To ask if you could restart adulthood, what would you do differently?

[changedname34]

I've been thinking lots tonight about what I would do differently if I had the chance to go back when I was 18.

I'd save instead of being stupid with my money and running up lots of debt, travel more, rethink the decision to have DC so young & go to university.

What would you do & why?

I would make more effort to not get fat.

@elliejjtiny Yes, and that too for me also

Spend the money i spent on takeaways, on travel instead. It's tricky because I didn't travel much because I was saving for a house/ renovating but I still wasted loads of money on mainly food 'because I need to treat myself'. I should have tried to travel and do the house stuff. Possibly wasn't a realistic option but that's what I'd try.

Absolutely nothing.

I've run through rainbows and castles of candy
I've cried a river of tears from the pain
I tried to dance with what life had to hand me
And if I could I'd do it all over again

Not started smoking.

I’d not run up debt in my 20s.
But otherwise I’ve fulfilled my dreams, went to uni, had kids, travelled widely and like my job

Not get married. Go travel. Basically not settle down so early. But I'm in my 30s and have decided to start over

I’d never have gotten fat. Mind you, at 18 the damage had already been done. I’ve unfortunately always been chubby

I think I would have had more kids. I've been living my life in such a lot of fear and when i was young I thought the best way to avoid pain in life was not to breed. I regret that now.

Not gotten into debt.
Gone out more before kid's arrived

I would have left a bad relationship earlier. Taken more risks, started a business younger, had more sex and pursued hobbies I enjoy.

I'd have done a degree then rather than doing it p/t over 6 years now.

Otherwise, nothing. Married 20+ years; 3 lovely children; happy (now) at work; finances good.

Not sure anything I'd changed would have affected those and made them better.

Not got into debt
Anything to stop the low self esteem I had them, still don't know the answer but I was really tough on myself.

Moved out younger, had therapy as soon as I turned 18, prioritised dating so I could have been married and starting a family by 30.

36, single and childless, still trying to overcome childhood abuse and neglect and feeling like life is quite pointless for someone like me...it’s a real struggle and I’m lonely. So many regrets.

Bought a house / flat a lot earlier than I did.

Not wasted 18 months of my life in a career I was badly suited to.

Well, I like to think I'd be more disciplined in my work now that I actually know how to learn so might get a better class of degree and persuade someone to train me to be an actuary

and get fit before 20 rather than trying after 50

but I suspect I probably wouldn't do either of those things

I'd be more careful with money and better at saving if I had my time over, but I had a great time with some really good friends and have great memories and don't regret anything really.

Left the ex after a few years (wouldn't have wanted to miss everything, the bad relationship made me a much more humble person and thankful for the little things in life). Study. Go back to my old hometown and find DH before he got lonely. Get slimmer/ fitter.

I bought my first house st 26, which I would like to do again at that age. Was happy that I could buy it although it needed work done.

I've run through rainbows and castles of candy
I've cried a river of tears from the pain
I tried to dance with what life had to hand me
And if I could I'd do it all over again

I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me.

I would need to go back further than 18 because I already had a child by then.
I wouldn't hang around with idiots drinking all the time.
I would study more because if I had, I would have done really well. I did not bad for not trying.
I would have stayed on at school instead of being a dick and leaving at 16.
I would go do something worth while at college or uni.
Also wish I had had the experience of living alone/with flatmates.
If I had done all of that I wouldn't have ended up pregnant at 17.
I love my ds and wouldn't change him for the world, just wish I had my shit together before I had him.

Save more money and not spend a minute in jobs / relationships that were so obviously below my qualifications and capability just because I had zero confidence in myself. I really wish I’d had a decent, stable upbringing and a capable parent to guide me when I was making the important decisions as a youngster. Luckily I figured it out before too long but am determined to make sure my dc will never struggle like I did.

Drink less. Eat less. Sleep with less awful men in an effort to bolster my self esteem. Have some hobbies.

I just wish I'd been a bit less clueless in general. It seemed to take me a long time to learn stuff other people just knew!

Got a pension years earlier. I was paying off student debt, my commute cost a fortune and I just couldn’t afford it.

Found MN earlier. I’d have left my ex a lot sooner.

Done a different degree at a different uni, which might have taken me down a different life path. Not sold the first flat I owned, but kept it as an investment - I could have sold it now and paid off my existing mortgage.