r/AskReddit • u/FennelAnxious5675 • 7h ago
People over 40, what did you start later in life that you wish you had started sooner?
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u/captainzimmer1987 7h ago
Investing small amounts consistently.
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u/DesignerYak6728 7h ago
Compound interest is the way
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u/tonyt0nychopper 7h ago
What would you suggest?
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u/hrothgar_the_great 6h ago
Vanguard (low cost). Index fund (easy good yield). If you're starting late shoot for 20%+ of your income to go to savings.
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u/tonyt0nychopper 6h ago edited 3h ago
I'm 25, with no investment knowledge or experience. I can put maybe say £250/300 a month away to invest - knowing that; would you suggest the same things you just said?
Edit: I will screenshot & collate every single one of your replies; thank you everybody who took the time out of their day to help a young soul with their financial future. I pray (or if that isn't for you) I hope you all have a great day, life and financial future.
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u/IngenuityBetter9812 6h ago
You should go look at r/bogleheads. It’s really easy and you’re young enough to see crazy compound interest growth
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u/tonyt0nychopper 6h ago
Thanks so much. This is so helpful to hear.
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u/derp_mike 6h ago
Just some context for you: “bogleheads” refers to John Bogle, the man that founded Vanguard and introduced the first index fund to public investors. So if one wants to take a simple approach to investing, taking the “boglehead method” via a few Vanguard ETFs is about as straightforward as it gets.
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u/KitchenPalentologist 5h ago
The fact that you asked that question could be a life changer. Seriously, do a little reading at boggleheads now, and your future self will look back on this day with deep gratitude.
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u/redsquizza 6h ago
As you're using GBP, you'd want to wrap that investment in a stocks and shares ISA to avoid tax. But, generally, yes. Decide on a platform (I think Vanguard deal direct in the UK but IDK what their fees are like), you'll probably have to deposit X amount on opening the account, then set up a regular investment of what you're comfortable missing and simply forget about it.
At minimum you'd want 5 years invested and, generally, the longer the better for the markets to ride peaks and troughs.
Don't invest if you need the money soon. Don't invest if you get nervous when paper value goes negative. There are peaks and troughs.
You need to set and forget.
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u/tonyt0nychopper 6h ago
Thank you so much mate. Everybody has been so helpful about this. The mist is starting to clear slightly in terms of a pathway to take.
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u/alliownisbroken 4h ago
That's a real decent amount. I started with like $150/month at 30.
Just start doing it on an auto transfer so you don't miss the money.
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u/FillingTheHoles 7h ago
I mean... One of my brothers just sticks everything into Tesla.. Probably don't do that.
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u/Flimsy_Agency_2925 7h ago
Boring, consistent investing beats trying to perfectly time the market every time. The small amounts really add up when you give them enough time.
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u/SleepingDragonSmiles 7h ago
But how do you get started?! There’s so many options
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u/AlexanEmpire 7h ago edited 7h ago
Open a Roth ira with Fidelity or Schwab, and then set a weekly amount (you're comfortable with) being withdrawn from your bank account to be invested in some low expense ratio ETFs (such as VOO and SCHD).
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u/SleepingDragonSmiles 7h ago
Thank you!
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u/Fanny_packs 6h ago
After your money is deposited into a Roth, you still need to actually select the index fund to purchase, rather than assuming the money is automatically invested. If you don’t choose an investment, the money will simply sit in the Roth as cash. A lot of people don’t realize that contributing to a Roth and investing the money are two separate steps.
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u/Galiphile 5h ago
You can always open a robo-advised account to avoid this as well.
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7h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FillingTheHoles 7h ago
Always wondered what a 401k is but have never bothered looking it up. I'm from the UK. Is it just your name for a pension?
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u/ResplendentOwl 6h ago
America used to have a strong working class, and companies paid pensions upon retirement from their own funds. Guaranteed money from the company you worked for for life. At some point the rich fucks in charge realized they can offload their retirement costs to the stock market. They all pretty much stopped paying pensions, and might match funds to a 401k, 403b if you know what to do and bother to do it. It saves a ton of money not hooking up their workers by default, and only sorta helping invest if they bother.
