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Youth is a precious thing, in that you often can only appreciate it when it’s in the past. In your teenage years and 20s, it’s so easy to feel like you have all the time in the world and then, suddenly, you blink and you are thirty five with a mortgage. Like with any skill or investment, most of us probably wish we had started planning a lot earlier.
Someone asked “How did you “waste” your 20s?” and netizens shared the things they maybe should have done differently. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your own thoughts and experiences below.

#1

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Wasted mine by having a poor body image and low self esteem when I was actually thin and in shape.

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#2

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Caring what people thought of me.

Mrmakabuntis , Alexei Maridashvili / Pexels Report

#3

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Spent way too much time worrying about the future instead of enjoying the present.

Brief_Sector_8397 , Alex Green / Pexels Report

#4

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s I have stayed for a company that doesn't value my work and contribution to them, I have wasted a lot of opportunity because of that, I myself have to blame for it too I didn't have the courage to explore and try something new for my growth and development.

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Lyoness
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quit. Quit now. I also spent more than 10 years at a company that didn't give 2 sh*ts about me, worked me like a dog for an abusive boss and was shocked when I quit. I was too afraid to leave because I had a family to support, but I paid for that money with my health and missing so much of my children's lives far more than it ever paid me. It took a mental break to convince me to leave. Don't let it get to that point.

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#5

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s I married my first boyfriend. We were not a good match. I basically k*lled my body and mental health trying to be enough for him. I’m 30 now, about 4 years divorced, wayyy happier and learning what I want in life and learning who I want to be.

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Susan
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seeing all of these young teens planning their life around super serious relationships gives me anxiety for their futures.

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#6

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Caring for others and always putting them first. I came 3rd or 4th or 5th. Everything suffered. Everyone took advantage.

cornandcandy , Liza Summer / Pexels Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a people pleaser too. I've recently started saying no and people have not reacted well lol

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#7

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s As a slave to the Jehovah's Witnesses cult.

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#8

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Not exactly wasted, but all I did was work, go home, sleep and repeat. Lost 95% of my friends, was a virgin all through my 20's . Now, 3 years past my 20's . I have a stable job, own my own house, but I am also one of the most introverted people I know, and that doesn't help with being single.

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Ellinor
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know it's a detail, but being a virgin is not a bad thing. I think it's crazy that it's expected of people (or should I say children) to have s*x before their 18/20. I'm not judging the people who had sex in their teens, I'm just sad it has become expected and mocked when people don't comply.

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#9

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s In a toxic relationship and not understanding how to invest in myself. I’m still working on the second part.

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#10

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Got a woman I barely liked pregnant, married her out of obligation and marriage was terrible and only lasted 3 months, worked s**t jobs to provide for my boy, got put on child support, got depressed, got fat, dreams went down the toilet, now I'm fat, old and poor.

CascadeJ1980 , Maksim Smirnov / pexels Report

#11

Waiting for a guy to propose and not pursuing a PhD.

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Mike F
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WTAF, it's not an either/or situation. If the individual is someone who would be an impediment then a person needs to move on. It's not a relationship if one partner is expected to "stagnate" for a relationship to come to fruition. I know the OP will never read this, but dammit, how can people put themselves in this position in the 21st century?! You have to grow into yourself, and if the "other half" isn't down with it then it's time to say sayonara, have a great life.

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#12

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s My job took me around the world in my 20s. I got to travel to some pretty cool places and a lot of not so cool places. I got to hang with locals and see a lot of things tourists never saw. It was a cool experience.

The problem was I was a heavy drinker at that point in my life. Instead of using what little free time I had to see and learn about where I was at and see the sites I was focused on drinking and strip clubs. Yes we did go see some things and do cool s**t, but I could’ve done so much more. I passed up on opportunities to see things while I was traveling to spend time in dank, smelly bars or strip clubs where pathetic guys like me were drooling over women.

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Susan
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least you've matured enough to see it this way. There's are still plenty of old men who haven't figured this out yet.

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#13

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Falling in love with a narcissist abusive piece of s**t that was my snitch for being involved in his crimes. Spent 4 years of my life in jail. Lost time I’ll never get back.

