“You Think You Have Time”: 30 Things To Take Seriously, As Shared By Older Netizens

Age before beauty is a pretty old saying, old enough to go ahead of beauty itself if you will, but it’s a bit of wisdom that is perhaps too often overlooked. The truth is, we have a lot we can learn from older folks if we actually sit down and listen.

Someone asked “Older people of Reddit: What ISN’T BS? What’s absolutely worth leaning into?” and aged netizens gave their best answers. So perhaps take at least a few notes, it might save you some pain down the road. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite suggestions, and comment your own ideas below.

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Regular exercise is hugely important for quality of life. The older you get the stronger the effect. Lack of exercise ages like nothing else.

SnooConfections6085 , Julia Larson Report

Final score:

66points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

And swimming is the best! No impact on the knee joints. No unpleasant sweat. No overheating. Negates gravity for those with spine problems.

21points

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You meet very few people in your life you *actually* really connect with. Make sure you keep in touch with them.

Embarrassed_Bar_1215 , Matt Barnard Report

Final score:

66points

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Starry starry night 1 year ago

I am calling my bestie now

6points

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The problem is...you think you have time.

Life is very short. When you're young and the days and years seem long, you think life will last forever. That is a trick. You cannot buy more time. Stop wasting it on c**p like being on your phone, arguing over piddly things, being hateful or angry. You're wasting your precious time, and none of that matters in the end.

Learn to let go of the BS and be grateful for your time.

PinkOutLoud , Martin Péchy Report

Final score:

57points

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Not-a-Clue (she/her) 1 year ago

"And then one day you find 10 years have gone behind you. No one told you when to run. You missed the starting gun" 🎶

14points

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Stretching. The answer is abso-f*****g-lutly stretching... and water.

thomasque72 , Cliff Booth Report

Final score:

57points

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Alison M. 1 year ago

I'm guilty of not stretching. I have a 10 month old and all the bending and lifting takes a toll on you.

8points

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Education.

If you do a search for "education" all you ever hear is how lousy the system is. Who cares. Do whatever you can to educate yourself. It doesn't even matter whether you get good grades or not. Just learn stuff. Read books. Knowing how to do something is always better than not knowing anything about it. Even Latin and Trigonometry.

"Only the educated are free" --Epictetus

PaulsRedditUsername Report

Final score:

55points

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Michael Largey 1 year ago

I met a former student at a wedding, and he said to me "Hey, you know how often I use that trig stuff you taught me?" I knew he had not gone to college so I braced myself, I said "I don't know. How often?" "About every minute and a half", he replied. He was a tool and dye maker.

21points

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Management isn’t for everyone… know when to stop climbing the corporate ladder.

sixty_cycles , Jonathan Borba Report

Final score:

54points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

The Peter Principle is when people get promoted to a job beyond their ability. Then they make everyone below them miserable.

13points

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Staying active in retirement...both physically and socially. You retire and sit...you die.

GoHerd1984 , Vlada Karpovich Report

Final score:

53points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

And the exercise is the key to pain reduction as it stimulates production of endorphins.

4points

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Just remember, if someone offers you a breath mint, take it!

bigb1084 , wirestock Report

Final score:

52points

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Kangaroo Ratz 1 year ago

because your breath stinks or just to be polite?

8points

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Avoid debt. Very few things are worth going into debt for.

dmbgreen , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Final score:

50points

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Jayjay 1 year ago

If you want to feed your children or elderly parents, sometimes you don't have a choice.

13points

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#10

Live below your means.

Princess_Jade1974 , La-Rel Easter Report

Final score:

50points

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Julius Zuke 1 year ago

This one is so important. Never had a new car until I was 43, never had a reliable car (Toyota!) until I was 59. Still live in the tiny rowhouse we bought when we were married four decades ago. Didn't care what other people had or thought. It all paid off big time. Now retired, we are debt free, come and go as we please, go to the gym, take trips on cruise ships and the senior citizens' tour buses, and enjoy everything produced by two local dinner theaters. Added bonus: less to clean out of the attic and basment. Stuff doesn't make you happy. Experiences and the memories they create are priceless!

23points

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#11

The best day to plant a fruit tree was years ago, but the next best time to plant one is today.

dougramz , Alfo Medeiros Report

Final score:

47points

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R.A. Haley 1 year ago

Somebody planted an oak years ago at my new house. I had to pay to have the enormous thing cut down before it fell on the house.

0points

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#12

Kindness, understanding and empathy.

salamisawami , Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 Report

Final score:

45points

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Garthus Andicus 1 year ago

Some of these are really good. Especially this one.

7points

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#13

Learn how to be wrong. Understand that what you thought you knew yesterday May in fact be incorrect when presented with new facts, and that changing your position based on new facts is a sign of intelligence and maturity.

FluffusMaximus Report

Final score:

44points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

That describes science. Science is self correcting. There are always other scientists trying either prove what one claims or disprove it. Religion, on the other hand, discourages pointing out its errors and nonsense.

4points

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#14

Everyone is interesting. No matter who you are or what you do. Approach people that way. Be curious about the lives and trajectories and stories of other people.