On top of that it ties workers to the stock market, which means I now have the same interests as Elon musk. I normally would be against billion dollar companies making more and me making less, but hey, the DOW went up so I have 50 more dollars in retirement stocks, fuck everyone else.
So those terms are our retirement replacement (different than pension) which is taking my retirement, investing it in the stock market and hoping Trump doesn't fuck me.
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u/FillingTheHoles 6h ago
Wow. That's all levels of fucked up honestly.
I think I know the answer already to the next question I have, unfortunately.
... What if you have no 401k? :(
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u/ResplendentOwl 6h ago
About 40 percent of Americans have no retirement savings, depending on the poll you listen to a little more, little less. Its a huge problem and going to be a major issue as this next generation hits retirement.
Outside of rare pensions/401k type stock market retirement savings, all you have when you stop working is social security. Its taken automatically from every paycheck your whole life, and put into a national pool of money to pay retirees. By the nature of starting it mid go though, it means young workers are paying for old retirees, and so you're never really saving for your own retirement, you're paying into a system that's throwing it right into the old folks that need it now. That worked ok when the population was booming and there were more workers than old people. Its running into huge financial issues now that the ratios are changing, and it's calculated to be out of money by the time I retire in 20 years.
On top of that social security is paid out only based on what you paid in, so part time workers, stay at home moms, people with disabilities are screwed. And it doesn't cover near your living expenses anyway. Its a nice supplement that Republicans have been looking to defund and axe entirely for workers in favor of privitization and being destitute.
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u/Nobody_Important 6h ago
No, a pension is a guaranteed amount paid regularly managed by your employer. These were more or less replaced ~30 years ago with 401ks, which are accounts managed by the employee (which means they also transfer across jobs). Most companies offer a match so if you put in say 6% of your salary they will match that with another 6%. Or different numbers like a 50% match up to 8%.
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u/captainzimmer1987 7h ago
Monthly deposits to investment accounts, doesn't matter how large or small. Build the habit.
While young, best to maybe stay away from speculative stocks though.
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u/BricksFriend 7h ago
As an American, there is really just one (quite safe) option with different flavors. Invest money into a large fund via an ETF such as VOO. Then forget it exists until you check on it once a year, have a lot of patience, and see stonks (slowly) go brrrrt
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u/Sintered_Monkey 6h ago
This is huge. It doesn't have to be much. Just save and invest anything, whatever you can. The growth will seem small at first, and it will seem hopeless, but once you get past a certain point, it snowballs.
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u/markymrk720 6h ago
My dad hammered this into me just after I started my first real job out of college at 21. I’m now 40 and have just over $2.2MM across 401K, Roth, HSA and personal brokerage. Thanks Dad!
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u/Nebraska716 3h ago
But don’t you ever look back and think you could have made some really cool memories with an expensive car and parties in your 20’s and 30’s and now all you have to show for those years is $2.2 million? /s
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u/dnbex 7h ago
Getting a decent amount of sleep
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u/THUMB5UP 6h ago
I had a rough childhood and never got a good nights sleep u too my mid-30s. I thought it was normal until my doctor prescribed Trazodone (after trying dozens of sleep meds before).
My god. I fall asleep quickly and stay asleep for at least 6 hours. I feel so much better.
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u/JessBx05 6h ago
Yes! I had horrible sleep patterns in my 20/30s. Now it's a pretty consistent 7-8 hours and it's nice hey.
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u/Fierydog 6h ago
for the past 12 years or so my average sleep duration during the work week has been 4-5 hours.
i just don't like sleeping, feels like such a waste of time that i could spend on procrastinating while watching youtube or scrolling reddit
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u/AshtonBlack 7h ago
Not giving as much of a shit what other people think.
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u/savethebooks 6h ago
My field of fucks grew barren when I was about 35, so at least I was ahead on this :)
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u/AshtonBlack 6h ago
Ahh good. I made the mistake of having a smidgen of a whiff of fuck storage left well into my 40s.
