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“They Look Ten Years Older”: 30 Things About Aging That Folks In Their 20s Never Think About
When you’re in your 20s, you have your entire life ahead of you. The world is your oyster, and your lack of experience and wisdom may make you feel naively invincible.
However, Father Time waits for no one. Before you know it, you’ll be in your 40s, remembering what you’ve taken for granted. You’ll also likely be one of those answering this Reddit question: “What’s something people in their 20s don’t realize will affect them when they get older?”
Commenters shared the mistakes they feel young people could avoid committing, from ignoring bad posture to poor financial planning and settling for second best.
If you’re part of the younger crowd, feel free to take some notes. But if you’re at least 30, hopefully, this list doesn’t make you feel too old or regretful.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Know when to walk away. From buying something, to terrible jobs, to relationships.
You will look back at periods of time when you should have walked away.
Traveling Lady Railfan 2 months ago
Can be a VERY difficult lesson to learn "when to walk away" when we're also conflictingly told to hang in there, don't quit and persevere.
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#2
Taking care of your teeth!
Dental pain is awful and treatment is expensive - and insurance coverage can be poor.
Brush and floss twice a day!
liz MacClain 2 months ago
Unfortunately, when I was pregnant, all the calcium was leached out of my teeth and at 49 I ended up getting dentures. It isn't always about care it is sometimes about circumstances
#3
You are going to have to be responsible, clean, organize, and cook until the day you die. The earlier you learn how to do these things efficiently, the better off you will be later on.
Carol Culhane 2 months ago
Once I started just doing these things when I thought of them instead of procrastinating I increased my downtime hugely. It's not downtime if something is niggling at you constantly. Sometimes you can give it a 20 min. lick and a promise, that's fine.
#4
It’s important to find hobbies or interests outside of work. In your 20s, it might feel like you have all the time in the world, but those passions can keep you grounded as life gets hectic.
Ritchat 2 months ago (edited)
This! And it must be a hobby that you don't monatize in any way. Because making it into another job can rob you of your joy for it and it might not help relax anymore. And you don't have to become an expert at it. Sing badly, write poorly, draw sketchy, it doesn't matter as long as it brings you joy.
#5
In your 20s, it can be easy to overlook how important it is to save and invest early. I wish I had started building my savings and understanding finances back then, as it makes a big difference in your 30s and beyond. Take some time to learn about financial planning; it really pays off later.
Denise Melek 2 months ago
If you can afford savings...and I'm not talking about avocado toast and Starbucks but eating rice for a week.
#6
Not using sunscreen. I have friends who use to spend their entire summer laid out in the sun with no kind of sun protection, and now they look ten years older than their age.
Bartlet for World Domination 2 months ago
Although what you're supposed to look like for your age shifts with society's expectations, I guess. I remember what people my age used to look like thirty years ago; sunscreen is only part of it. To keep up nowadays you'd need at least retinoids at night, vitamin c during the day, and a moisturizer. And yes, sunscreen.
#7
Spend money to get quality products for things that separate you from the floor. Mattress, shoes, desk chair, couch, etc.
Over time your body will thank you.
Gonbei Nanashino 2 months ago
Problem is that finding high quality products are getting much harder than before.
#8
Racking up debt. It gets you into a cycle that can be hard to break, even if you have a high paying job.
Adam Benson 2 months ago
I had no choice but to take out a government loan for uni because my parents couldn't pay for it either. It took me 20+ years to finally pay it all back. Now I'm debt free and saving like crazy to put my own boys through uni.
#9
Being obese. You can deal with it in your 20's. It's like a frog in a pot of boiling water by the time you hit your 40's. You'll feel "normal", but being obese puts CONSTANT physical strain on your body.
Koalafied to komment 2 months ago
I was morbidly obese for large parts of my 20s. I was lucky I didn't develop serious health issues then. I got on the right track 5 years ago, lost half of my weight with sports and a healthy diet. And now, with 37, I feel better than in my 20s.
#10
Don't mess with your eyebrows!
Because at least in my day we would tweeze the heck out of them and now that I'm older they're spotty. If I could go back I'd leave them the hell alone.
Koalafied to komment 2 months ago
To this day, I thank an older colleague who told me about that fact when I was 26. Thanks to her, I stopped tweezing the shît out of my eyebrows!