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Lyoness
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can turn it around, it's not too late. You clearly see why this guy was wrong for you and are free (literally and figuratively) so don't give up on yourself. You can do it.

#14

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Being with friends who don't have a care for their future or their well-being. Choose you company well OP.

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Mike F
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your friends will only influence you as much as you allow. I ran with a bunch in my 20's that were pretty wild. I had a propensity to drink too much anyway, but this bunch were over the top. At some point I had a "come to Jesus" with myself and got in with a different group. That postponed the inevitable by a few years, but I never got into the trouble many of them did. My point is you have to be truthful with yourself and capable of some introspection.

#15

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Went from going out drinking as much as possible to literally working 330+ days a year. Turns out you only have friends when you’re the fun guy lol.

Forthe-dawgz , Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash Report

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Nicole Weymann
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm divided on this one. I think balance is the key. OP turned his life by 180° - no wonder his "friends" (?) didn't immediately follow suit. To them it must have looked like he turned his back on them. He basically did. Find a hobby (not just drinking) and a small group of people to associate with, instead of a crowd of people whose only common ground is partying. And cut back on your job, else your job will eat your life, with nobody to turn to but people who are paid to keep you company, i.e. coworkers and servers/bar tenders.

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#16

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Staying in my bedroom, playing video game instead of living

Started when I was 18, i will be 26 in 8 days and im still living like this.

Odd-Hyena-9704 , Alexander Kovalev / Pexels Report

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#17

Studying a degree i never used. 4 years at Uni, 2 years doing a masters and a ton of debt.

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Magenta Blu
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, me too. Not only I never used, but I never really liked or enjoyed. I only did it because it was expected from me and not having a degree "would be a waste".. ironic, right? And everyone now thinks i also "waste" my degree, because I don't use it. So it turned out everything i ever did or do is only a big waste

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#18

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Drifting from one low-paying dead-end blue-collar job to another.

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#19

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Trying to believe I’d be a professional musician.

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Anna Ekberg
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing wrong with having dreams but always have a backup plan.

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#20

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Laziness. Started getting my s**t together at 25, but I still feel perpetually behind at 30.

QuotidianTrials , cottonbro studio / Pexels Report

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Lil Miss Hobbit
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are not behind in any way. Everyone is at different stages in life.

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#21

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s I lived at a bar and was the worst version of myself.

SaltyIrishDog , Redd F / Unsplash Report

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#22

Currently in 20's but wasting it because I'm afraid to venture out, kinda introvert here:(.

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Peet
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm getting 40 this fall and I'm an introvert...lost 10 years in a "relationship" just because it was comfortable. Please don't do that, it's a loss of time.

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#23

Alcohol and a Cuban woman. I only regret the alcohol.

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#24

By not doing anything. i basically became a hermit from 23 or so and did pretty nothing but sit in my basement and play video games.

as my friends all moved out of the area, my social life went with them, and i never went out and created my own social life. instead i just.... sat at home and watched the world go by.

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Bill Hankel
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As many people have commented on other posts, it's not too late. Slow and steady progress will get you somewhere better!

#26

I'm in a toxic relationship and having trouble figuring out how to invest in myself. I'm still trying to work on it.

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#27

All these responses are actually making me feel a bit better about my wasted decade. 


All I did was play games. A combination of chronic pain and a crippling fear of strangers made me give up on a normal life and live as cheap and humble as I could. I couldn't get my driver's licence out of fear, couldn't hold a job for panic, have no friends or even many acquaintances and can't afford most hobbies.



I'm nearing my 40s now and the experience at least helps save money. I learnt to enjoy things that are free and have even made money from some. Things like propogating  plants from clippings. It took my twenties to get going. 


I continue to waste my life by most people's standards to this day.

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Lyoness
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Screw other people's standards. If you like your life, that's all that matters. Maybe seeing a therapist for the fear and anxiety could help.

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#28

My 20’s were mostly a blur, I get flashbacks of it every once in a while. From what I do remember, it was just saaad.

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#29

30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s Did online nsfw stuff instead of therapy lol.

