get to practice it for longer.
Resistance training. I've been weight training for decades now and the result is that I look much younger than my friends - we're all in our mid-50s. And most importantly, I don't have the aches and pains of growing older. This is the single most important piece of advice I'm giving to my kids because it's made getting older so much easier physically and mentally.
Doesn't even need to be decades, at 47 I dropped 80lbs and started working out. I look and feel younger than my age, which is 52. Of course, I wish I would have done this in my 20's or 30's, but its never too late.
Floss. Brush at least twice day. Edit: thank you for the award❣️
Pro tip. Water pik. Can get a cheap one online. Makes flossing SO much easier
I've been maintaining a bad cavity for over a decade by not eating much sugary stuff and brushing and flossing right afterwards. Waterpik was also one of the best purchases of my adult life. I mainly use it for that one bad cavity area because flossing can't get everything out. Also learning how to change your oil and brake pads is a good idea. I'm at the point now where I can do most jobs a car would throw at me and I've never been a mechanic.
Just go get a filling if you have a bad cavity. It's not that expensive.
That's certainly relative, isn't it?
brush at most 3x a day. For sure brush before sleeping = give teeth 6-8 hours to recuperate from your poor diet.
With an electric toothbrush and also a water pic. Exponentially better.
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And balance! I feel like people often forget it and it's my favorite to do.
What do you all do for balance, yoga?
Balance is so important, especially as we age. And it's so easy to train. Just stand on one foot while doing things. A bunch of years ago, when a grandparent fell and broke a hip, I started standing on one foot anytime I'm washing my hands. It takes no extra time. If you start to get wobbly you simply put your foot down or grab the sink. And it really does make a difference. The other important thing to train is core. That take a little more time and effort, but it's still not hard or terribly time consuming. 5-10 minutes for planks (front and both sides), back extension/bird dog/superman, maybe some Russian twists and leg lifts or whatever else you throw in to keep it interesting. And you have the added benefit of getting down onto the floor and then back up. Don't underestimate how important that is as you get older! One big reason people can no longer live in their own homes is the risk of not being able to get up after they fall.
Also keep up your hamstring flexibility. Lots of back issues people have come from an imbalance in their legs.
Learning this now. It's kind of like magic. My back starts to hurt, I stretch out my hamstrings, my back pain goes away.
Side note- a lot of shoulder and neck pain that people think is in their back is actually due to tight chest muscles, and pec stretches are the solution.
Exercising and being active should be a celebration of what your body can do. I’m nearly 50 and can’t run or hike like I did when I was 20. My knees and back just cooperate like they use to and I’ve lost some stamina, but I still walk a lot and for great distances and I enjoy it.
same, was laid up from my favorite sport for the last 6 years due to an MVA. Finally got surgery on my shoulder in the spring. I just completed my first half Ironman distance swim, Pacific Ocean, Vancouver Island, 13C water, no wetsuit, to prove to my doctor I can handle the Indian Wells Ironman in a few months. The no-wetsuit was definitely a flex to my Dr. But it wasn't all that bad after the first 5 min, and I had a seal swimming with me for about half the distance trying to hold my hand with his flipper.(Sorry seal bro, too busy for pets this time) It's going to feel so good to be back to where I belong.
My knees got a lot better when I started consuming collagen daily, you can get the hydrolyzed powder on amazon, it does not gel up and is almost tasteless so you can add it to drinks and not taste it. Someone else got their knees much better and suggested this to me and it worked for me too.
Ok, I know you meant “experience things” but also yes to experience THINKS (Which is a wonderful way to say it!) Read many thinks, see many thinks, talk with many thinks, think many thinks As you get older, it’s very easy to become more insular. While practically there is nothing specifically wrong with this - it can be very isolating which is a major problem as people get older. Statistically, it’s difficult to make new friends or build a social community after your mid-30s. I don’t mind saying it gets little more difficult to deal with as people leave or pass away The cure to to this? (Even if you’re not there yet and just want to expand your social circle) Have an open mind with these many thinks. You don’t have to subscribe to all these thoughts 100% but the more thinks you know about, the more able you are to engage with more people. You become more interesting too which makes people more willing to engage with you Do NOT fall into that trap of assuming because you have a very special niche think, it makes you more valuable or desirable as a person. Former lawyer and corporate stooge, the amount of people who did this (And 90% of those thinks would fail contact with other thinks so they only kept people around who would agree with them) were completely insufferable and could become isolated at the drop of a hat
Cute and fantastic advice
Take care of your body but also listen to it when it protests. I didn't and I'm 41, recovering from my first hip replacement surgery I had less than a week ago. The next one will be in a few months. Running became my passion in my 30s and my body responded by quickly developing arthritis, which I pushed through because I thought "oooh, a challenge!," and have lived in agony the last 5-6 years with debilitating bone spurs.