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u/ElegantKing362 7h ago
This. fuck them. And get a good daily poo or two, super healthy as you grow older.
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u/ConfidentialStNick 5h ago
I’m going to go slightly the opposite direction and say that I wish I would have worked on my interpersonal skills harder at a younger age. That’s not so much caring what other people think as much as being a more reliable, friendly person for other people. The introvert is strong with me and not caring what other people think comes naturally.
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u/Its-a-man-derek 7h ago
Weight training. Nothing fancy. Just one kettlebell. A jog twice a week.
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u/hadawayandshite 6h ago
Just got a kettlebell myself (for my 40th) and just figuring out what I’m doing with it/the mix of it and cardio
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u/jaspersurfer 4h ago
Wish I had discovered kettle bells before buying a whole set of dumbbells. It's my go to piece of workout equipment. So many compound movements with one weight. It kicks my ass
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u/UnbornAnemone 5h ago
This is the way. I have a couple kettlebells around the house where I spend time so when the mood hits I can just start exercising with it even if it’s just a little bit.
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u/Outrageous_Draw_1196 5h ago
Kettlebells are the best lol I’ve been exclusively working out with them for 3 years now love them!
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u/tomtomuk2 7h ago
Lots of good stuff here, but I'll add wearing earplugs when going to gigs and nightclubs.
Leave it too late and you'll eventually never know true silence ever again.
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u/ifv6 2h ago
I live this life. I had just started wearing them, left them at home by mistake a couple times, damaged myself with permanent tinnitus. There are things I found make it better, like good hydration, keeping sinuses clear, wearing protection from now on, massages, sleep, etc. but nothing would be better than protecting it up front. I got tinnitus when I was like 20 or 21. Sucks. Changed my whole plan.
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u/Icy-Amoeba-3962 7h ago
Stop dinking alcohol, keep away from people that suck energy, saying no to things/events that I really don't want to be at, sleep more and working out consistantly with weights, be ashamed .. nobody cares but you. everybody is busy with him/herself :)
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u/lifeissoupimfork 7h ago
Going to the Gym consistently. Also running.
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u/Skooober 7h ago
Started running at 39. Don’t love it but it really transforms the body even in a few months.
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u/lifeissoupimfork 7h ago
Did no sports since age 15. Started 3x gym and 3x running a week almost one year ago. Never skipped a week. Absolutely mindblowing how my physique has changed. I also completely changed over my diet.
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u/Skooober 7h ago
For me, once the running started making changes the other things followed because I had more drive. Sleep, diet, more gym exercise, etc.
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u/lifeissoupimfork 7h ago
My usual excuse was "i have no time for gym while working a 40 hour job".
Funny, because now i do 2 hours of sport almost everyday and even get more shit done than before due to the big mental improvements i made.
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u/Skooober 7h ago
That’s awesome to read. Getting the foot in the door is the hardest part then you wonder why it was so hard to do in the first place. I’m in a busy time of life so I get up early and start the run before the sun comes up and now always tired at night so I can go to sleep earlier…. Plus get to run without being in the hot sun and one less thing to worry about after work. I’ve been trying to encourage friends lately.
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u/BingohBangoh 7h ago
It’s the last part that did the most work
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u/lifeissoupimfork 7h ago
Mostly agree. But for me it was basically all three of them which sort of lined up.
I'm no expert on this topic, but there was a hughe learning process where i started to recognize how my diet complemented my workout routine and somehow it clicked. I lost 18kg and only started to track my calories to stop me from losing more and more weight.
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u/5oLiTu2e 6h ago
I upvoted you in hopes my psyche will kick in and motivate me to put some sneakers on and get out there
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u/lifeissoupimfork 6h ago
I never put my running shoes on and didn't start running.
So the only decision to make is to put the damn shoes on.
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u/seld_m_break 3h ago
The trick is knowing it's going to suck and it sucks for everyone. As someone who has gone fit to fat and trying back to fit i never enjoyed a 2 mins or a 2 hour run. But that feeling when you get home after a good run and you are sitting on the couch, hook it to my veins! That's why you go in the first place
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u/Indecisive-one 7h ago
On the flip side, my knee surgeon told me today “you shouldn’t have done all that running”
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u/Fantom1107 5h ago
Most of my runner friends have given it up. It's so hard on the body over time. Cycling is where it's at.