#11
Always lift with your legs, absolutely always. You don't want pain from just bending over slightly because "you've got it".
#12
Something I wish I learned in my 20’s that I should have and it is this - you are in your 20’s. You can still f**k up and it doesn’t matter. You have time to try different things, live in different places, and take risks. When I was in my 20’s I was stressing over stupid s**t (work, relationships, being on track). I’m not in the career anymore, those relationships are long gone, and there is no track to life - just a general direction. Keep your compass at true north, but you can wander off the path. It’s okay.
#13
Underestimating the addictive nature of tobacco.
Traveling Lady Railfan 2 months ago
Reading this at 5am with no glasses, I thought this said "the addictive nature of tattoos"....
#14
Many people in their 20s don't realize that poor eating habits and lack of consistent exercise can lead to significant health issues in their 40s and beyond.
Emma London 2 months ago
Oh the time when eating fast food was only a money issue, not a health issue!
#15
Take care of your ears. Hearing loss is permanent and sometimes results in tinnitus. It can be bad for some people to the point they contemplate s*icide. See the tinnitus sub reddit if you want some depressing stories.
Koalafied to komment 2 months ago
I developed a tinnitus from being on too many very loud concerts without hearing protection. Please wear them
#16
Posture.
I'm in my early 30s trying to correct downright abysmal posture and if it's this bad now I can hardly imagine what 10 more years of this would do to me.
#18
Not sleeping enough! You think you can get by on 4 hours now, but trust me, your 40-year-old self will be begging for naps like it’s a luxury.
UncleJohn3000 2 months ago
In my youth, I used to be able to party for days and nights on end. I'm 62 now and am convinced I was stealing sleep from my future and that's why I'm tired all the time today.
#19
A lot of things that you find so important in your 20s will not be important at all in your 40s.
#20
How important mental health is! In your 20s, it feels like you can bounce back from anything, but those habits and stressors can really catch up with you later.
Cannedseaslug:
Early mental health treatment. Some people spiral and will never be able to be pulled out from severe bipolar and schizophrenia. These diseases make it so they don’t believe they have problems and become resistant to getting help. Depression can prevent you from having a fulfilling life. Alcohol and d**g rehab before your organs and brain are destroyed. You can dial 211 on your phone and they can help. It’s anonymous and it can connect you or someone you know to resources near you.
Bartlet for World Domination 2 months ago
Nobody can be pulled out from severe bipolar or schizophrenia. As with depression, early treatment may get you tolerable medication and less damage, but that sһit is for life.
#21
Learn to cook from scratch. Basic raw ingredients are healthier than processed. You can batch cook and meal prep and once you know how and get in the habit it’s as easy at heating up cr*ppy processed food.
#22
Coming from someone in a trade, don't kneel on hard surfaces without some sort of protection. Be it pads or a chunk of foam or even a rolled up towel in a pinch. Osteoarthritis will find you...
On that note, also wear any other PPE required in your work environment.
Geoffrey Scott 2 months ago
YES! Do NOT be swayed by those who scoff at PPE. Good natured griping is expected, but PPE is absolutely essential. Eye, hearing and lung protection are simple common sense.
#23
Marriage.
I'm not really being flippant. What you want in a partner when you're 25, and what you want when you're 45, are very different things. Now, it's entirely possible your partner will, as they age and mature, grow in to whatyou need as you need. It's also very possible they will change in ways that are very much not what you want, and now you're got a house and 2 kids making things complicated.
I would never straight up say people shouldn't get married in their 20's. But I would say don't rush anything, and don't get married because you've been together for x months or years so it's time. Go in with your eyes open, and having really talked with your partner about what they want and where they see themselves in 10 years. If that doesn't align with where you see your self, and they are incompatible, it's time for another serious talk.
#24
Wear good shoes! Allthose cheap shoes with no support really come back to haunt you later in life!
Seedy Vine 2 months ago
I had to stop wearing heavy, clunky shoes in my 50s because my hips would be screaming by day's end.
#25
Work your core! It will help strengthen your back and prevent a LOT of back problems when you're older. Plank for 3 minutes a day is all it takes.
Gonbei Nanashino 2 months ago
This isn’t for younger you. This is for you NOW, however old you’re.
#26
Being happy with how you look because it all goes to s**t.
Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 2 months ago
I guess I've been lucky in that respect compared to many people. I'm nothing special, extremely average, in fact,but I've always been comfortable in my own skin.