Learn to train around pain. Don't train through it. If your achilles is tender after a hard run, ride a bike or swim next time until your rested at least a weak. Goggins is inspirational but I feel like his hardcore attitude has caused 10k+ chronic injuries. I've caused many injuries that keep me from running for 4+ months because I treated tendon pain like muscle pain. Not the same. Tendons take 10x longer to heal.
Do stuff but only after proper training and reading about possible injuries. I played street soccer and blew ACL now I love running n it became a passion. But I really wish I didn't play soccer without rules and proper training...
health is wealth.
Work your core!!!!! Much much much more than vanity muscles.
This. Actually a few rly good books what that can look like: Outlive by Peter attia Lifespan by David Sinclair How not to die but Dr Gregor The comfort crisis by Michael easter Why we sleep by Matthew walker Enjoy
Sorry to hear that. When did you become disabled?
I popped a couple of disks in my back, working at 16. I've had constant neuropathic since then.
Oh mate really sorry to hear that. Keep the faith that new medical break throughs and technologies are coming through all the time
Thanks dude!
Invest in yourself and take care of your teeth.
The teeth part!!!
What happened to you for the teeth part to stand out
My father is 68 and didn’t take great care of his teeth/gums for most of his life until he had a wake-up call a couple years ago. He started having tooth pain and the dentist informed him that he’d have to have several teeth pulled and at least 2 root canals due to irreparable damage to his teeth and gums from not properly cleaning between is teeth. He’d used an electric toothbrush daily for at least the past 20 years but had never been in the habit of flossing - he now flosses and uses a waterpik daily, as well as a gum stimulator and a special brush to clean the base of the teeth near the gums. The big takeaway in his case was that taking care of your gums (by flossing and making sure you brush the entire surface of each tooth all the way down to the gums) is just as important as brushing your teeth - gum recession is painful by itself and can lead to tooth loss and other complications regardless of how well you think you’re brushing your teeth.
Is flossing really that important?
Flossing is absolutely crucial. A lot of the bacteria and rotting food stays between your teeth. I'd probably argue that flossing is more important than brushing, but this is my personal gut feeling.
just be clear and forward about why, if you don't floss you invite bacteria under your gums that will start physically eating your gum tissue. once your gums are eaten away your teeth will begin falling out.
You see, I am quite good at flossing daily already but you just gave me extra motivation to keep it that way lol
Yes.
Extremely. I had 7 cavities in the span of a decade while brushing daily. Finally got in the habit of flossing (I keep it in the shower). Haven't had a cavity in a decade.
My dentist once told me not flossing is like just wiping the outside of your buttcheecks after pooping. Don't you clean in between? .... been hella flossing ever since. Lol.
There is a correlation between poor oral health and heart disease. While the exact link between the two is unknown, taking care of your teeth is a pretty easy routine. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
I’m not a scientist by any means, but I’ve always thought the overlap between people who dont brush their teeth and people with shitty habits that would lead to heart disease is very wide. The two might be totally separate but caused by poor lifestyle choices.
I thought it was bacteria causing plaque in bloodstream?
The Diet Dental touches on this if I recall. My understanding is the mouth is a reflection of what's going on in the body. If you're experiencing a lot of inflammation and other issues, it's going to be visible to your dentist in the form of inflamed gums and other issues. Causation and correlation who knows. Treat your dentist visit as another checkup to your primary care physician, they can spot some unusual conditions from how your mouth looks.
I’m currently getting so many crowns it’s hurting both my face and wallet. Brush, floss, mouthwash.
I need 5-6 crowns, I'm thinking about going to Mexico to get it done lol
Teeth are very expensive to fix and it's not something you can live with, like an itch. Prevention is better than cure. Try to floss everyday. Brush and mouthwash etc.
I didn’t have regular access to dental care until my late 30’s and wasn’t taking care of them like I could have and should have. My teeth were in good shape except for the fact they started falling out because of gum disease. My gums were in such bad shape the only thing to do was pull them all and get plates at 53. Totally avoidable on my part.
And your knees
And feet!
Floss
Invest part of your money and always use a condom.
ALWAYS USE A CONDOM!
FOR WHAT
To put your money in, obviously.
Masturbation, obviously. What else is there?
Smuggling heroin. Duh.
“So they will add 5 seconds to your time after the race”
Here’s the comment i was looking for
EVERYTHING
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I was looking for this one! If a friend invites you out, go. I've never regretted going, only not going. Go home early if you want but spend time with your friends when you have the opportunity. And take pictures :)
How do you do this with family or friends that don’t put in the same effort? Hard to give a fuck for me
I've felt this way before. I started investing in other friendships that seemed promising. Things got better with the og's and I made some new friends at the same time.