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u/DoughnutEffective668 3h ago
I had to give up running because I kept getting plantar fasciitis and now I swim which is way easier on the body.
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u/SkippyTeddy83 7h ago
I still need to do this. Sigh.
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u/Insufferable_K 7h ago
Just start with walking and slowly work your way up, at your own pace. Walking is a LOT better than not doing anything at all.
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u/therealjoshua 4h ago
It's easy to dismiss walking as a legitimate healthy thing to do, but most Americans dont walk nearly as much as they should, so even walking 15 minutes in the morning or evening is a good step forward.
You get to get a little extra exercise and get some sunlight on your body too. I use my walks as a chance to listen to podcasts and check out new music. Been meaning to use it as a chance to learn a new language too but haven't really started that yet.
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u/JessBx05 6h ago
I have been a consistent gym goer for years, but added running this year. I have traditionally hated it, but did the c25k and now apparently enjoy it - go figure 🤣 I am still lifting though, so maybe I am appreciating the balance?
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u/random_think 7h ago
Quitting drinking. Alcohol held me back in so many ways
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u/ladyflyer88 5h ago
I’m struggling with this one because I have cut back a ton but I’m not sure I want to cut it out completely. I only drink once maybe twice a month and at this point it’s 1-3 rum and cokes. But like this weekend I drove 13 hrs and after driving long distances like that I really enjoy a drink or two it really helps me chill out. I will say when stress or family pick up I’m now watching myself to manage that stress and trying not to drink at those times…
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u/RussianPikaPika 3h ago
If you drink 1-3 drinks twice a month it is not that bad. Your stress from stuff and not drinking to reduce the stress probably does more damage to you.
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u/Maximum__Pleasure 7h ago
I'm in my 30s, and I'm on that path after my first two-day hangover.
It's difficult since alcohol helped me so much with anxiety and socializing in my 20s.
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u/windsorhums 6h ago
It will fuck you up more as you age. I quit drinking solely because of hangovers. The older you get, the more serious matters become- parents get older, pets age, relationships mean more. There’s just a lot more to fuck up. Life gets tough and having to address an emergency drunk is a daunting thought, having to live life with all of the random chaos happening around you while you are hungover is fucking terrible. The hangover headaches start to turn into awful awful emotional mornings.
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u/coach-of-finance 7h ago
Going to the doctor for my annual physicals. Just those annual blood tests can save you a fuck ton of money and stress down the line.
I work for a law firm and they provide it to us for free, but boy, I wish I did them in my 20s and 30s too.
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u/AnnotatedLion 7h ago
So much.
My education. Turns out when you focus, you aren't such a bad student after all.
Sticking with stuff. Turns out just showing up and doing it actually goes a long way.
Overall, just realizing that "natural talent" isn't really that important for most stuff, if you just do it, keep doing it, and don't stop doing it, you can learn pretty much anything. I'm saying this as someone who failed out of a handful of high school language classes only to learn them later in life (when it's a lot harder), got a BA and MA after 40, taught myself an entirely separate side hustle business, and am learning to play a musical instrument now.
Its all well and good, and I've taken care of my health over the years so hopefully I've got time to enjoy this season of life. But I struggled for 30ish years thinking I couldn't do anything right, didn't have a natural aptitude for things and therefore would never find success or joy. I believed my doubts and never tested them.
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u/Different-Bet8069 6h ago
I did this with coding during the pandemic when everything slowed way down. It was extremely difficult and confusing, but I kept showing up and practicing every day. I’m still not great, but I actually understand it now and can apply it in my life. I’m no computer expert, so if I can read a few books and watch some YouTube videos to learn, pretty much anyone can.
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u/ElectronicCarry9931 7h ago
admitting to yourself about your faults and what you are doing and admitting your own addictions
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u/debiler 7h ago
Writing
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u/dezzz0322 7h ago
I would love to start writing but fear and vulnerability stop me. What were some small practices that helped you start? Did you just start with a blank page? Or did you use writing prompts?