#27
Stretching!!!!! Before everything !!!!! I stretch before I take a s**t now.
Traveling Lady Railfan 2 months ago
Um. If you need to stretch before taking a bowel movement, you might want to reevaluate your dietary choices ...
#28
Do not sit around too much and never stop moving. Some of my coworkers, family and friends are already having problems with stairs, hills and such and frankly it's kind of scaring me. There is a fine balance between rest and movement - you don't need to overdo it but don't sit down too long as it will catch up with you!!!
#30
The obvious stuff:
1. Wear sunscreen
2. Don't drink too much
3. Stop smoking
4. Exercise
5. Sleep
The less obvious stuff:
1. Socializing and making friends becomes harder as you get older, especially if your life revolves around going out to bars and hanging out. I hit 40 and my body just doesn't want to do that anymore. Having hobbies that don't center around drinking goes a long way.
2. If you haven't learned how to budget money and put aside some for retirement, you're going to be working late into your life. Start early and save yourself the heartache.
3. Protect your hearing. if you're going out to shows and cranking up the volume on your headphones you're going to have a hard time hearing in your 40s and 50s.
4. Travel, especially outdoors travel, becomes harder. I do a lot of hiking and backpacking, and trips I used to think about in my 20s aren't trips I can do now. You also start having more obligations around family and kids so getting time to get away becomes harder. Do it now :).
What do you think ?
K- THULU 2 months ago
Wow, what a bunch of boring pieces of advice.... my advice as a 56 year old... live it up... party like there's no tomorrow, learn to just say f*ck it... you're only young once... make the most of it!!
Kare Deter 2 months ago
THANK YOU!! SO many of these read like "don't enjoy life. If you like doing something, don't do it or you'll be sorry..." I have a bad knee, a bad hip and a bad shoulder and I would do it all over again (if I could)
Load More Replies...
John Legere 2 months ago
Are these people talking about going from 20 to 40 years old or 20 to 70 years old?
Traveling Lady Railfan 2 months ago
Work hard to lose the weight now if you're overweight, because it's so much easier in your twenties (metabolism is faster) then it is in your 40s 50s 60s etc. And usually by the time you're in your twenties, your health hasn't degraded so badly that you've got hypertension, joint problems etc. You're healthy enough to get better. In a few decades, you won't be. And taking care of your teeth? I mean I hate flossing, but there are alternatives. There are other ways to floss that don't just involve a long piece of floss string. Ask your dental professionals, try a water pic, try floss tape, try those wasteful plastic u-shaped pics with the floss already put on them. Bad for the environment but if you can get into the habit, he should. Cuz again in your twenties probably your teeth aren't all that bad, wait a few decades. Dental Care is extremely expensive. You'll have bad breath, your teeth will shift and then you'll have to get adult braces, you'll have to get crowns or Bridges...
K- THULU 2 months ago
Wow, what a bunch of boring pieces of advice.... my advice as a 56 year old... live it up... party like there's no tomorrow, learn to just say f*ck it... you're only young once... make the most of it!!
Kare Deter 2 months ago
THANK YOU!! SO many of these read like "don't enjoy life. If you like doing something, don't do it or you'll be sorry..." I have a bad knee, a bad hip and a bad shoulder and I would do it all over again (if I could)
Load More Replies... John Legere 2 months ago
Are these people talking about going from 20 to 40 years old or 20 to 70 years old?
Traveling Lady Railfan 2 months ago
Work hard to lose the weight now if you're overweight, because it's so much easier in your twenties (metabolism is faster) then it is in your 40s 50s 60s etc. And usually by the time you're in your twenties, your health hasn't degraded so badly that you've got hypertension, joint problems etc. You're healthy enough to get better. In a few decades, you won't be. And taking care of your teeth? I mean I hate flossing, but there are alternatives. There are other ways to floss that don't just involve a long piece of floss string. Ask your dental professionals, try a water pic, try floss tape, try those wasteful plastic u-shaped pics with the floss already put on them. Bad for the environment but if you can get into the habit, he should. Cuz again in your twenties probably your teeth aren't all that bad, wait a few decades. Dental Care is extremely expensive. You'll have bad breath, your teeth will shift and then you'll have to get adult braces, you'll have to get crowns or Bridges...
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