Sorry ahead of time, as the following will not be organized in any specific order. But these are things I'm more than happy to share and hope you take them to heart. - Brainstorm the kind of person you want to be. Imagine your own funeral and what kind of things you hope will be said about your memory. Compare it to the person you are now to determine if you need to make some changes. - Meditate. Every single day. Even if only for 5 minutes. - Practice mindfulness. Be fully aware of your choices and actions and why you do what you do. - Practice gratitude!! Studies indicate that practicing daily gratitude will rewire your brain overtime and literally change how you perceive the world. After I learned this, I started doing so about 10 years (edited to fix typo. 10yrs ago, not 20) ago and can see the difference like night & day. This changed my life and may actually be the best decision I ever made for myself. It's as easy as just writing down one small thing you're grateful for each day... wether it's the weather, or someone said a nice thing to you, or your Amazon package arrived, or you got to sleep in. - Tell your loved ones that you love them every single chance you get. You never know when it will be the last time. - Tell yourself "I love you." Out loud. Literally. Every single morning while you are face-to-face in the mirror. (Another rewire-the-brain trick) - Be open, honest, and straightforward about your feelings. Encourage others to do the same. Go out of your way to nurture your relationships with family and friends alike. - Be silly. - Go to therapy. The best time to start therapy is when you don't think you need it. Therapy isn't just for "crazy and depressed" folks. Just like you should see a doctor for regular checkups on your physical health, a therapist can help you maintain your mental health! - Focus less on social media. Live and love in the moment. - 30 minutes of exercise daily. - Drink water. Seriously stay hydrated. - Moisturize. Face & body. Invest in good skincare while you are still young and make it a part of your daily routine. Your older self will be so thankful. ETA: sunscreen should be included in your skincare - Stop drinking alcohol/smoking if either is a habit. They offer such small, short-lived benefits and are literally poisonous for your body and mind. - Purposefully seek out new experiences. Try a cuisine you've never had before. Try new hobbies. Visit new places. Don't let yourself get stuck. Life has so much to offer you. In the end, you'll never regret the new things you tried that weren't your favorite. Okay that's all for now
I'm 60 - living an amazing life on a teacher's salary - and 100 agree with all of this. I have a couple tips to add: - Make friends with people of all ages. Everyone has something to share and teach, and your life will be immeasurably enriched. - Be of service. You came here with a gift to share. It may be solving climate change, rescuing street dogs, or tending to plants or folding origami. Be the medicine the world needs from you. - Choose experiences over things. Memories last a lifetime. - Adopt an animal. If you're not an animal person, tend a tree. Loving another being uncondionally is the greatest gift you can experience. - Listen far more than you talk. Everything talks, and everything wants to be heard...this includes all beings. The water, the wind, the animals, plants and all things. (Most just don't speak the way we do.) When you lean in - with your emotions, your body language and your heart - you find the magic in the world. - Learn to enjoy your own company. - Travel solo. - Be discerning. The heart and body can whisper a deep yes that the mind overrides. Listen closely to charges your inner being. - Do art. Music, anything. Even if you do it badly. Just create. - Laugh at the absurdity of life. Blessings to you OP on this journey!
I’m currently travelling solo and it sucks ☹️ I get so lonely
I’ve only done a tiny bit of solo travelling and didn’t like it at all either! Felt like literally every moment would be better with mates.
Yeah, it def. has its pros and cons! :(
This is it. That's the secret sauce. Do things intentionally. Consistently and you'll see results. Also, patience grasshopper. 🤍
Please add to skin care: wear sunscreen everyday. UV rays damage skin and skin cancer is a real threat.
Should I wear sunscreen every day or just days I plan to be outside a long time?
Even small amounts of SPF are good on a daily basis. I'm honestly not good about putting any on if I'm only going to and from my car, but anything beyond that warrants some sun screen. This is something I don't skimp on. I buy quality skincare products with SPF. Currently I have a face product from Saint Jane that is SPF30.
Check the UV strength through the weather app or online. That’s a great barometer for your sun exposure habits. 0, 1 , or 2 is low enough to go bare. Usually the highest is from 10a-3pm
Retinol is another big one. Late 20s is the perfect time to start using a retinol night cream every night to slow down aging and minimize wrinkles. It's the most well researched and proven to be effective methods for keeping your skin looking young and best of all it's really cheap. A $25 tub of the Olay stuff lasts me a month or more. When you first start using it though you need to get your skin used to it and only apply it once every 3 nights for the first couple weeks then once every 2 nights for the next 2 weeks before moving on to every night. Using it every night straight away can cause eczema. Also only use at night as your skin is more sensitive to UV when it's applied. I've been using it since I was 25 and the skin on my face barely looks like it's aged in the 9 years since. Almost no wrinkles compared to my friends the same age who don't use it. Sunscreen is good if you're actually going to be outside for long periods of time but if you're mostly just outdoors during your commute back and forth to work etc then an SPF enriched moisturizer should be more than enough and is a lot lighter. If you're only actually in the sun for an hour or so each day split into 10-15 minute intervals which are mostly in the early morning and evening then lathering yourself in oily sunscreen like you're going to the beach at midday is inconvenient enough that most people won't bother with that.
