What should younger you have focused more on?

DauCiBach · 08/11/2023 23:08

Saving money. Not spending it all of cigarettes and alcohol. Paying extra into pension/mortgage.

minipie · 08/11/2023 23:09

Dancing

Sami5 · 08/11/2023 23:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Screamingabdabz · 08/11/2023 23:15

I wish someone had said don’t bother with a degree - get on the housing ladder as soon as you can.

LakeTiticaca · 08/11/2023 23:16

Education
Getting on the property ladder

OhpoorMe · 08/11/2023 23:17

Dating. I missed the boat completely, worried about how I looked!

Pinkitydrinkity0 · 08/11/2023 23:19

Family/dating/settling down - rather than moving 500 miles away for a career I hate and doing millions of exams.

Saving money too.

Doormatnomore · 08/11/2023 23:22

Holding my fucking nerve. I ran an almost successful business when I was 18 but because my family didn’t get it I let it die. I was offered a job when I was at uni which if I’d taken I’d practically be retired now but didn’t think I should quit my shitty pointless degree. I found a book I wrote then did nothing with, not saying I’d have won the noble prize or anything but I could have at least taken a second pass at it. First hint that anyone didn’t think it was a brilliant idea and I agreed - what a twit i was.

Angrymum22 · 08/11/2023 23:25

To not keep every bit of paperwork for the last forty years.
I had my own business which I sold in 2019. I spent most of 2020 destroying thirty years of business paperwork. I now have a similar mountain of personal paperwork to throw out.
I spent all day shredding and still didn’t make a dent in it.

MangoAF · 08/11/2023 23:27

Keeping slim and fit
I was just naturally so slim and ate anything I wanted and then discovered alcohol. I wish I’d known that I wouldn’t stay like that for long and I needed to actually pay attention to what I was eating!

pastypirate · 08/11/2023 23:27

Driving and wearing whatever I wanted.
Not following the crowd.

wellthisisakward · 08/11/2023 23:31

Boundaries and self esteem, sleeping around is a tiny bit fucked up. I had amazing fun but now I understand why younger me did that .. and I'm smart and a good person so I didn't need to sleep around.

EmmaEmerald · 08/11/2023 23:31

Screamingabdabz · 08/11/2023 23:15

I wish someone had said don’t bother with a degree - get on the housing ladder as soon as you can.

This!

and always go for the best paying job, they're all similar in terms of problems etc

All2Well · 08/11/2023 23:32

Dating to find a husband. I wanted children, I'm nearly 40 and have been unhappily single for many years. It's very much not acceptable to say it though!

YourWinter · 08/11/2023 23:34

Pension contributions, not just the minimum my employers did.

Morewineplease10 · 08/11/2023 23:35

Focusing on a career. I graduated, realised that if I wanted to work in my chosen industry I'd need to move to London.

I didn't want to move away from BF at the time.

I've based my whole adult life around men and romantic relationships. Which hasn't paid off!

Silly me.

ScarboroughHair · 08/11/2023 23:36

I took myself very seriously when I was young. I focused on work and saving and when it came to dating I was looking for The One. I missed out on fun and I cringe at myself looking back, I was so earnest. I wish I'd focused on enjoying life a bit more. So all of you who wish you'd focused on school and career, the grass isn't always greener!

CloudsNeverStayTheyAlwaysGoAway · 08/11/2023 23:39

That other people had problems and were suffering too.

Growing a spine

My sight reading and languages (classical singer).

Georgiexx · 08/11/2023 23:40

Spending the 5 years I spent at uni on setting up a business and not running up student debt for a job I hated

TheDogsMother · 08/11/2023 23:41

Not having regrets as it just eats away at you. It can't be changed so there's no point looking back and I'm saying this as someone who could have done things differently. There's some great advice on here about things to do for the future ie pensions contributions, saving etc

DrCoconut · 09/11/2023 00:05

I essentially wasted my first shot at university. I messed around, got involved with DS1's dad and dropped out. I should have spent more time being carefree and young. I later went back to uni with a young child in tow and although I now have my degree and post graduate qualifications it was a very different experience the second time around. I don't regret having my DS at all but the timing was not ideal.

chutneysauce · 09/11/2023 00:18

My teeth!

DilemmaDelilah · 09/11/2023 09:32

I should have worked at my A levels and gone to university as planned, rather than retaking my A levels and going to university in my 30s.
However, if I had done that I wouldn't have had my children (I may have had others but not the ones I have now) and I wouldn't have had the life that has led to my current and for the rest of my life DH.

TitInATrance · 09/11/2023 11:08

Making time for the things I enjoy and not focusing so much on ‘activities where you might meet the Right One’.
Most of my life decisions were right for me though, a couple of marriages excepted.

VivaDixie · 09/11/2023 11:19

wellthisisakward · 08/11/2023 23:31

Boundaries and self esteem, sleeping around is a tiny bit fucked up. I had amazing fun but now I understand why younger me did that .. and I'm smart and a good person so I didn't need to sleep around.

I hear all of this. This was me too.

I wish I had focussed on my self esteem too and not drink so much. I know I missed out on some potential relationships for this.

I am very happy with where life has taken me. But I do wish I'd had more confidence in myself, and boundaries and self esteem