What age is not young anymore?

[waveafterwaveafterwave]

I am 28 and don't feel I qualify as 'young' anymore. Not just because of the grey hairs sprouting from my scalp, but the fact I've now been an adult for 10 years. I would look too old in a nightclub, a lot of the shops I used to buy from a few years ago are now too young for me, and I barely understand what 'the kids' are talking about these days.

I spoke to a friend about this and they said I'm being ridiculous, that I am still young but I don't feel it at all. When did you stop feeling young, or consider yourself not to be young anymore?

I'm 35 and think I stopped feeling young at 27/28

It was when I realised that I dont actually care if I look out of place in a nightclub because i don't want to be there in the first place. I don't mind going somewhere upmarket and paying for expensive drinks if I can hear my friends talking, use a clean toilet that actually has toilet roll past 10pm and I don't stick to the floor when I walk.

I dont care if the clothes in newlook or Topshop dont fit me, I have a womans figure not a little girls.

I dont care if I dont understand what the kids are talking about. I belong to my generation, millions of people who will share my experiences and memories and I think that's great.

If that makes me 'old' so be it.

I started to feel not 'young' anymore at around 35/36. 28 seems quite young to feel like this but I guess everyone is different. I think it's mainly the responsibility of parenthood, for me anyway.

I think, as a gross generalisation, that being around 38-40 is when it will serve you well to start recognising your best years, physically are behind you.

Or you could be one of those people who live in the present and make the most of what they have. Look up 80 year old female bodybuilder - the lady who pops up was in her fifties when she started to train seriously.

DH and I were living in London and still going out clubbing and being irresponsible at the age of 30 and I think I still thought of myself as young and carefree then. Within 2 years I was married with a baby and I felt like a proper grown up from then on.

Bit nonsensical to say a typical 80 year old can move e.g. dance like a 20 year old or think like one

Ageing does occur. I say physically about 35-40 depending on your genes. You definitely feel it if you do any sports. Looks wise, most people take on the 'middle age' face unless you are those ageless celebs like j lo or jennifer Aniston who look younger at 50 than 30.

I feel too old to have another baby at 33

I was going to say 30, 20s is all young. But probably really a movable thing. I'm 40 and some days I feel really old, others I think I'm quite young. I'm only halfway through my working life, not even that if I work until state pension age.

I think 40 is the cut-off.

Of course, yes, you're as old as you feel and all that. Some 90yos are young at heart and some 20yos are middle aged before their time. However, as a general rule, I think you're still young if you're in your twenties or thirties.

It seems ridiculous to me to suggest that 28 isn't young. It seems so very obviously young to me!

I'm 42 this year and don't feel old at all!

You'd look fine in a nightclub...

My best mate is 28, I'm 24, and we look exactly the same age

30

I think 40?

I’m 27 and still feel young, I think it helps that I’m a student though!

I'm in my late 50s but I think after 35 you are no longer young, you're just an adult.

thirties but love it when ppl refer to it as young, I’ll take that!

About 30 I guess, but even now in my 50s I don't feel much different inside-I just try to avoid mirrors!

I'm 67 and still waiting for my mind to feel old....my body well , let's not go there!

Five years older than your current age.

Physically I do probably look my age but mentally I am still in my 20s ..am happy with that 😁

I do think that sometimes we are restricted by age stereotypes in how we feel. I am soon to be 41. I can tell for sure that I don't feel any different to how I felt at 35. I have been blessed with good health so physical ageing has not occurred yet. I am very sporty and easily outtrain younger women and men in my gym. But when something reminds me that I am in my 40s, I suddenly think to myself: "Ok, you are supposed to be more mature, more grown up and you are not a spring chicken even if you look well so stop pretending". It's confusing. I need to learn to treat age as just a number.

Did 'yoga' with the kids tonight and could barely get off the floor so yes, I'm old and decrepid

If I'm lucky enough to hit 60, I'll accept I'm old and that old is preferable to the grave.

I'm 60 and I don't think of myself as "old" at all. Inside my head I'm still 16.

40

"If I'm lucky enough to hit 60, I'll accept I'm old"

I'm 63, enjoying my retirement and not "old"
I do accept I'm not young though

I'm 40 but still feel young. I still dress the same, my hair is still the same, my makeup skills are much better though (thank you YouTube) and I don't have ridiculously skinny eyebrows anymore 🤣 I have more confidence, a few more wrinkles and don't make quite so many stupid decisions, but not much else has changed. I eat well and work out lots so that helps!

@Weenurse

Brilliant.
When I stopped getting carded for alcohol.