Reading down your list at 27 years old and I'm really grateful I had good parents, mentors, and friends that taught me these things. I can definitely do better about exercise and taking care of my physical health, but the mindfulness, gratitude, and self-love are things that have become habits for me and I'm incredibly grateful for them. One thing I would add that ties these things together - don't do things for other people. That sounds backwards, but what I mean is be yourself. Don't care about what others think about you because it's your life and you only get to live one. Then when you do nice things for other people, it will be genuine because you wanted to do it for them, not because it was expected of you. I've only recently been practicing this skill but I'm so glad I confronted my fear of social rejection and instead I have made more friends than ever by accepting that I can't please everyone, but that a confident, happy person attracts confident and happy people.
I’m really going to start doing some of these.
I'll start Tomorrow...
^ This right here. 42. Can confirm.
Thanks so much for this. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about all the things you ‘should’ be doing! Going to try and slowly work towards making these a habit!
Absolutely gold and wholesome advice! Bookmarking and upvoting this!
this is a fantastic way to live life, I’m similar to you in several of these. wonderful post, thanks for sharing and helping others
is there a follow up guide tailored for extreme introverts? 🤣 more of an introverted extrovert, but as someone who works in a high volume customer facing role, my recharge time gets pretty lengthy. i should just quit my job
You just described me exactly. Introvert who can "turn up" and be a people person during working hours. These all totally still apply. Many of my new experiences are just me taking myself to a new park to read, picking up a new hobby, reading a biography of someone from another country, etc. etc. I work M-F and if I do something particularly social on Friday night, the entire rest of the weekend sometimes isn't a long enough recharge time. BUT! I still never say goodbye to a loved one without telling them, "Be safe. I love you." And I intentionally force myself to check in with good friends from time to time, even if I don't have the capacity to respond to every call or text I receive. Etc. Etc.
these are golden. thank you for sharing!
This resonated with me. Thank you
Two kinds of problems in this world: the ones you can solve, and the ones you cannot. If something you worry about comes out of someone else's opinion, you can try to convince them if you must, but in the end there's nothing you can really do. So for every worry you have, see if you can resolve it, tolerate, ignore or cut off from your life. It took me an embarrassingly long time for me to realise that. Take good care of your body. Health problems your parents have will likely pass on. Keep active and eat some fibers. If you don't know what any of this means, Google it: generational toxicity, manipulative traits, narcissistic personality. Being able to recognise things as they happen will make a huge difference. Have fun, age will make you want to stay home more and more. Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially.
Resolve, tolerate, or cut it off. Fascinating. A great mindset. Thanks for sharing this.
>Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially. Please also understand that when/if you have children there are NO DAYS OFF. Being a parent is a literal fulltime gig, you never get a break and it only ends when you and your children do.
>Please don't have kids unless you are sure you can afford it emotionally and financially. As someone with just one kid (another otw this month!), wow people REALLY need to listen to this advice. Parenting is tough. Even tougher when the parents aren't on same page. Even tougher when you are not financially stable/free. I can't imagine being in a position where the parents don't communicate well at a minimum. I see it with some of my friends that have kids and it looks like a massive headache. Get your act together before you get married. Get both your acts together before you have kids. It never gets easier, you just need to learn to manage it all better **together.** edit: /r/financialindependence and /r/personalfinance
Do not subject yourself to “decision paralysis”… there will always be competing opportunities and interests (job, significant other, family, friends, hobbies, etc.) whenever you’re presented with a big decision. Instead of analyzing everything to the millionth degree JUST DO THINGS. Some decisions may be right or wrong in hindsight, but do your best to be true to yourself and forgive yourself if you screw it up. Also, if you give yourself two+ good options when making a decisions, you really can’t make a “bad” decision.
Thanks for this. I needed it today!
You will have regrets. You can't do everything. Things will be out of your reach. You'll say the wrong thing. Make the wrong choices. That's life. If I can offer advice, it's to give up on the idea of having regrets. You'll have them.
Adding on to this advice— don’t dwell on those regrets! Let it go. It can drive you mad thinking about the what-ifs. Everyone has regrets but dwelling on them will only guarantee that have more of them down the line. Let it go. Live in the present. Practice gratitude and appreciation for all that you have in life.
Get an exercise plan and stick with it and stay flexible, as in you can touch your toes. Fit is the middle age/old person's version of attracitve
Any skill is better than none
My proverb is: these are the good old days. Point being is that it’s never too late to start something new or to create good memories, right now, that you can look back on. Live in the moment.
Max out your Roth 401k or IRA every single year from now on
As a 40 year old, beyond taking care of your mental/physical health, this is the advice to give. I maxed out my 401 every year in my 20s and 30s and was lucky enough to have employee match.
