To ask how to not waste your youth?

[youthbaderginsburg]

NCed. Sorry the thread title is a bit dark!

Some backstory - I'm in nearing my twenties and I feel like I haven't really had an interesting life yet, more that I'm wasting my youth. This was to a certain extent spurred on by the 90s thread where people were discussing what they were doing during the 90s and it was so vivid and youthful. I know nostalgia can change things in retrospect, but I don't feel like I'm really living. Probably worsened by lockdown.

Sorry I know this is post-adolescent melodrama, but I'm wondering what you would recommend to someone entering their twenties to try to ensure the decade isn't forgettable? I'm in a LTR so can't do the casual sex thing, and do my best to avoid drugs (which does kill some ideas ) but anything you could suggest would be great. I want to feel young rather than just kind of coasting along, if you see what I mean.

Sorry if this is odd. Just not sure where else to ask!

Travel and ideally live/work abroad rather than just travelling.

Choose the people you date and tie yourself to very. Fucking. Carefully.

And I think travelling in your 50s is a better experience than backpacking and hosteling in your 20s.

But it's far more difficult to take significant time off from work in your 50s, and even if your work allows unpaid leave or sabbaticals, you almost certainly have financial commitments you still need to meet, and possibly still have dependent children living at home -- you're far less likely to face these issues if you're a childfree twentysomething deciding to work in another country.

thelegohooverer I would have much preferred to have had my daughter in my 20s rather than waiting until 33. I may have ended up with more than one child too (which I wanted) if I have started earlier. This is actually very much of my massive regrets about what I didn't do in my 20s. If the idea of family and children is something that is highly important to you then tbh I say why wait. You can 'travel' and study at any age. You can't have children at any age.
I know that's the opposite of what most on here are saying but having a family has always something I strongly wanted.

Umm in my experience...just take things less seriously. I was so concerned with getting work experience that ended up useless and not related to what I ended up doing...did a degree I wasn't that interested in because it was a more "proper" sounding one...life is really long, so don't be too hung up on the future. Do what you enjoy and what you're passionate about and have fun.

@Ilovemaisie i kind of agree. I wouldnt have wanted to have had a child before 23 or 24 but like you i had my first at 33. I had my 2nd at 36 but here i am now, 50 with a 14 year old. I feel too old to have a child so dependent. I think freedom is just as valuable in your forties or fifties as it would be in your 20s. Maybe it's more valuable when you have had the wisdom and the perspective to value the freedom. I feel so excited waiting for a bit more freedom. Im a single parent though. But if id had my first at 28, second at 31, id be free to relocate, go on yoga retreats, night classes, art classes etc

Just feel my freedom is slipping away and when yourv50 you know time is running out!!

The main thing i regret in my twenties is wasting so much time chasing and crying over a particular guy, i cringe how i let it affect me - learn to let go when its needed! And travel far and wide - great holidays and studying abroad if you can incorporate it somehow. Take care of yourself - exercise, get good with finances and avoid pointless binge drinking/drugs/smoking etc.

Never say no to a night out with friends
Travel
Don't be scared to try new things
Use the confidence of youth to make a wide circle of friends, but keep a few close-treasure them, the real friends will be the ones that stick around
Enjoy being able to handle more than one drink without a 2 day hangover (I'm looking at you late 30s )