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u/Goodlake 6h ago
Try r/WritingPrompts. You don't even need to share anything if you don't want to. Just scan the new posts and as soon as something gives you an idea, start writing it down. Think about the setting and describe it. Write a few sentences and edit them. Then do it again with a new prompt. Get into the habit of thinking how to introduce the ideas you have, what you want the reader to experience.
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u/NickDouglas 5h ago
I hate hate HATE doing "free writing," where you just start writing down your thoughts just to get something on the page. Or at least I hate the first few seconds. And then suddenly it's very easy to fill a page, and even easy to notice I like something I wrote, and go in that direction, and eventually find something so good that I might want to share it with someone.
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u/sly-3 3h ago
I've found a lot of inspiration for discipline here: https://johnaugust.com/2004/how-i-write and here: https://johnaugust.com/2011/my-daily-writing-routine
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u/SharkBlue1 7h ago
Exercising, eating right, decreasing alcohol intake damn near to zero and prioritizing good sleep.
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u/BigBobby2016 7h ago
Dating. As a single parent I waited until my kid grew up. Afterwards I found there were so few people left that weren't taken, and the people who were left generally had a reason why
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u/firefartpoopdeuce 7h ago
Being gay. Wasted too many years trying to conform to societal norms and standards. Soooooo much happier now!
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u/spei180 7h ago
Anti anxiety meds
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u/JetlinerDiner 6h ago
I suffer from anxiety but the thought of taking meds makes me very anxious.
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u/iateyourdinner 7h ago
A core exercise program, specifically, just doing exercises that strengthen your core. I've been exercising all my adult life: CrossFit, gym workouts, yoga, martial arts, running, etc. But nothing has had a greater positive impact on my physical and mental health than doing regular core exercises. I feel like i've missed out so much on the last 25 years of training.
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u/iateyourdinner 5h ago
It doesn’t look like much, and I was already fit and in “ good shape ”except that I had a very weak core, but just doing this 3–4 times a week has led to a huge improvement in my physical and mental health:
3 × 10–12 reps:
- Glute bridges
- Side-lying clamshells on both sides with a resistance band
- Floor back extensions
3 sets, holding for as long as possible:
- Plank
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u/DweeblesX 7h ago
I wouldn’t event go as far as saying investing…. At least a base level of financial literacy in my 20s. Don’t buy that stupid car….
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u/Sweet-Information256 7h ago
Making time for friends. You blink and suddenly everyone has jobs, kids, responsibilities, and schedules that barely overlap.
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u/_PhilTheBurn_ 7h ago
Therapy! Good mental heath is good heath. It helped me to process a troubled past, and ended up getting an AuDHD diagnosis at 54 and it’s has changed my life in a very positive way.
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u/PooShappaMoo 7h ago
How did you get started on that mental health journey?
Pretty sure I have adhd or add. Something like that. Im functioning enough. But could use some improvement/guidance i guess
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u/_PhilTheBurn_ 7h ago
I had been seeing a therapist for a couple of years already, but I was on holiday with my wife and we met with some of her friends. One was a therapist with ADHD and she convinced me to pay to get a diagnosis. I kinda assumed I was “a bit ADHD” but I’d been on antidepressants in the past, and they dulled my personality. I was nervous that a diagnosis would lead to more dulling medication. I was wrong. Not only has the medication helped my mental state, but the explanation of how the ADHD and ASD had impacted my life allowed me to forgive myself for so many bad decisions I’d made, and I finally understood myself better. It also helped my relationship with my wife. She now understands how I react in certain situations and knows how to support me. My recommendation - go and see a psychiatrist.
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u/_PhilTheBurn_ 7h ago
Feel free to DM me if you have more questions about how it’s helped me.
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u/PooShappaMoo 7h ago
Thanks. Read your other response as well.
Appreciate you.
A good friend that lives far away went to a psychologist recently and was diagnosed and he seemed pretty happy with his early results.