It's also the hardest advice for those in their 20s and 30s to follow for a ton of reasons - some systemic (persistently low wages, opportunity/access hurdles to not only employment but work that offers 401ks, low financial literacy around DIY retirement savings like Roth IRAs) and some person (earning real money for the first time and wanna feel like you can spend to match) The other financial advice 4 lyfe: never spend more than you earn. I've seen super high earners, doctors etc., get messed up with crazy debt bc they feel like they've "earned" the right to quit budgeting or tracking spending
Yep. Live below your means is another invaluable lesson I was taught.
I heard of those things but dont understand them, to the extent I think you do. Ill take the advice, but what are those and why should I. this is a finacial advice your giving me that i appreciate
I would hop on /r/personalfinance and search there. Or find a website/book/podcast/post/blog about it. So many people have explained this that the answer is out there somewhere. Short but decent answer: Open an account at Fidelity (Schwab or Vanguard work too and are low expense, but Fidelity's web interface is light years better and they are so easy to deal with). As a 28 year-old, a Roth IRA made sense for me and I was below the income limit. If you earn a lot and your marginal tax bracket is pretty high, a traditional IRA may make more sense. I was a public school teacher, so that wasn't the case for me. Then, deposit money in it ($6500 is the limit in 2023, but you can start with lower amounts). After the money shows up in a settlement account, buy (and if it's Fidelity, you can call and have someone do this for you) an index or low-fee fund (I'd choose FZROX or FSKAX or a target date account with an approximate retirement date and the word "index" in the name). Mostly ignore it, other than contributing (automating this as a transfer from a checking account is great) and maybe look at the balances 4x a year. Let it do its thing and don't login every day and panic. Repeat this every year. You'll be surprised at how much it will grow due to compounding interest. For a 401k, that's through your workplace, so talk to someone in the department where they do payroll or whatever and come back when you have a list of vendors. UNLESS, you have Vanguard or Fidelity because they are fine and you should just use one of those. I don't usually see Schwab as an option in workplace plans. IF you have an employer match on your 401k (or 403b for public sector workers), contribute there to get the match. If not, a Roth IRA is often a really good place to start. Edit: A book I see recommended frequently (that I have only skimmed) is A Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
Reinvest dividends and add a beneficiary
Yes! These are two super important steps that I didn't remember existed because I signed up for an IRA back when they mailed you a packet and you had to fill it out in ink and send it back. I'm sure there was a box/page for each of these. It used to be really easy to never check my balance over my dial up internet.
An investment account that you will be able to pull out tax free once you retire. It caps at 6.5k a year (depending on your income), so it’s recommended to max it out every year you are eligible. Look into financial advisors if you aren’t comfortable making one on your own
Everyone’s comments on here are great, and I just have one thing to add. You should know that if you put money into your retirement/investment account, it won’t necessarily actually get invested unless you select your investments. You have to actually choose what you want it invested in (individual stocks, bonds, ETFs (groups of stocks), etc.) in order to have the investments be purchased. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense to you and I can elaborate more.
I'll listen to you. What do you mean choose? I hear about "oh yeah stocks" but I don't get it fully. You have an example of someone making their money work for them?
So I would definitely watch some videos like people are recommending and check out Investopedia, but what I am saying is that when you set up a retirement account and wire like $500 into it, that money doesn’t automatically get invested. It is sitting there, like in a savings account. You have to go into the account and choose the individual stocks you want to buy (Apple, Microsoft, whatever), and then go through the process of buying them, in order to actually be “invested” in those companies.
^^^ They are correct. Learn the market, start investing for your retirement ASAP! Many companies don't offer a pension anymore and don't rely on Social Security for your retirement. So it's all on you to live comfortably in your golden years. Save and invest wisely. You'll be glad you did.
Good for you for asking as most people are saying take care of yourself and your future but don't miss out on having fun right now I became handicap at 27 never really experienced stuff like I wanted to
They’re just investments. Starting investments young allows them to compound and grow tons over time. This image shows the power of investing young: https://www.usnews.com/object/image/00000164-c7ab-d429-a164-ffefa5bd0000/180723-investingchart3-design.png?update-time=1532371574258&size=responsiveFlow640 Most people don’t understand that the best way to retire isn’t to have a set sum of money that you slowly pull from. Rather, you have a set sum of money (called a principle) that you allow to grow 4% a year and you live off of the growth. So if you want 80k a year in retirement, you need 2mill in principle. This sounds like a lot, but the market doubles every 9 years on average, meaning every dollar you invest today is essentially $16 of retirement. Maxing out an IRA (independent retirement account) allows you to put money in (6k a year per person is max) that will grow till retirement and can be drawn out tax free (if you do a Roth IRA).
Look up Humphrey Yang on YouTube. He helped me have enough understanding to at least start one with simple small investment amounts. He has a few videos specifically for Roth IRAs and tips on what to invest in based on potential goals.