Flatrock123 , RDNE Stock project Report

Final score:

42points

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Michael Braisher 1 year ago

But I read a Bored Panda last week about the miserable little cow bellyaching that old people have the nerve to talk to her children. Got some acclaim as I recall.

6points

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#15

Those boring things old people like? Going for a walk, reading a good book, cups of tea with friends, doing a bit of gardening?
Get into that.

MalevolentIsopod23 Report

Final score:

41points

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Julius Zuke 1 year ago

Cultivate friendships while you are young. It is mch harder to make true friends when you are older, especially if you are a man.

6points

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#16

Not sure if it's been said already, but the only people who remember the extra overtime you worked, missed birthdays, or weekends aren't your company, coworkers or bosses. It's your family, and pets they remember you weren't there.

FatOldFox Report

Final score:

41points

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Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

So true. Your boss won't remember 3 days from now but your spouse or kids will be holding that grudge/hurt on for decades

4points

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#17

Taking care of your damn knees. Trust me on this.

BlackEagle0013 , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Final score:

40points

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Michael Largey 1 year ago

But if your doctor says you need knee replacements, get them. I've never known anyone who wasn't glad they did.

8points

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#18

A healthy diet and exercise because it is easier to stay in shape than it is to get in shape, keep learning because the world keeps changing, find an inexpensive hobby . Learn how money works, make and continue to refine a budget and live within your means, save money. I have never heard in all of my years on this planet someone say " I'm way too healthy", "I wish I didn't put all that money into diversified investments when I was young", or" I am too well informed and knowledgeable".

wageslave2022 , Mikhail Nilov Report

Final score:

36points

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Deborah B 1 year ago

But you do hear people say "I wish I hadn't obsessed so much about my diet, and just eaten the damn cake" "I wish I'd travelled more, and taken the kids to disney when they were young, and not been so worried about saving every penny." and "I wish I had done more extra curriculars/hobbies/sports/made more friends - I was so focussed on my grades that I missed out on a lot of fun and friendship." Everyone has regrets.

27points

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#19

Flossing

LGHTHD , Sora Shimazaki Report

Final score:

34points

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Michelle Carlson 1 year ago

Yes! Nothing is as good as Original Equipment Manufacture. You can get implants but they're not as good as your own toofies.

5points

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#20

Look after your teeth.

astidad , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

34points

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Pudgy Panda 11 months ago

Always be true to your teeth and they’ll never be false to you 😁

1point

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#21

Not every old person is dumb or senile

Paggierose , Streetwindy Report

Final score:

33points

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Jude Laskowski 1 year ago

Unfortunately, many employers these days think everyone over 40 is too old, even though they legally cannot discriminate based on age.

1point

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#22

Investing for retirement. Start early even if you think you can’t afford to

John_Fx Report

Final score:

33points

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One legged Steve 1 year ago

But, poverty.

0points

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#23

Work smarter not harder.

Call your grandma

Be the person your dog thinks you are.

Disastrous-Aspect569 , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Final score:

31points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

The final truth may be that the relationship with your dog is the best you ever have.

6points

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#24

Goddamn it, wear earplugs at loud events, and be aware of your headphone volume. Hearing aids are expensive, and insurance does not cover them.

Toasterband , Mark Paton Report

Final score:

31points

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Not-a-Clue (she/her) 1 year ago

Hearing aids are free in the UK, but I'd still prefer my own hearing back, and no tinnitus. All those loud gigs in my teens & twenties have caught up now.

9points

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#25

The effort that you make to better yourself and your life between the ages of 18 and 25 will be reflected in the quality of your life after you turn 40.

OkieBobbie , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

28points

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Admiralu 1 year ago

No it won't, not for everyone.

0points

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#26

Travel, one day you will reflect on your life experiences and remember the highs and lows! I can guarantee you that travelling, experiencing different cultures, food and sights will be primarily your highs and a life worth lived!

Oh and wear sunscreen!

Gent2022 , Dominika Roseclay Report

Final score:

26points

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Julius Zuke 1 year ago

Traveling makes you realize that there are more ways to live than what you are used to, especially if you live in a highly commercialized society.

8points

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#27

Taking care of your skin!

psyche-ataraxia , KoolShooters Report

Final score:

23points

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Temporary Dork 1 year ago

SUNSCREEN

8points

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#28

Work to live, dont live to work.

PsychologicalBid9943 Report

Final score:

22points

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Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

Kind of difficult nowadays... working to live IS living to work

8points

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#29

Therapy. We’re all carrying around a ton of baggage and so many of us are trying to silently slog through life with it. Therapy literally saved my life. It will be a permanent fixture in my life until I’m in the dirt. The only thing I regret about it is that I didn’t start earlier.

StuffToday , SHVETS production Report

Final score:

20points

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Marley Nachi 1 year ago

Therapy is like going to the mechanic. It's better to do it regularly as a 'check up' than wait until you have a break down and have big problems.

9points

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#30

Work for your self even if you are employed by someone else. Do stuff because it needs needs done not because someone told

linux_user_13 , Avi Richards Report

Final score:

18points

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#31

Boomers may have a different theory, but here I am as Gen X.
Resilience is key. The world is going to f**k with you, but you need to be stronger, smarter, funnier to survive.