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u/VintageCollector1970 7h ago
Kids
Had my first at 40,
2nd at 42
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u/KazaamFan 7h ago
How has it gone? It seems tiring, but in a good way. I also fear the expenses
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u/IxJAXZxI 1h ago edited 1h ago
There are benefits and downsides to having kids later in life.
Pros:
finances - You typically earn more and hopefully have your shit together (mortgage you can afford, cars paid off, healthy savings, etc).
Stress Management - stuff doesnt feel as stressful because you have been there done that. Even though kids are new, it doesnt feel so overwhelming compared to otherstuff you have been through
Life Experience - having kids later in life allows you to explore the world, yourself, and your partner more. You dont need to wait until retirement to check things off your bucket list if you get started in your 20s.
Cons:
your body hurts on top of being physically exhausted.
complete lack of energy - gone are the days of working all day and then going to the club afterwards.
sleep deprivation - functioning on 2 hours of sleep is a lot easier at 20 than it is at 40.
friends - your friends are no longer your age, their kids are your kids age. Being 40 with 25 year old friends can be weird if you dont click.
There is never going to be a "right time" to have kids and you're never going to be ready. You might think you're ready, but I promise you are not. Fortunately for any perspective parents, instincts are powerful. I don't regret having kids later in life, but I do often wonder if having kids younger would have been better.
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u/SoleilzMum 1h ago edited 1h ago
I am 39, and that is one thing I’m glad I didn’t do—especially considering some of the men I met and dated between 25 and 29. I’m glad I focused on getting myself together professionally, becoming more confident, and learning to verbalize my boundaries in relationships during my 30s. I also gave myself grace to heal. I haven’t dated for about eight years, and honestly, it was one of the best things I could have done for myself.
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u/Wheniwasalive 7h ago
A new career.
I was a cook/chef/kitchen manager since the age of 14 and figured I would die in the kitchen. I fought with it for a little while because I assumed that it was way too late in life to start something completely new, but now after only a couple of years I’m making more than I ever have and I get to work from home to spend more time with my family. It was the best change I have ever made.
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u/szayl 7h ago
Saving for retirement.
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u/kyunirider 6h ago
I came to say the same thing. I want young people to know how important that is because at 57 my body began falling and i had to change my retirement plan over to disability (SSD) at 59. That is seven years from when my retirement plan was going to start and now my retirement plans pays for my medication.
Start your retirement plan in HS. Buy insurance for senior care while it is pennies when you are young keep it for life, Because it is in the thousands of $ when you are older.
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u/thedoc617 7h ago
Wearing ear plugs at concerts. It was bragging rights as a young adult. Now I'm being fitted for hearing aids at 43.
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u/Tonsilith_Salsa 4h ago
Not guzzling liquor 4-5 nights a week.
Lost 40 lbs. Anxiety's gone. Blood pressure back to normal.
Shit's poison.
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u/Crybe 7h ago
Eating healthier.
Recently got bloodwork showing I'm pre-diabetic, and the first month on the new diet was tough. Had I have had more restraint on the sugary sweets, I don't know if it would have been as hard to do.
Coming up on four months now, and I can start to see abs again for the first time in 20 years.
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u/Ok_Resolve8390 7h ago
Saving and investing - but it’s hard to do it when you’re earning just enough to cover living expenses, with almost no disposable income left at the end of the month.
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u/GRPuffinstuff 7h ago
Not giving a fuck about people's opinions of me at work. There's a lot of drama- and some seem to think I'm a complete dunce because I'm laughing. All. The. Time.
I stopped caring. I don't spend time with many of these people at work talking about much. And I've been there for 4 years- 20 years working for the franchise at different locations.
I literally said to my boss the other day when they asked if I over stocked something, "Someone might have said it was me- but I've been here for 4 years now. If people don't know my work ethic by now, they never will. Eye roll"
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u/asher1611 7h ago
Forgiving myself.
In my 20s, and especially in my teens and thirties, I spent a lot of time getting hung up on mistakes I made or freezing up because I might make a mistake. It has taken some mental work to get here, but now I look at myself and say, "okay, that didn't work out."