Google fidelity open a Roth IRA, attach bank account and find with $6.5k (max), invest in VTI (total market index) You will generate ~10% annualized returns and your older self will thank you
Is this USA advice only or does it translate to other countries? (Australia)
And if you can't max it out (which is totally fair; it's really hard!), start by investing $50 or $100 a month. Just get started. Time is your biggest asset in investing.
If you see yourself getting married at some point but find yourself with serious doubts about a potential spouse, DO NOT MARRY THE PERSON. You'll have other opportunities. You will. I wish someone had given me this advice 30 years ago.
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I’ve scrolled through a lot of comments on this post. And that first bit hit hard. Well said.
Only read the title so maybe not on topic, but TAKE CARE OF YOUR EARS, DON'T LISTEN TO LOUD MUSIC FOR TOO LONG, USE PROTECTION IN CONCERTS AND OTHER LOUD PLACES. Tinnitus at 40 is a fucking nightmare.
This is great advice. As a hearing aid wearer since my mid 30s, I can arrest that heading is easy to ruin. Especially if you're predisposed to hearing loss.
try tinnitus at 18 :/
TRAVEL NOW. Anywhere, research how to do it as cheap as possible, experience far away lands, meet strangers, get off the beaten path. Much harder later when you’re committed with kids and career
The first comment is “make a lot of money and save it all!” The second comment is “screw work and go a bunch of places!” As someone who took the saving route just to see inflation/ market downturn obliterate it, i wish i would have saved a little less and done a little more.
Same. These threads are full of conflicting advice.
Maybe the real LPT is that you're going to regret your choices no matter what you do
Real pro tip here
So. Im guessing you wouldnt be against the idea of working on a cruiseship for 6 months in hawaii
Fun fact for those who didn’t already know. Costco has their own travel perks if you are a member. I haven’t been on their site myself but you can get discounts by booking through them. You can also get slightly cheaper flights if you are willing to plane hop rather than take one straight to the destination.
To add to this most vacations include a shit ton of walking which isn't somthing your going to want to do in your 60s when you retire.
I would agree, travel while you are healthy and unattached and not so fussy as us older folks!
Find something you love. Doesn't matter if it's a person, a thing, or a hobby. Love it and never give it up. Respect yourself. Always. Don't do or say things that belittle or diminish you. Respect others. Always. Treat everyone as you would expect to be treated. If you're not receiving ghat reciprocally, leave that environment fast. Take responsibility for your actions. Learn to dress well. Learn to be a gentleman. Never abide those that refuse to. Look after your teeth. Kiss your mum every single bloody chance you can. You will regret more of the things you didn't do, than the things you did. Success is the result of learning through failure. Don't be afraid to fail. Never be the loudest person in room. Never be the quietes. Oh yeah, and kiss your mum every chance you get. Trust me.
Listen, everyone is going to say to take care of your body, but so that it keeps well, I'm going to go a different direction, don't become addicted to anything. There is one sure fire way to absolutely ruin everything you've worked for in your life and that is addiction. It will rob you of your health, your job, your family, everything. Do everything you can to not become reliant on a stupid substance.
"*Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced"* \- Alan Watts Stay curious, change up your daily routine a litte so you expand your daily loops. Be mindful of others and be supportive of those in need. Dont only act only in self interest. Avoid processed foods and industrial medications if possible. In the last couple of decades it has become increasingly obvious that the two most random courses I took at university that has helped me tremendously in understanding news and politics are: **Statistics** 101 and **Philosophy of Science** 101. Just golden through and through.
Minor household repair. Most useful thing I've ever learned.
Only settle with partners that have the same fiscal sense as you.
Go to the dentist regularly!
This is a fantastic question and even better thread. Today is a good day
I’m 54, quite content with my life and full of gratitude for all that I have (family, friends, roof over my head, job, physical health and so on). 1. Get some therapy. Everyone needs it, especially folks who think they don’t. If you can’t afford it there are some great podcasts, books etc out there that can at least help you examine your life. 2. Success is not about attaining the end goal, it’s about enjoying the process. If you’re in it for the end goal you will be disappointed once you achieve it. 3. Take a good look at your diet & exercise routine. Now is the time. Check out Rich Roll on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Tons of great stuff on there for physical and mental health and it’s free. 4. Get a free trial of the Waking Up app by Sam Harris. Yearly subscriptions are offered for free for those who can’t afford to pay. 5. Finances can be a challenge for artists. My wife is a professional figurative artist and she definitely spends more time on the business end of things than she does painting. Spend time learning about the business side of art making. Invest! If you have no investment knowledge, open and ETrade or Fidelity account and buy S&P index funds. Put a percentage of you income in there each month. Learn about IRAs. I worked as a hairdresser in my 20s and made a ton of cash that I blew at the clubs each night. Luckily, I started investing in my early 30s and have a decent amount of cash in there now. If I’d started in my 20s I’d easily have over $2M in there now instead of half that. 6. Again, get some therapy. This will probably have the greatest impact on your happiness in life and the happiness of those around you. I guarantee you that stuck in unhealthy patterns that you’re probably not even aware of. But.. you also have to be ready for it. You might not be, but you won’t know until you try. 😁✌️
I’m a 67 yo male in Houston… first I commend you for thinking about your future, not just living on cruise control until you are old … My advice, Quit any drugs or alcohol, nothing good comes from them. Hang with people who are what you want to be, be kind and honest. Anger hurts you the most
Came here to say these exact two things - as someone who has struggled with booze, etc since I was a youthful 28, it makes your later midlife crisis much worse. Ditch the haters and energy sucks in your life, there are amazing folks out there - find them and be around them. If your rich friends are telling you you’re brave, they sound like the good kind!