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Anna Ekberg
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Therapy is not a miracle worker, it only works if and when you are ready for it and maybe they were not ready for it then.

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#30

Traveling the world. Had a lot of catchup to do for retirement starting in my 40s.

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Agamemnon O'Neill
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You regret travelling the world? That's time and money well-spent IMO. I wish I'd travelled more and didn't worry so much about saving.

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#31

To echo another comment, worked too much in the hope that it would set me up for the future. It didn’t. I got a PhD in the humanities, served me right for doing a useless major. So I gave up friends and fun in my 20s, and now I have no career and no friends.

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#32

Being reckless with my liver and my p*nis.

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#33

Going to medical school and becoming a doctor. If you want a personal/social life outside of work, 0/10 would not recommend

Edit: obviously looking at some of these comments there are obviously worse ways you can “waste” your 20s, but the sentiment still stands 😂.

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Magenta Blu
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did exactly this. I finished medical school because "no one quits at their 4th year" but I could never fit into the regular healthcare system and making a life based in other people's suffering. I couldn't live knowing how healthcare system works.

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#34

In a religion that controlled most aspects of my life. Pushed getting married and having kids while in early 20s. I essentially gave away the freedom most people in their 20s have.

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Judy Reynolds
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But your kids will be grown when you are in your 40s, still young enough to explore the world!

#35

Getting into legal trouble. Years wasted dealing with probation officers, s****y lawyers, court hearings, jail time, fines etc. It’s so hard to dig out of once you’re in. Almost like it was designed that way..

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Ace
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not the legal system that locks you into crime, but the economic one.

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#36

Long distance relationships. Not worth it. And I did it twice.

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Sarinz
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry long distance relationships didn't work for OP, but they can work!

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#37

Drinking, smoking weed, then my dad died at 26 and I woke up.

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tom
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sorry that your dad died when he was 26, good thing you gave up the drink and weed at such an early age

#38

I was a legitimate mid-level d**g dealer with a tremendous d**g addiction and I dated a stripper from 20-28.

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Ace
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well the drúgs sure, but what's wrong with dating a stripper? I mean, the job doesn't define her, does it?

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#39

By being over weight. For fit af for my thirtieth and haven’t looked back!!

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#40

I married my best friend. Turns out now that I'm 35 he doesn't love me anymore and wants a divorce. I'm so angry thinking of all my youth I wasted on him!!!

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Anna Ekberg
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being angry cause you wasted your youth on the wrong person is like wasting the time you have now in the moment.

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#41

Worked too much. I’ve never had a full week off for vacation. Yeah I have nice and cool material things, but spent what may be the best decade of my life punching a clock for a job I hate.

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#42

Basically a combo of bar scene, then Skyrim, then getting fat with beer, and then figuring it out in my 30s.

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#43

Got a huge student loan to go to film school. Spent my 20s as an actor crippled by the loan. Lost my agent at 29.

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#44

Skateboarding, d***s and lots and lots Graffitii.

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#45

Wasted my 20s being a loser.

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#46

I wasted my 20s to the wrong person for years, I am trying to get over it until now.

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boredkitten
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But many people did and even later in their lifes. But is this preventable? We need those lessons to know better when we get older and also sometimes things change over time

#47

Chasing women and running slowly when women chased me.

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LaserBrain
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw a poster once of an old cowboy sitting at the bar, it said: "I've spent half of my money on beer and women. The other half I just wasted" lol

#48

S**t marriage and military service.

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#49

I wasted my 20s started during pandemic, i invested my time to my work that stopped my growth and development, work that depleted my confidence and enthusiasm.

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Ace
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're still too young to know if they were wasted or not.

#50

I borrowed money from my parents to live in crappy apartments and took longer than I should have to finish university. Got out feeling like I was 4 or 5 years behind everyone. Left with more debt than I would have otherwise had. .

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#51

World of Warcraft, an obscure internet message board, and a dead-end job.

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#52

Chasing the wrong things !

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#53

I went to college, graduated, and now I can’t find a job. I could have been working gaining experience and money this whole time instead of wasting time in college.

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#54

Maxed an ironman on oldschool runescape.

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#55

Trying to figure out how to become successful.

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