It isn't about winning, but about surviving. Seriously, what do you take with you? And if you leave it all to whiny a******s, did you really win?

Please leave this s**t better than you found it! Give some money to charity, give time to a cause. We didn't fight in a war. There is no excuse.

I certainly hope every Gen Xer raised their kid to be tolerant about race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. If not, you aren't dead yet! Get to work!

MizzGee Report

Final score:

11points

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Julius Zuke 1 year ago

This one should be #1.

1point

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#32

SKILLS, the world can take anything from you but not your skills, and they will keep you in high spirits... be whatever it is, if you train to be better at your skills everyday, money and happiness will become consequences of your skills... maybe you want to make your life a legacy and leave something to the world, well you need skills... maybe you don't care about anything and just want to be left alone in your house until you die, well to maintain a sane state of mind you will need skills to dive in... your skills give meaning to your life and the feeling of getting better at something is the ultimate pleasure, prove me wrong if you can.

Subject-Nectarine387 Report

Final score:

11points

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Garthus Andicus 1 year ago

No, no. You right.

2points

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#33

Making friends with your neighbours - if possible!

Donitasnark Report

Final score:

11points

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Becky Samuel 1 year ago

The current trend (mostly from Americans in my experience) of pooh-poohing any thought of getting to know your neighbours is so sad.

0points

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#34

Don't allow toxic people in your personal life.

You get to choose, and if you let them they will wreck your mental health.

No one deserves that.

DanielleAntenucci Report

Final score:

11points

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Garthus Andicus 1 year ago

I just had to drop a best friend of 12 years... It still hurts. Because I loved him like a brother. But anyone that always lies and is always right isn't worth knowing.

1point

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#35

If you're not happy, get happy. You can't control your emotions, but you can control your behaviors. Behave yourself into happy thinking. The mind is not as easily controlled as the body. Life's short. Don't spend it being miserable. Don't worry about everyone else's piece of the pie. You must accept your slice, and if you want more, you need to work for it; not complain about it.

Particular-Oil-2567 Report

Final score:

10points

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David Paterson 1 year ago

SSRIs are a good way to "get happy".

1point

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#36

The ability to identify and authentically experience your emotions without letting them control your life. Whether through prayer, meditation, journaling, therapy—whatever works for you. I truly believe that we could solve most of the world’s problems if we invested in good mental health.

Mrs_Evryshot Report

Final score:

10points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a room alone. Blaise Pascal

2points

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#37

Slow down and take life in increments. You don’t have to do everything immediately and quickly.

Relationships with family, friends, and your love are the most important things.

Take vacations.

JacksonvilleNC Report

Final score:

8points

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#38

Lessons. I was too proud/arrogant to take BASIC lessons on things I wanted to learn: guitar, drums, snowboarding...etc. By the time i hacked out my own knowledge of these things I had to UNLEARN my self taught wrongs before learning the right way.

CameDownForWhat Report

Final score:

7points

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keyboardtek 1 year ago

If you wait until you retire to learn to play a musical instrument, it will be difficult as arthritis is starting in the hands and the brain and nervous system is not elastic enough to grow the new nerve connections needed. So start young, even of only a few hours of practice a week is all you can manage.

2points

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#39

- Read books regularly - keep the mind sharp
- The power of compound interest - earn money the lazy way
- The golden rule - I've found putting others before you gets you good karma
- Walk or bike instead of drive when possible - Simple way to exercise and save gas
- Learn Excel - a very simple tool that not every one is good at

chickenmantesta Report

Final score:

6points

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Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

YES! READ EVERYTHING!

0points

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#40

Tech. Tech is the future. Get into it as much as you can.

Bluberry_Burger_001 , Kevin Ku Report

Final score:

4points

POST

Temporary Dork 1 year ago

But keep the AI and the connected appliances out of your house.

4points

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#41

Raising children. It is easily the best thing that will ever happen to me. It’s not possible to adequately describe how much I love and enjoy my kids.

StuffToday Report

Final score:

0points

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Charles McChristy 1 year ago

Yeah, no. The best thing that has influenced my life is the decision to not have children.

6points

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What do you think ?

PolymathNecromancer 1 year ago (edited)

The problem with these "suggestions" - ALL of them - is that they assume one has the resources already (could be tangible *or* intangible) to incorporate them :-(

Exactly. Still bringing up that live within your means, budget and invest young c**p. You need a living wage which most don't make.

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Flora Porter 1 year ago

F late 50s here: not everyone has the same symptoms, but the menopause could mean your energy drops, your brain won't multitask, your BS tolerance disappears and your body doesn't work as well as it used to, so from 18 to 50 work as hard and save as much as you can in case you want to change direction for the second half of your adult life. That's the big thing I'd do differently if I could go back. Basically aim to be financially secure at 50 so you're free to choose.

Steve Hall 1 year ago

Stop worshiping money, it is not as important as you have been led to believe.

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“You Think You Have Time”: 30 Things To Take Seriously, As Shared By Older Netizens

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