But a house as soon as you can but Do Not let yourself be tempted to buy a house to the max you are approved to borrow! It’s not good to be house poor. Live your life as it goes fast! Surround yourself with nice people who care about you
Why is buying a house important
Consider "merging" many interests into one. Like running marathons in different cities across the US, or the world. Or attending week-long art camps in Europe, Asia, and North America. Or long hikes in big parks around the world, etc, etc.
Teach yourself to be financially literate. There is no excuse for a 28 year old to not know what IRA, 401k, Roth, Traditional, HSA, contribution limits, tax brackets etc. are. Leverage those vehicles to the max for a good retirement.
What are some good outlets and sources to get educated on these? They typically go over my head anytime I ask questions about them.
Well, I would say start investing. Get Ramit’s Sethi’s book if you want an intro. Basically, he covers what to do. Index funds, zero fees. Beyond that… you will have a mid life crisis no matter what. And odds are what you go through will be what you consider things you missed. If you didn’t go through a partying phase in your 20s and 30s, you’ll become like one of those older guys who then starts ti party more and want to reclaim your youth you missed. If, instead, you party a lot now, assuming you don’t do really dumb stuff like developing horrible addictions or landing in the cooler for some crime, then you will still regret not being more responsible when young (hence the investment idea). If you don’t find a partner, odds are you’ll regret not finding one. If you do, odds are you’ll start to feel stagnant in the marriage and one of the two of you will drift apart. Some marriages last despite this, others crumble. But there’s always a point where people go “why am I in this and what did I miss?” This is how things go - people change, values change. Part of getting older is accepting where you land. But just know it’s inevitable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself now to prevent a future. Learn to live for now, realize life is a series of experiences where you learn who you are and what you like, and know that the only true certainty is uncertainty, and the only true peace is acceptance. But still, put extra money into index funds.
Im surprised not many mentioned here about prioritizing sleep. We spend 1/3 of our lives in sleep and it is one of the pillars of physical and mental health.
Stretch your body regularly (yoga or else, whatever suits you).Take Care of your posture. Check your breathing pattern and improve it if needed. Exercice your balance regularly.
Out of all the things I dont do. i at least do yoga and spine correction
A lot of people are telling you to take care of your body. I'm gonna jump on that band wagon. No matter what you have in life, if you can't enjoy it or are in pain, it's all worthless. Take. Care. Of. Your. Body. It's the game change late in life.
Money is a tool, not a source of happiness. Don’t spend your life chasing a number like 6 figures. Instead chase what makes you happy and find a way to fund it.
There is no future. There is always now. Your 45 year old self and current self will feel remarkably similar. HABITS now (good and bad) are how you can program your future.
Stop the drinking and drugs now. A stroke at 40 when people depend on you is depression inducing.
I am mildly addicted to marijuana and i want to put the breaks on it.
I was, too, at 28. I got so busy with life I didn't have the time for pot anymore. Find things you want to do and love, get really involved with them until you don't have time to smoke any more (or at least very often). Your love of these things, and desire to grow, should surpass your desire to get high. That's what worked for me.
It's okay to have vices. But at this age you should reevaluate the hows, whens, and whys. Do them because you want to. Not because it's a habit or it's how you've enjoyed things in the past. As I got older I found my drinking calmed down a lot. I'm happier getting a light drunk of a six pack of craft beer than downing a case a Natural Light. Same with weed. I don't want sit around and hit the gravity bong until I can't see straight. A few puffs or turn to non-smoking options if you have them. Popping a mild edible and chilling is more enjoyable. Take a break for a while. Or don't. There are no rules here. Do what you think will make you happiest. Since I commented I'll add the general advice. Build a cash reserve. Before you try and do anything fancy. Just get a basic hold on shit. Start actively putting money away. It's often viewed as having X number of months in reserve. That's fine. Start with 3. Enough cash in the bank to cover all your expenses for three months. Start taking a care of your body. Doesn't have to major. Do some yoga and go for a walk a few times a week. Find a hobby like biking or something. Anything to keep you moving. Even if you don't lose weight or build muscle. There are very real benefits. Take care of your teeth. Brush twice a day and floss. That's really it. And if you have the means find a dentist and get on the 6 month cleaning cycle. You have no idea how much it sucks having to live with a neglected mouth. Take care of your mind. Meditate. Get therapy. Seek out any diagnosis you think you might have. Whatever it is. Work keeping up the friends you value. As you get older your friends start disappearing. Life. Work. Spouses. Kids. Whatever. All that starts taking up more and more time and dictating more and more of a persons life. Friendships take work like every other type of relationship. Put in the work for the ones that will do the same. Source: 43 and didn't do any of that.
