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30 Regrettable Life Choices That Led People To Hate How They Spent Their 20s

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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.

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#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.

SHIRER47 , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

47points

troufaki13 1 month ago

Same. I'm still struggling.

16points

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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

Final score:

45points

Sofia 1 month ago

depends... If someone really loves you and cares you you should listen. This doesnt mean you should listen EVERYONE

3points

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#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

Final score:

39points

L H 1 month ago

This becomes more apparent as you get older.

4points

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#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.

Just_Photograph_2679 , Aleksandra Sapozhnikova / Unsplash Report

Final score:

36points

Lyoness 1 month ago

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.

13points

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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.

Opening_Top_5712 , RDNE Stock project / Pexels Report

Final score:

34points

Susan 1 month ago

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

6points

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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

Final score:

34points

troufaki13 1 month ago

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

13points

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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.

uglyokie , Hassocks5489 Report

Final score:

30points

Magenta Blu 1 month ago

That's really sad. Hope you got rid of that

4points

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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.

Agreeable-Drummer545 , Saulo Mohana / Unsplash Report

Final score:

27points

Ellinor 1 month ago (edited)

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.

21points

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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.

John-Ada , Trinity Kubassek / Pexels Report

Final score:

26points

Susie Elle 1 month ago

Yup

1point

#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

Final score:

26points

John Mosley 1 month ago

I really hope he finds his way, this is miserable.

12points

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#11

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

Klutzy_Tree515 Report

Final score:

25points

Mike F 1 month ago

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.

3points

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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.

slider728 , cottonbro studio / Pexels Report

Final score:

24points

Susan 1 month ago

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.

4points

#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.

Fearless-Bee-8105 , RDNE Stock project / Pexels Report

Final score:

22points

Lyoness 1 month ago

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.

6points

#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.

sweetisabella_xo , Toa Heftiba Şinca / Pexels Report

Final score:

22points

Mike F 1 month ago

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.

6points

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#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

Final score:

20points

Nicole Weymann 1 month ago

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.

11points

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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

Final score:

19points

Anna Ekberg 1 month ago

So make some changes now? It's not too late.

15points

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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.

bell_lola Report

Final score:

19points

Magenta Blu 1 month ago

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

4points

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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.

Alfred-Adler , Magnet.me / Unsplash Report

Final score:

18points

VOTE if you live in the USA 1 month ago

The picture BP chose for this one is definitely... a choice.

5points

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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.

bidamonvitamin , Lucas Pezeta / Pexels Report

Final score:

18points

Anna Ekberg 1 month ago

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

10points

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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

Final score:

17points

Lil Miss Hobbit 1 month ago

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

5points

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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

Final score:

15points

#22

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

Unapologetic_102418 Report

Final score:

15points

Peet 1 month ago

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.

6points

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#23

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

finally_wintermuted Report

Final score:

15points

#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.

another-redditor3 Report

Final score:

15points

Bill Hankel 1 month ago

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

3points

#25

Depression. 👍🏻.

papasoulless Report

Final score:

14points

Anna Ekberg 1 month ago

Depression is not a choice you make.

16points

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#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.

Sweet-Ass20 Report

Final score:

14points

Sven Horlemann 1 month ago

One step at a time. First. Leave.

8points

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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.

LamiaBrandy Report

Final score:

14points

Lyoness 1 month ago

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.

5points

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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.

Cautious_Optimist183 Report

Final score:

13points

Mike F 1 month ago

Happens to many folks.

1point

#29

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

DeepPom , Canva Studio / Pexels Report

Final score:

12points

Anna Ekberg 1 month ago

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.

4points

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#30

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

toungespasm Report

Final score:

12points

Agamemnon O'Neill 1 month ago

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.

6points

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Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Justin Sandberg

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

How did you “waste” your 20s?

Auntriarch 1 month ago (edited)

I wasted my 30's (in fact I probably wasted all my life but many people's standards, but I'm me not them). But I woke up and it would be a waste of my present to give it space in my head now.

6points

Susie Elle 1 month ago

Taking too much after my mom. Bless her, she was loving and struggling, but in trying to do the best she could, she basically molded me into a copy of herself with the same issues she had and never knew how to fix. I'm only just finding out how much I actually take after her, the good things as much as the bad.

3points

Magenta Blu 1 month ago

I wasted my youth going to college, getting a degree I don't use because I didn't want to get it in first place, all I wanted was to have a big family and kids. Now I'm too old for having biological kids and never got a significant relationship because I was busy in college and then everyone i meet was already married, divorced and scolded (so not looking to have any kind of relationships) or already have kids on their own, so they didn't want anymore kids. So here I am, old, alone, sad, without family, friends, or hope without a job, and without anyone who cares.

1point

Emmy S. 1 month ago

I care ♥️ I believe in you, but can you believe in yourself? I think so; I used to think I never could believe in myself but I’m working on it now, which is one step farther than I used to be. And adopting or surrogacy is always an option!

1point

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Auntriarch 1 month ago (edited)

I wasted my 30's (in fact I probably wasted all my life but many people's standards, but I'm me not them). But I woke up and it would be a waste of my present to give it space in my head now.

6points

Susie Elle 1 month ago

Taking too much after my mom. Bless her, she was loving and struggling, but in trying to do the best she could, she basically molded me into a copy of herself with the same issues she had and never knew how to fix. I'm only just finding out how much I actually take after her, the good things as much as the bad.

3points

Magenta Blu 1 month ago

I wasted my youth going to college, getting a degree I don't use because I didn't want to get it in first place, all I wanted was to have a big family and kids. Now I'm too old for having biological kids and never got a significant relationship because I was busy in college and then everyone i meet was already married, divorced and scolded (so not looking to have any kind of relationships) or already have kids on their own, so they didn't want anymore kids. So here I am, old, alone, sad, without family, friends, or hope without a job, and without anyone who cares.

1point

Emmy S. 1 month ago

I care ♥️ I believe in you, but can you believe in yourself? I think so; I used to think I never could believe in myself but I’m working on it now, which is one step farther than I used to be. And adopting or surrogacy is always an option!

1point

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