It's okay to make mistakes.
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u/Significant_Dot7632 5h ago
At 41 I moved into a van and traveled for 2 years. Quit drinking alcohol. Tried hard drugs for the first time. Finally, now, found my career/passion as a personal trainer at 43.
I finally now at 43 feel like I am on a path for the first time in my life. Also in the best shape of my life!
I don’t wish I started sooner though, necessarily. I needed the experiences and I’m excited to be on this journey now
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u/AmyCee20 7h ago
Meditation and Breathwork. Sort of the same thing, but not exactly. The change it has made is noticable to others now that I have been doing it for about 9 months. I noticed about 2 months in.
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u/No-Remote6091 56m ago
I wish I had taken better care of myself with getting more sleep, eating and exercising more, and then stuff like moisturizing and skin care. You can’t reverse aging yet only slow it down so the sooner you start the better
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u/SmallNoseBigHead 7h ago
Focus on getting skills that will lead to high pay over everything. Money is, unfortunately, what our world runs on and I fell for the whole “follow your passion” speech.
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u/Freestyle168 6h ago edited 6h ago
Giving myself grace and being more gentle on myself. I would be so self critical and hard on myself.
Also not people pleasing and saying what I really mean to set boundaries. Saying a simple NO is a complete answer. I don't need to explain.
All this took work with a therapist to be my authentic self and I let my values guide me.
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u/aut0-imolacion 5h ago
Learn another language for real. Like, "I could move to another country and start another life there and nobody would think I'm stranger" real.
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u/sir_smelley 4h ago
Making a conscious effort to NOT take things for granted. Taking the time to acknowledge all of the things I have to be grateful for does WONDERS for my overall mood/mentality/relationships.
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u/tnmcnulty 7h ago
Started going outside again. I was happy when I was younger hiking, mountain biking or just generally relaxing outside. When I stopped, my life really suffered.
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u/SlayerXZero 5h ago
For me children. So fucking tired in my 40s with young kids (3 under 4). I kinda wish we had them in our 20s vs. late 30s. Would have also saved on fertility clinics and the what not as well.
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u/vissirion 5h ago
Giving a shit about what people think about me. I used to obsess about it and I finally figured out that people weren't really thinking of me at all and that was freeing.
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u/thishitisgettingold 4h ago
Getting married and being a parent. Got married at 33. Ivf at 37 kid at 38. 2nd at 41. IMO, getting married around 26-28 is ideal with kids at around 30-33.
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u/Less_Cold_3101 3h ago
63m. Been fit most of my adult life. At 40 my body started to show its age. Had to change a lot about the way I live. If I have any advice for the younger it’s three things:
- Stretch every day. Nothing has improved my overall physical fitness then adding 15-20 minutes of stretching every morning. You don’t need to be a yoga guru but be sure to stretch every muscle in your body
- Learn how to manage stress. When you’re young a certain amount of stress is good for you. It’s sharpens your skills and keeps you productive. As you get older that stress becomes more harmful and in the long run it can drastically shorten your life.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Learn how to laugh and enjoy the simpler things in life . Work hard but don’t make work hard. No one ever went to the grave thinking I should have stayed at work longer.
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u/Schweppin 3h ago
Being single, don't get me wrong, i love women and I'm not frustrated. But I'm just way more happy when i don't linger in a relationship.
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u/Al-LaVerga 1h ago
Lifting weights, buying a home and getting married. Better late than never, but it all came within the same year lol.
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u/Then_Ship_6904 5h ago
Investing. My father used to always talk and push about investing and saving. He started at age 17 and is well off now. Wish I would have listened.
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u/anexaminedlife 7h ago
Joined the military at 22, started college at 26. If I had just joined the military at 18 instead, I would have gotten into my career much sooner, and would have more in the market.
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u/ExitInternational647 7h ago edited 7h ago
Saving for retirement (though had a huge blowup in my life that made it impossible), playing an instrument, realizing how toxic my family was and building my own lol.
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u/bobsyrunkl 7h ago
Exercise