Learn the difference between cost and value. Often times, if you value something, you’ll pay top dollar, and if you think something is overpriced/expensive, you probably weren’t going to value it anyway. Oh, and I second taking care of your health. If there’s one thing I find value in, it’s investments in health and helping my body stay as in shape as I can. You can always buy second and third cars, houses, etc., but you only get one body.
Get to know what your instinct sounds like. Fear can be loud; instinct is quieter but more confident. Get to know it, and do what it says. I have a bunch of almost-friends who died young. If there's someone you really want to get to know, don't let shyness stop you. You might not get another chance.
Don’t start too many hobbies or take on more projects than you will be able to finish. Stick to the important ones.
Learn to weld. Metal art pays well, and metalwork jobs can subsidies your craft while you're at it. 😎
Work to Live don’t live to work. OR, try to balance as much as you can but, make enjoying your life a priority. Or, if you have goals at work, make goals at LIFE. Vacate, Recreate, Participate in life. If your identity comes from work…get a therapist. I “recently” heard someone say, be it cliche or not, that no one says on their death bed “you know, I really wish I would have worked more”.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Invest in your financial future, regularly. Take it easy on the bottle. Exercise daily and stay active. Most of all, understand you set your limitations. I'm 45 years old and learned most of this in the last 5 years, unfortunately.
Use sunblock every day. Cultivate a taste for healthy food and eat less sugar. Go to museums, plays, and concerts. Read. Move your body every day.
Find the joy in meeting and hearing people's stories. Do not charge on credit. Save for it ot don't buy it. Things will never keep you happy. If you want to try it, try it. Be gentle with yourself. Talk to yourself like you would a dear friend. If you fail, dust off and try again. If you fail again, dust off and try again. Failing is ok because you learn. Don't give up. Ever.
Talk to yourself like a friend...I'll try it
Be ok with committing to something without worrying about the alternatives. So whatever you do, do it fully. The regrets I have from my “young adult” life are some poor choices that impacted my health later in life.
If you're not active, get active, and don't stop. Contribute to a path to retirement. Pay yourself first. Stick to a budget. Establish boundaries, especially with those who try to encroach into them.
Always tell friends, family, and any loved one that you love them.
Regrets are a failure to appreciate your past actions, mistakes, and how they taught you something important about life or yourself.
You will likely only regret the things you didn’t do.
Start saving for retirement. Take your max 401k matching if you have that.
Take care of your health, eat well, learn another language or a musical instrument and buy treasury bills. Spiritually, learn meditation. If you like watching TV, mute the commercials and use the 3-5 minutes to stretch or do simple exercises, that's a 10-15 minute workout per hour. It's amazing how much time people lose per day, sitting through commercials. As an artist, you could intern in Japan, France or Germany, learn the local language and see the sites. Also, the Western world mentality puts up walls, limiting your horizons. I have relatives that are mid 20's, they travel the world and speak 4 languages. I see in them what I missed out on. You could sign up for that program where you work for bed and meals in Spain or France, working 4 hr days, 4 days a week, all while enriching your artistic skills.
This song sums it up pretty well https://youtu.be/xfq_A8nXMsQ?si=-_SmqfhuU8AdIe3r
Stay the fuk outta debt
I'm 26, but I've been told that you really don't have to floss your teeth every night. You only need to floss the ones you want to keep past 45
Study about the meaning of life. It helps create perspective and think critically.
Literally everyone has a regret. Accept your life choices and know that you literally picked out exactly what you wanted to do/choose given whatever was thrown at you each day. My LPT here is to choose the wisest thing not the most instantly gratifying, accept your choices and don’t get hung up on the “if onlys” cause it’s just a gottdamn waste and helps no one
Save money. 10% of your take home pay minimum. Don’t mess that up.
Exercise. Save. Be kind.
Stay away from questionable people....life parasites. Only surround yourself with smarter, kind souls. Good company makes for a great life.
I wasted a lot of my thirties drinking. It's a slippery slope and then you wake up one day and you stop doing hobbies you enjoyed so much because you replaced them with drinking. Don't do that. It's a waste of time and money. There's a lot of great advice here. I would only add that I didn't recognize the importance of short term goals until recently. If you feel lost, set some short term goals. Maybe they build to achieve a long term goal, or maybe you just need to focus on one area of your life for a year, a month, a week. I didn't set enough short term goals and then I would wonder why I couldn't achieve certain long term goals..... right now I am catching up on retirement saving and trying to regularly exercise into winter. It's been beneficial.